NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Rawkus Records

Rawkus Records is an American hip hop record label, known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Rawkus was at first a label searching for a sound. Initial releases were in the genre of House and Drum & Bass. Label heads Brian Brater and Jarret Meyer were introduced to local talent from the New York area notably Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Company Flow among others. From these introductions began a new direction for them. Rawkus developed into a hip hop label, issuing a string of 12" releases. These releases helped initiate a resurgence in the New York/ East Coast sound. Many of Rawkus' releases are considered "classics" among hip hop aficionados. At the time of the mid to late 90's Rawkus among other burgening labels was considered a top independent record label in the underground hip hop scene. News began to surface that Rawkus was not truly independent but in fact funded in an indirect way by Rupert Murdoch through son James Murdoch. This created a backlash amongst the hip hop community and its own roster artists. Most outspoken was Company Flow's El-P. Rawkus was able to secure distribution deals with major labels and continued to release albums with varying success. With associations with major label limited their album releases and many of their artist pursued other ventures. Rawkus became a label without artists nor releases and in time went on a hiatus. Recently, Rawkus has reemerged issuing a "Best Of" album and submitting advertisement boasting a large roster of new artists and upcoming releases. Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Mos Def (born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.), is an American rapper and actor. ... Talib Kweli (born Talib Kweli Greene in Brooklyn, New York City on October 3, 1975) is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ...

Overview

Rawkus Records was established in 1996 by Brian Brater and Jarret Meyer, with financial backing from a school friend, James Murdoch, son of Rupert Murdoch. In 1999 the label entered into a distribution deal with Interscope/Geffen, whose parent company was Universal Music. James Murdoch (born December 1972) is the CEO of British Sky Broadcasting and younger son of billionaire media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. ... Keith Rupert Murdoch AC, KCSG (born 11 March 1931) is an Australian born United States citizen who is a global media executive and is the controlling shareholder, chairman and managing director of News Corporation, based in New York. ... Interscope Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as one third of UMGs Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group. ... Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as one third of UMGs Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group. ... Universal Music Group (UMG) is the largest major label in the record industry, with a 23% market share. ...

Over the years, Rawkus has recorded several notable independent hip hop artists, including Company Flow, the High and Mighty, Mos Def and Talib Kweli (as Blackstar), Common, Pharoahe Monch, and Skillz. Company Flow was a hip hop crew at one time associated with the independent record label Rawkus Records. ... The High & Mighty are an underground rap duo from New York. ... Mos Def (born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.), is an American rapper and actor. ... Talib Kweli (born Talib Kweli Greene in Brooklyn, New York City on October 3, 1975) is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ... BlackStar promotional poster The animated television series Blackstar was a science fantasy epic, sometimes reported as a product inspired by the immense popularity of the 1980s Thundarr, the Barbarian. ... Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. ... Pharoahe Monch (born Troy Donald Jamerson on October 31, 1972 in Queens, New York) is an American hip hop artist. ... Skillz (formerly Mad Skillz, born Donnie Shaquan Lewis in Detroit, Michigan) is an African-American rapper. ...

In 2002 Rawkus signed a joint venture deal with MCA. Soon after joining with MCA, MCA folded and Interscope/Geffen bought Rawkus. In January 2004, however, Rawkus split from Geffen. MCA can stand for: Maximum credible accident MCA (rapper) - A rapper in the group, The Beastie Boys Micro Channel architecture - a type of computer bus Music Corporation of America - a music booking company and record label. ...

In July 2005 it was announced that Rawkus had re-emerged with a new distribution deal with RED Distribution, with releases planned for 2006.^{[citation needed]} New releases are scheduled from hip hop group The Procussions and Chicago rapper Naledge and Double-0 (Kidz in the Hall), as well as hip hop group Panacea. The label will be working in a joint venture with Soulspazm Records to release Canadian producer Marco Polo's album Port Authority. RED Distribution is a Sony BMG-owned independent record distributor that handles releases for some 40 record labels. ... The Procussions are an alternative hip hop act hailing from Colorado Springs, Colorado and currently living in Los Angeles, California. ... Kidz in the Hall is an American hip hop duo from Chicago currently signed to Rawkus Records. ... Panacea is an American hip hop duo, formed in 2003 in Washington DC. The duo consists of MC Raw Poetic and producer K-Murdock,[1] and are signed to Glow-in-the-Dark-Records and Rawkus Records. ... Marco Polo is a Canadian hip hop producer. ... Port Authority is the debut album by Canadian Hip Hop producer Marco Polo, scheduled for release on May 15, 2007 as a joint venture between Soulspazm Records and Rawkus Records [1]. The album will be produced entirely by Marco Polo, and will feature guest raps from Masta Ace, Kool G...

Rawkus has often been the object of criticism from underground rap fans. Most notably by former Rawkus artist El-P in a verse which appeared on his first solo album on the Def Jux label which he said 'Signed to Rawkus/ I'd rather be mouth-fucked by Nazis unconscious'.

Artists

Current

Blue Scholars are a hip hop duo based in Seattle, Washington. ... Custom Made is a horse that was ridden by American David OConnor at the international level in the sport of eventing. ... Kidz in the Hall is an American hip hop duo from Chicago currently signed to Rawkus Records. ... Marco Polo is a Canadian hip hop producer. ... Panacea is an American hip hop duo, formed in 2003 in Washington DC. The duo consists of MC Raw Poetic and producer K-Murdock,[1] and are signed to Glow-in-the-Dark-Records and Rawkus Records. ... The Procussions are an alternative hip hop act hailing from Colorado Springs, Colorado and currently living in Los Angeles, California. ...

