Rawkus Records was an American hip hop
record label known for starting the careers of many rappers. Rawkus started in 1995 with releases in hip-hop,
drum and bass
Drum and bass (also written as drum & bass or drum'n'bass and commonly abbreviated as D&B, DnB, or D'n'B) is a genre of electronic dance music characterized by fast breakbeats (typically 165–185 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-ba ...
and fun-dustrial (Dystopia One).
Label heads Brian Brater and
Jarret Myer then signed some of the top underground talent from the New York area, notably
Mos Def,
Talib Kweli,
Hi-Tek and
Company Flow, who went on to define the label's sound. The string of 12" releases and full-length albums that followed helped initiate a resurgence in the New York/
East Coast sound. Many of these are considered classics among hip-hop aficionados. During the mid to late 1990s, Rawkus became a dominant label in the underground hip-hop scene, producing a string of gold albums and a platinum album.
History
Rawkus Records was established in 1995 by Brian Brater and
Jarret Myer, with financial backing from their high school buddy
James Murdoch,
son of
Rupert Murdoch. In 1996, Rupert Murdoch bought a majority of Rawkus.
In 1999 the label entered into a distribution deal with
Priority Records.
Over the years, Rawkus recorded several notable independent hip hop artists, including
Reflection Eternal,
Company Flow, the
High and Mighty,
Mos Def and
Talib Kweli (as
Blackstar),
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
,
Common
Common may refer to:
Places
* Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
* Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts
* Cambridge Common, common land area in Cambridge, Massachusetts
* Clapham Common, originally com ...
,
Pharoahe Monch and
Skillz Skillz may refer to:
* Skillz (company), an online mobile multiplayer video game competition platform
* Skillz (rapper)
Donnie Shaquan Lewis, (born June 2, 1974) also known as Skillz, or Mad Skillz is an American rapper known for his accl ...
.
In 2002, Rawkus signed a joint venture deal with
MCA
MCA may refer to:
Astronomy
* Mars-crossing asteroid, an asteroid whose orbit crosses that of Mars
Aviation
* Minimum crossing altitude, a minimum obstacle crossing altitude for fixes on published airways
* Medium Combat Aircraft, a 5th gene ...
. Soon after, MCA folded and
Interscope
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M imprint. Founded in late 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field as a $20 million joint venture with Atlantic Records of Warner Musi ...
/
Geffen bought Rawkus. After the sale of its catalog in 2004, Rawkus split from Geffen.
In 2006, Rawkus signed with
RED, a
Sony Music distribution company and reemerged with a new line up of notable independent hip hop artists.
In early 2007, Rawkus Records accepted album submissions from Hip Hop artists, known or unknown, to be considered for their new campaign. The 50 artists chosen to wear the Rawkus 50 badge were signed to a digital distribution deal through IODA's (Independent Online Distribution Alliance) digital distribution network and had their albums released under the banner "Rawkus 50 presents". Among the 50 were artists including
Custom Made,
L.E.G.A.C.Y. and Pizon.
Discography
*
*1997:
Company Flow - ''
Funcrusher Plus
''Funcrusher Plus'' is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Company Flow. It was released by Rawkus Records in 1997. In 2009, it was re-released on Definitive Jux. The album has been recognized as "a landmark independent hip-hop releas ...
''
*1997: ''
Soundbombing''
*1998: ''
Lyricist Lounge, Volume One''
*1998:
Black Star Black Star or Blackstar may refer to:
Astronomy
*Black star (semiclassical gravity), a theoretical star built using semiclassical gravity as an alternative to a black hole
*Saturn, referred to as "Black Star" in ancient Judaeic belief
Literature
...
- ''
Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star''
*1999:
Company Flow - ''
Little Johnny from the Hospitul: Breaks & Instrumentals Vol.1''
*1999:
High & Mighty
''High & Mighty'' is the seventh studio album by southern rock jam band Gov't Mule. The album was released on August 22, 2006, by ATO Records.
Track listing
All songs written by Warren Haynes.
Personnel
* Warren Haynes – guitar, vocals, p ...
