In anticipation of Independence Day, HipHopDX brings you 10 independent Hip Hop labels making significant cultural and commercial contributions.
In the two thousandth and fourteenth year of our lord, the U. S. of A is turning two hundred and thirty eight years old. And we’re not all barbeque and baseball, we’ve defended freedoms abroad while stealing the souls of our very own citizens at home; we’ve fought a war in every US generation since the signing of the Constitution; and we’ve created some of the most enduring and hotly contested musical art forms in the history of the modern world.
At the forefront of our minds today is Hip Hop. A disparate blend of every type of African-American music made up to this point. It has taken many forms since its inception, and had more than a few golden ages and subsequent “deaths,” but it has endured through it all to affect the world’s consciousness in a way not seen, arguably, since Jazz or Rock and Roll. It’s been both a central figure in the changing of opinions on what goes on in the American ghetto, and has covered topics like police brutality, political corruption, American hypocrisy, and the prison industrial complex with the same aplomb it’s made you get-off-your-behind and dance, speak, think, protest and fall in love. It’s created a culture that will outlast the art form, and, just like America, continues to thrive throughout its ups and downs, working toward a singular vision that has become apart of the fibers of a large amount of those who live here.
So what’s better than kicking back on a holiday wherein we celebrate that particular idea of American independence, than paying homage to those labels within this business that have found a way to stay just that? It’s the American dream incarnate. Independently run labels battling against the money, connections, and manpower of the major label system and somehow finding a way to win. Somehow, through straight up dreaming and hard work, staying true to a singular vision that defines them. If that’s not American, shoot, if that’s not Hip Hop, then what is? So, in anticipation of Independence Day, we bring you 10 independent labels that are staying calm in the middle of the storm and finding a way to seriously impact Hip Hop culture despite the odds.
1.) Label: Duck Down Music Inc.
Highest Profile Project: For the People - Boot Camp Clik (#15 Billboard 200)
Location: New York, NY
Marquee Artists: Buckshot, Sean Price
2.)Label: Suburban Noize
Highest Profile Project: Long Live the Kings - Kottonmouth Kings (#26 Billboard 200)
Location: Burbank, CA
Marquee Artists: Kottonmouth Kings, Potluck
3.)Label: Jamla Records
Highest Profile Project: The Wonder Years - 9th Wonder (#76 Billboard 200)
Location: Raleigh, NC
Marquee Artists: Rapsody, 9th Wonder
4.)Label: Strange Music
Highest Profile Project: Something Else - Tech N9ne (#4 Billboard 200)
Location: Lee’s Summit, MO
Marquee Artists: Tech N9ne, Murs
5.)Label: Reach Records
Highest Profile Project: Gravity - Lecrae (#3 Billboard 200)
Location: Atlanta, GA
Marquee Artists: Lecrae, Andy Mineo
6.)Label: Rhymesayers
Highest Profile Project: When Life Gives You Lemons Paint That shyt Gold - Atmosphere (#5 Billboard 200)
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Marquee Artists: Atmosphere, Brother Ali
7.) Label: Hiero Imperium
Highest Profile Project: Both Sides Of The Brain - Del The Funky Homosapien (#118 Billboard 200)
Location: Oakland, CA
Marquee Artists: Del the Funky Homosapien, Hieroglyphics, Casual, Souls of Mischief
8.) Label: Stones Throw
Highest Profile Project: A Strange Arrangement - Mayer Hawthorne (#147 Billboard 200)
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Marquee Artists: Peanut Butter Wolf, Homeboy Sandman
9 Label: Humble Beast Records
Highest Profile Project: Excellent - Propaganda (#184 Billboard 200)
Location: Portland, OR
Marquee Artist: Propaganda
10.) Label: Brainfeeder
Highest Profile Project: Until The Quiet Comes - Flying Lotus (#34 Billboard 200)
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Marquee Artists: Flying Lotus, Thundercat, The Underachievers
In the two thousandth and fourteenth year of our lord, the U. S. of A is turning two hundred and thirty eight years old. And we’re not all barbeque and baseball, we’ve defended freedoms abroad while stealing the souls of our very own citizens at home; we’ve fought a war in every US generation since the signing of the Constitution; and we’ve created some of the most enduring and hotly contested musical art forms in the history of the modern world.
At the forefront of our minds today is Hip Hop. A disparate blend of every type of African-American music made up to this point. It has taken many forms since its inception, and had more than a few golden ages and subsequent “deaths,” but it has endured through it all to affect the world’s consciousness in a way not seen, arguably, since Jazz or Rock and Roll. It’s been both a central figure in the changing of opinions on what goes on in the American ghetto, and has covered topics like police brutality, political corruption, American hypocrisy, and the prison industrial complex with the same aplomb it’s made you get-off-your-behind and dance, speak, think, protest and fall in love. It’s created a culture that will outlast the art form, and, just like America, continues to thrive throughout its ups and downs, working toward a singular vision that has become apart of the fibers of a large amount of those who live here.
So what’s better than kicking back on a holiday wherein we celebrate that particular idea of American independence, than paying homage to those labels within this business that have found a way to stay just that? It’s the American dream incarnate. Independently run labels battling against the money, connections, and manpower of the major label system and somehow finding a way to win. Somehow, through straight up dreaming and hard work, staying true to a singular vision that defines them. If that’s not American, shoot, if that’s not Hip Hop, then what is? So, in anticipation of Independence Day, we bring you 10 independent labels that are staying calm in the middle of the storm and finding a way to seriously impact Hip Hop culture despite the odds.
1.) Label: Duck Down Music Inc.
Highest Profile Project: For the People - Boot Camp Clik (#15 Billboard 200)
Location: New York, NY
Marquee Artists: Buckshot, Sean Price
2.)Label: Suburban Noize
Highest Profile Project: Long Live the Kings - Kottonmouth Kings (#26 Billboard 200)
Location: Burbank, CA
Marquee Artists: Kottonmouth Kings, Potluck
3.)Label: Jamla Records
Highest Profile Project: The Wonder Years - 9th Wonder (#76 Billboard 200)
Location: Raleigh, NC
Marquee Artists: Rapsody, 9th Wonder
4.)Label: Strange Music
Highest Profile Project: Something Else - Tech N9ne (#4 Billboard 200)
Location: Lee’s Summit, MO
Marquee Artists: Tech N9ne, Murs
5.)Label: Reach Records
Highest Profile Project: Gravity - Lecrae (#3 Billboard 200)
Location: Atlanta, GA
Marquee Artists: Lecrae, Andy Mineo
6.)Label: Rhymesayers
Highest Profile Project: When Life Gives You Lemons Paint That shyt Gold - Atmosphere (#5 Billboard 200)
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Marquee Artists: Atmosphere, Brother Ali
7.) Label: Hiero Imperium
Highest Profile Project: Both Sides Of The Brain - Del The Funky Homosapien (#118 Billboard 200)
Location: Oakland, CA
Marquee Artists: Del the Funky Homosapien, Hieroglyphics, Casual, Souls of Mischief
8.) Label: Stones Throw
Highest Profile Project: A Strange Arrangement - Mayer Hawthorne (#147 Billboard 200)
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Marquee Artists: Peanut Butter Wolf, Homeboy Sandman
9 Label: Humble Beast Records
Highest Profile Project: Excellent - Propaganda (#184 Billboard 200)
Location: Portland, OR
Marquee Artist: Propaganda
10.) Label: Brainfeeder
Highest Profile Project: Until The Quiet Comes - Flying Lotus (#34 Billboard 200)
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Marquee Artists: Flying Lotus, Thundercat, The Underachievers
