From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'.

• Blue Scholars
• Custom Made
• Marco Polo
• Panacea
• The Procussions
• Point Blank

• Black Star (Mos Def & Talib Kweli)
• Cocoa Brovaz
• Company Flow
• El-P
• Hi-Tek
• The High & Mighty
• Kool G. Rap
• Pharoahe Monch
• Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek)
• Shawn J. Period
• Skillz
• Smut Peddlers
• Atllas

• 1997: Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus
• 1999: Black Star - Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star
• 1999: Mos Def - Black on Both Sides
• 1999: Pharoahe Monch - Internal Affairs
• 1999: Company Flow - Little Johnny from the Hospitul: Breaks & Instrumentals Vol.1
• 1999: DJ Spinna- Heavy Beats Volume 1
• 1999: The High & Mighty- Home Field Advantage
• 1999: Smut Peddlers - Porn Again
• 2000: Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek - Train of Thought
• 2000: Jurassic 5 - Quality Control
• 2000: Big L - The Big Picture
• 2001: Hi-Tek - Hi-Teknology
• 2001: Da Beatminerz - Brace 4 Impak
• 2002: Talib Kweli - Quality
• 2004:Talib Kweli - The Beautiful Struggle
• 2006: Mad Skillz - Skillz
• 2006: Kidz in the Hall - School Was My Hustle
• 2007: Blue Scholars - Bayani
• 2007: Mr. J Medeiros - Of Gods and Girls
• 2007: Marco Polo - Port Authority
• 2007: Panacea - The Scenic Route
• 2007: Point Blank - Don't Get Carried Away

• 1997 Soundbombing
• 1998 Lyricist Lounge, Volume One
• 1999 Soundbombing 2
• 2000 Lyricist Lounge 2
• 2002 Soundbombing III
• 2005 Best of Decade I: 1995-2005

• Official site — requires Macromedia Flash