Former

Black Star is an alternative hip hop group formed by MCs Mos Def and Talib Kweli. ... Mos Def (born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.), is an American rapper and actor. ... Talib Kweli (born Talib Kweli Greene in Brooklyn, New York City on October 3, 1975) is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ... Formerly known as Smif N Wessun, the Cocoa Brovaz is a rap duo from Brooklyn, New York. ... Company Flow was a hip hop crew at one time associated with the independent record label Rawkus Records. ... El-Producto or El-P (born Jaime Meline) is well known in underground hip hop circles as a pioneer whose work with the trio Company Flow (El-P, Big Jus and Mr. ... Hi-Tek is an American Rawkus Records alternative hip hop artist from Cincinnati. ... The High & Mighty are an underground rap duo from Philadelphia consisting of rapper Mr. ... Kool G Rap (born Nathaniel Wilson July 20, 1968) is an American hardcore gangsta rapper from Queens, New York. ... Pharoahe Monch (born Troy Donald Jamerson on October 31, 1972 in Queens, New York) is an American hip hop artist. ... Reflection Eternal is a hip hop duo composed by rapper Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek. ... Shawn J. Period, real name Shawn M. Jones, is a well known New York City producer (originally from Richmond, Virginia) who has crafted singles for the likes of Mad Skillz, Boot Camp Clik, Mos Def, Da Bush Babees and various artists on the Rawkus Records label. ... Skillz (formerly Mad Skillz, born Donnie Shaquan Lewis in Detroit, Michigan) is an African-American rapper. ... Smut Peddlers are a punk band originally from Redondo Beach, California. ... Atllas (born Lloyd Hopkins in Denver, Colorado) is a rapper based in Phoenix, Arizona. ...

Discography

Studio Albums

Company Flow was a hip hop crew at one time associated with the independent record label Rawkus Records. ... -1... Black star can refer to any of the following; Black Star, refers to the planet Saturn in ancient Judeism beliefs Dark star, a theoretical star that has a surface escape velocity that equals or exceeds the speed of light Black hole, any region of space time where escape to the... Black Star is the self-titled debut by Black Star - the pairing of rappers Talib Kweli and Mos Def. ... Mos Def (born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.), is an American rapper and actor. ... Black on Both Sides is an alternative rap album by Mos Def, released on October 12, 1999 (see 1999 in music). ... Pharoahe Monch (born Troy Donald Jamerson on October 31, 1972 in Queens, New York) is an American hip hop artist. ... Internal Affairs is the solo debut from former Organized Konfusion member Pharoahe Monch, released on Rawkus Records. ... Company Flow was a hip hop crew at one time associated with the independent record label Rawkus Records. ... This article belongs in one or more categories. ... The High & Mighty are an underground rap duo from Philadelphia consisting of rapper Mr. ... Home Field Advantage is the debut album by hip hop group The High & Mighty. ... Smut Peddlers are a punk band originally from Redondo Beach, California. ... Porn Again is a 2000 album by the Smut Peddlers. ... Talib Kweli (born Talib Kweli Greene in Brooklyn, New York City on October 3, 1975) is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ... Hi-Tek is an American Rawkus Records alternative hip hop artist from Cincinnati. ... Train of Thought is the first and only album by Reflection Eternal, a hip hop duet composed of rapper Talib Kweli & DJ Hi-Tek. ... Jurassic 5 was a six- and then later five-piece hip hop group formed in 1994. ... For the Jurassic 5 album, see Quality Control (album) In engineering and manufacturing, quality control and quality engineering are involved in developing systems to ensure products or services are designed and produced to meet or exceed customer requirements. ... For other uses, see Big L (disambiguation). ... The Big Picture is the final, and first posthomous album released from slain Harlem rapper Big L. Released on August 1, 2000, its lead single was Holdin It Down featuring Stan Spit and D.I.T.C. member A.G. The album also features the popular single Ebonics, as well... Hi-Tek is an American Rawkus Records alternative hip hop artist from Cincinnati. ... Hi-Teknology is the debut album from producer Hi-Tek, released on Rawkus Records. ... Da Beatminerz are a hip-hop production duo from Brooklyn, New York. ... Brace 4 Impak is the debut album from the production team Da Beatminerz, on Rawkus Records. ... Talib Kweli (born Talib Kweli Greene in Brooklyn, New York City on October 3, 1975) is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ... Quality is rapper Talib Kwelis second album. ... For other uses, see Big L (disambiguation). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Talib Kweli (born Talib Kweli Greene in Brooklyn, New York City on October 3, 1975) is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ... The Beautiful Struggle is an album by American rapper Talib Kweli. ... Skillz (formerly Mad Skillz, born Shaquan Lewis in Richmond, Virginia) is an African-American rapper. ... Skillz (formerly Mad Skillz, born Donnie Shaquan Lewis in Detroit, Michigan) is an African-American rapper. ... Kidz in the Hall is an American hip hop duo from Chicago currently signed to Rawkus Records. ... School Was My Hustle is the first studio album from Kidz in the Hall, a hip hop duo from Chicago. ... Marco Polo is a Canadian hip hop producer. ... Port Authority is the debut album by Canadian Hip Hop producer Marco Polo, scheduled for release on May 15, 2007 as a joint venture between Soulspazm Records and Rawkus Records [1]. The album will be produced entirely by Marco Polo, and will feature guest raps from Masta Ace, Kool G...

Compilations

Soundbombing is a 1997 compilation album from independent Hip Hop label Rawkus Records. ... Lyricist Lounge, Volume One is the first installment of Rawkus Records Lyricist Lounge album series, based on the infamous Lyricist Lounge showcases in New York. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Lyricist Lounge 2 is the second installment in Rawkus Records Lyricist Lounge album series. ... Soundbombing III is the third installment of the Rawkus Records Soundbombing series. ...

External links

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Contents

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