- ''
Home Field Advantage''
*1999:
Mos Def - ''
Black on Both Sides''
*1999:
Pharoahe Monch - ''
Internal Affairs''
*1999:
DJ Spinna - ''Heavy Beats Volume 1''
*1999: ''
Soundbombing II
''Soundbombing II'' is the second installment in Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records was an American hip hop record label known for starting the careers of many rappers. Rawkus started in 1995 with releases in hip-hop, drum and bass and fun-dustria ...
''
*2000: ''
Lyricist Lounge 2''
*2000: ''
Hip Hop for Respect
''Hip Hop for Respect'' was a 2000 project which released one EP for Rawkus Records. It was organized by Mos Def and Talib Kweli to speak out against police brutality in general, and the case of Amadou Diallo in particular.
History
Amadou Dial ...
''
*2000: ''
''
*2000:
Big L - ''
The Big Picture''
*2000:
Talib Kweli &
Hi-Tek - ''
Train of Thought''
*2001:
Smut Peddlers
Smut Peddlers are an American punk band originally from Redondo Beach, California. The band has been performing live since 1993 and has toured in Europe and North America. The Smut Peddlers are notorious in Southern California for their spirit ...
- ''
Porn Again
''Porn Again'' is a 2001 album by the Smut Peddlers, a group composed of Mr. Eon and DJ Mighty Mi from The High & Mighty, and Cage.
Music
Guest appearances include Kool Keith, Kool G Rap, R.A. the Rugged Man, Copywrite, and Apani B. Fly.
Ba ...
''
*2001:
Hi-Tek - ''
Hi-Teknology''
*2001:
Da Beatminerz - ''
Brace 4 Impak''
*2001:
Various Artists - ''Scratch Vol 1''
*2002:
Mad Skillz
Donnie Shaquan Lewis, (born June 2, 1974) also known as Skillz, or Mad Skillz is an American rapper known for his acclaimed 1996 album ''From Where???'', a reference to his origins in Virginia, not a New York City or Los Angeles rapper. He ...
- ''
I Ain't Mad No More
''I Ain't Mad No More'' is the second album by Virginia–native rapper Skillz. The album featured guest appearances by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Danja Mowf, Kandi, Pretty Ugly, Big Swells, Musiq Soulchild, AAries, Cee-Lo Green, Pretty Willie ...
(unreleased)''
*2002:
Talib Kweli - ''
Quality''
*2002:
Kool G Rap - ''
The Giancana Story
''The Giancana Story'' is the third solo album by American rapper Kool G Rap, released by Koch Records on November 26, 2002. Its producers included Bink, Buckwild, Jaz-O, Knobody, Rockwilder and V.I.C., while AZ, Capone-N-Noreaga, Havoc, Joe ...
''
*2002: ''
Soundbombing III
''Soundbombing III'' is the third installment of the Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records was an American hip hop record label known for starting the careers of many rappers. Rawkus started in 1995 with releases in hip-hop, drum and bass and fun-du ...
''
*2004:
Talib Kweli - ''
The Beautiful Struggle''
*2005: ''
Best of Decade I: 1995-2005''
*2006:
The Procussions - ''5 Sparrows for 2 Cents''
*2006:
Kidz in the Hall
Kidz in the Hall is an American hip hop duo from Chicago, Illinois.
History
Group members Jabari Evans (Naledge) and Michael Aguilar ( Double-0) met in 2000 during a talent show at the University of Pennsylvania. They began recording songs, ...
- ''
School Was My Hustle''
*2006:
Panacea
In Greek mythology, Panacea (Greek ''Πανάκεια'', Panakeia), a goddess of universal remedy, was the daughter of Asclepius and Epione. Panacea and her four sisters each performed a facet of Apollo's art:
* Panacea (the goddess of universa ...
- ''
Ink Is My Drink''
*2007:
Mr. J. Medeiros - ''
Of gods and girls''
*2007:
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars is an American hip hop duo based in Seattle, Washington, created in 2002 while the members, DJ Sabzi (Saba Mohajerjasbi) and MC Geologic (George Quibuyen), were students at University of Washington.
The name "Blue Scholars" is ...
