Hip Record Label Design Shorts
Description: Ruff Ryders Entertainment is an American hip hop record label and management company founded by siblings and record executives Joaquin "Waah", Darrin "Dee" and Chivon Dean in 1988. It operated as a subsidiary of Universal, and distributed by Interscope Records, with Def Jam Recordings serving as the distributor for DMX albums. The label went on to launch the careers of several successful artists such as their flagship artist DMX, Eve, The LOX, Drag-On, MC Jin, producers Dame Grease and the Deans' nephew, Swizz Beatz among others. The Ruff Ryders namesake also referred to a loose-knit hip hop collective composed of the core signees of the label.
Description: Rawkus Records is an American hip hop record label, owned by James Murdoch, known for starting the careers of many rappers. Rawkus started in 1995 with releases in hip-hop, drum and bass 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.
Description: Death Records is a San Francisco-based Lo-Fi/Outsider Pop record label. Founded by Brian Wakefield & Colin Arlen in 2014, the label was created to "Represent the 'misfits of this city' who have been left behind to fend for themselves". The label has started an annual festival, Deathstock, to celebrate the labels "birthday". Acts such as Gary Wilson, Tomorrow's Tulips & The Memories played the inaugural year.
Description: Loud Records, LLC is a record label founded by Steve Rifkind, Joseph Safina, Rich Isaacson in 1991. Rifkind served as the chief executive officer while Isaacson served as the president of the label. The label signed numerous artists such as Wu-Tang Clan, Davina, Big Pun, Mobb Deep, Prodigy, Krayzie Bone, The Beatnuts, M.O.P., Tha Alkaholiks, Pete Rock, Lil' Flip, Three 6 Mafia, Project Pat, Xzibit, Twista, Dead Prez, The Dwellas, and The X-Ecutioners. The label also released thrash metal band Megadeth's deluxe and remastered debut album Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! in 2002.
Description: Rawkus Records is an American hip hop record label, owned by James Murdoch, known for starting the careers of many rappers. Rawkus started in 1995 with releases in hip-hop, drum and bass 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.
Description: Anticon was an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1998 by seven musicians and manager Baillie Parker. It was collectively owned among six musicians, co-founder Parker, and manager Shaun Koplow. The original musicians signed to Anticon were once referred to as the Anticon collective. Following the death of one of its founding members in 2018, the label dissolved.
Description: Ruthless Records was founded by rapper Eric Wright (supposedly with money made as a drug dealer) and music industry veteran manager Jerry Heller in 1987. Ruthless was the home of several pioneering gangsta rap artists, and is credited with elevating West Coast hip hop beyond fringe audiences and into popular culture.
Description: Definitive Jux was a record label based in New York City. It was co-founded in 1999 by El-P and Amaechi Uzoigwe. Definitive Jux was initially known as Def Jux. However, popular hip-hop label Def Jam Recordings sued Def Jux over the name similarity in 2001. This lawsuit was settled out of court and the name was officially changed to Definitive Jux.
Description: Grand Royal was a vanity record label founded in 1992 by rap group Beastie Boys in conjunction with Capitol Records after the group left Def Jam Recordings. It was based in Los Angeles, California. Grand Royal was also the name of a magazine written and published by the group. Described as a publication that "came to define part of Generation X," the total distribution of the six issues of Grand Royal was estimated at 300,000 copies.
Description: Ruff Ryders Entertainment is an American hip hop record label and management company founded by siblings and record executives Joaquin ""Waah"", Darrin ""Dee"" and Chivon Dean in 1988. It operated as a subsidiary of Universal, and distributed by Interscope Records, with Def Jam Recordings serving as the distributor for DMX albums. The label went on to launch the careers of several successful artists such as their flagship artist DMX, Eve, The LOX, Drag-On, MC Jin, producers Dame Grease and the Deans' nephew, Swizz Beatz among others. The Ruff Ryders namesake also referred to a loose-knit hip hop collective composed of the core signees of the label.