- ''
Bayani''
*2007:
Marco Polo - ''
Port Authority
In Canada and the United States, a port authority (less commonly a port district) is a governmental or quasi-governmental public authority for a special-purpose district usually formed by a legislative body (or bodies) to operate ports and other ...
''
*2007:
Panacea
In Greek mythology, Panacea (Greek ''Πανάκεια'', Panakeia), a goddess of universal remedy, was the daughter of Asclepius and Epione. Panacea and her four sisters each performed a facet of Apollo's art:
* Panacea (the goddess of universa ...
- ''The Scenic Route''
*2007:
Sev Statik and
DJ Dust - ''
Back to Dust''
*2007: Point Blank - ''Don't Get Carried Away''
*2007:
Hezekiah
Hezekiah (; hbo, , Ḥīzqīyyahū), or Ezekias); grc, Ἐζεκίας 'Ezekías; la, Ezechias; also transliterated as or ; meaning "Yah shall strengthen" (born , sole ruler ), was the son of Ahaz and the 13th king of Judah according to th ...
- ''I Predict A Riot''
Rawkus 50
The "Rawkus 50" marketing campaign saw the release of fifty digital hip-hop albums. They were all made available on 27 November 2007.
# 12Bit - ''"Rawkus 50 Presents..."''
# 3rd Brillyance - ''"Grass Roots"''
# Aarophat - ''"Aarodynamix"''
# Attlas - ''"Rawkus 50 Presents..."''
# Bekay - ''"The Horror Flick"''
# Barak Yalad - ''"A Loss For Words"''
# Chuck Taylor - ''"Black Hop"''
# Clan Destined - ''"And For Our Next Trick"''
#
Custom Made - ''"Truth Be Told"''
# Cymarshall Law - ''"Hip Hop in the Flesh"''
# Cy Young - ''"Exactly"''
# Doujah Raze - ''"Where You Are"''
# Dutchmassive - ''"Crush Your System"''
# Dynas - ''"Me, Myself and Rhymes"''
# East - ''"The Right Direction"''
# Finale - ''"Develop"''
# Grand Agent - ''"Peak Oil"''
# Hassaan Mackey - ''"Soul For Sale"''
# Intricate Minds - ''"Self Hypnosis"''
# Kaimbr - ''"Why Be Somebody Else"''
# Kaze - ''"Block 2 the Basement"''
# Kojoe - ''"Rawnin'"''
# Krukid - ''"African"''
# Laws - ''"Super Thug Killa Rap"''
# LEGACY - ''"Rawkus 50 Presents..."''
# Mookie Jones - ''"Catch Me If You Can"''
# Mr. Metaphor - ''"The Evolution of Marc Bars"''
# Phenetiks - ''"Revolutionary Non Pollutionary"''
# Pizon - ''"I Am Hip Hop"''
# Prime - ''"From the Ground Up"''
# Protoman - ''"Grey Area"''
# Red Clay - ''"The Red Dawn"''
# Roddy Rod - ''"Blunt Park Sessions"''
# Scanz - ''"Prelude to a Legacy"''
# Scavone - ''"The Rehab Record"''
# Sev Statik & Dust - ''"Back to Dust"''
# Silent Knight - ''"Hunger Strike 2"''
# Brooklyn Shanti - ''"The1Shanti"''
# 6th Sense - ''"It's Coming Soon"''
# The Smile Rays - ''"Smilin' on You"''
# Span Phly - ''"Two Weeks Notice"''
# Spit Supreme - ''"Whole Life For This"''
# Spokinn Movement - ''"60 Min. Spin Cycle"''
# SunN.Y. - ''"Rawkus 50 Presents..."''
# The Breax - ''"Rawkus 50 Presents..."''
# The Foundation - ''"Forever Behind the Music"''
# The Regiment - ''"The Come Up"''
# Together Brothers - ''"Rawkus 50 Presents..."''
# Wildabeast - ''"Many Levels"''
# Willie Evans Jr. - ''"Communication"''
References
External links
Rawkusat
Discogs
Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the la ...
{{Authority control
Record labels established in 1996
Record labels disestablished in 2004
Hip hop record labels
American independent record labels