Description: Ruthless Records was an American record label founded by Eric "Eazy-E" Wright in Compton, California on March 3, 1987. All of the Ruthless trademarks have been owned by Comptown Records, Inc. since 1987. Several artists and groups on the label such as N.W.A, Eazy-E, MC Ren, the D.O.C., Michel'le, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony have released RIAA certified albums.
Description: Founded in 1986, Brooklyn Dust Music hit the ground running and never stopped, publishing more than 400 albums, EPs, and singles over the next four decades. Primarily focusing on rap and hip-hop, Brooklyn Dust also published plenty of rock, alternative, and even soundtracks, creating a diverse catalog.
Description: Uptown Records was a groundbreaking American label, founded by Andre Harrell in 1986, that defined the sound of '90s hip-hop and R&B, pioneering the "New Jack Swing" genre and launching superstars like Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, and Heavy D & The Boyz, while also giving Sean "Diddy" Combs his start, creating a cultural movement alongside hit music. The label's signature style blended assertive hip-hop with smooth R&B, establishing a distinctive aesthetic and lifestyle brand that influenced music for decades.
Description: Grand Royal was a vanity record label founded in 1992 by rap group Beastie Boys in conjunction with Capitol Records after the group left Def Jam Recordings. It was based in Los Angeles, California. Grand Royal was also the name of a magazine written and published by the group. Described as a publication that "came to define part of Generation X," the total distribution of the six issues of Grand Royal was estimated at 300,000 copies.
Description: Wild Pitch Records was an American Golden age hip hop record label, started in 1987 by Stuart Fine, that was eventually distributed by EMI. Artists who released records on the label included Gang Starr, Chill Rob G, Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth, Main Source, The U.M.C.'s, Hard Knocks, Brokin English Klik, Street Military, Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud, The Coup, Ultramagnetic MCs, O.C., as well as Latee, Jamose, and female rapper N-Tyce.
Description: Krush Groove is a 1985 American musical comedy-drama film about a guy named Russell Walker who starts a hip hop record label called Krush Groove. Walker signs all of the hottest acts to his label, and when one of his groups has a hit and he doesn't have the cash to press records, he borrows money from a street hustler. The movie received a mixed reception, but the fact that it is a who's who of 80s hip hop with various groups and performers making appearances, some portraying themselves, and some as fictional characters, has made it a popular time capsule.
Description: No Limit Records is an American record company founded by Master P. The label's albums were distributed by Priority Records, Universal and Koch Records. The label included artists such as Snoop Dogg, Mercedes, Silkk the Shocker, Mystikal, Mia X, Mac, C-Murder, Magic, Romeo Miller, Fiend, Kane & Abel, and Soulja Slim. Anthony Boswell, head of Bout It Bout It Management, served as the vice president of operations as well as head of management for the label.
Description: Gold Star Recording Company originated as a recording studio in Houston, Texas, and was founded in October 1941 by Bill Quinn under the name Quinn Recording Company. In 1950, Quinn changed the name of the studio to Gold Star Studios and, as such, remains the oldest registered recording studio in the Southeastern United States.
Description: Freedom Records was a jazz record label headed by Shel Safran and founded by Alan Bates as a division of Black Lion Records. Individual recordings were distributed via Polydor Records and Transatlantic Records during the early 1970s before the company was bought by Arista Records with the imprint dubbed Arista/Freedom in 1975.
Description: Cool as moonlight, smooth as vinyl—“Black Cat Records” imagines a forgotten jazz and soul label prowling the shadows of the city that never sleeps. With glowing neon skyline, hypnotic notes, and a sleek black cat logo, this design channels the spirit of smokey R&B lounges and haunted after-hours clubs. A perfect fusion of retro cool and supernatural style for vinyl heads, jazz lovers, and nocturnal souls. Created by monstermangraphic – Helping people find beauty in the darkness 24/7™.
Description: Federal Records was an American record label founded in 1950 as a subsidiary of Syd Nathan's King Records and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was run by famed record producer Ralph Bass and was mainly devoted to Rhythm & Blues releases. The company also released hillbilly and rockabilly recordings from 1951 onward, e.g., "Rockin' and Rollin" by Ramblin' Tommy Scott on Federal 10003. Singles were published on both 45 and 78 rpm speed formats.
