Jake records
Encyclopedia
Jake Records is an independent record label.
and music production lead to the creation of the label, when he realized that major labels were taking less chances on new and underdeveloped talent. With recent advances making audio production more accessible to artists everywhere and the rise of digitally distributed music, Thomas felt that some of the cost-prohibitive barriers to running a successful record label had been removed. The company has grown considerably since its beginnings. The label relocated to Las Vegas, in July 2009.
The first artist signed to the label was Northern California
based rapper and radio personality Jiggy. His debut album "Jiggy" was released by the label in March 2008. The album initially had steady sales and the first single, "Irresistible" received airplay on dozens of radio stations.
Shortly after the release of the Jiggy album, Thomas reunited with longtime friend Shock G
, front-man for the multi-platinum group Digital Underground
. The group was signed to the label, and released their final studio album "..Cuz A d.u. Party Don't Stop!" in May 2008, which has had strong physical unit and digital sales. Two singles were chosen from the album, "Cali Boogie" and "Blue Skyy," both of which received very light west coast airplay, though the latter was featured during a nationally syndicated interview. In October 2008 the label re-released the 2004 solo album from Shock G
"Fear Of A Mixed Planet" as a "Bonus Edition" with two new tracks. In May 2010, the label released another Digital Underground project, "The Greenlight EP" featuring several previously unreleased songs. The EP was met with critical success, and hailed as a positive "goodbye" release for the group, which has been disbanded since 2008. The EP was marketed as the final collection of unreleased songs. Notably, the EP features a live version of the group's hit "Same Song" which features a young Tupac Shakur
prior to his rise to fame.
In July 2008, Jake Records signed longtime Digital Underground
tour mates Element. Their "Variety Pak" album released in December 2008. Also in October 2008, the label announced its first imprint project, taking on distribution and marketing for Killer Groove, Inc. the production company founded by Hip Hop pioneer Almighty Kay Gee of The Cold Crush Brothers
. The first release under that partnership was the debut album "Unexpected" from renowned Reggae/Dancehall producer Dainjamental, which hit stores in March 2009. Digital Underground protege BINC has been signed to the label since 2009, and has released several singles including the San Francisco Bay Area hit "We So On." His debut album, entitled "200X" was released in January 2011.
The label has produced several specialty releases including the instrumental series "Beats For Ballers" and the acclaimed 2008 compilation album "Westside Bugg Presents... The Best Of The West" which featured tracks from Jake Records artists alongside well known west coast artists including The Conscious Daughters
and Saafir
. A compilation album entitled "Hip Hop Xplosion" was released as a digital-only release in April 2010, and featured several Jake Records artists along with several up and coming rappers. In a February 2011 interview, Thomas said the label was working on a new specialty release series called "Unsigned Grind" which will feature unsigned Hip Hop artists from around the country, though no specific release date was given.
The company was named a 2009 finalist in the American Business Awards. The label continues to grow and expand its operations.
History
Jake Records is a Las Vegas based independent record label. The company was founded in Seattle in January 2008 by entertainment industry executive Scott Thomas. His extensive work in radioRadio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and music production lead to the creation of the label, when he realized that major labels were taking less chances on new and underdeveloped talent. With recent advances making audio production more accessible to artists everywhere and the rise of digitally distributed music, Thomas felt that some of the cost-prohibitive barriers to running a successful record label had been removed. The company has grown considerably since its beginnings. The label relocated to Las Vegas, in July 2009.
The first artist signed to the label was Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
based rapper and radio personality Jiggy. His debut album "Jiggy" was released by the label in March 2008. The album initially had steady sales and the first single, "Irresistible" received airplay on dozens of radio stations.
Shortly after the release of the Jiggy album, Thomas reunited with longtime friend Shock G
Shock G
Gregory E. Jacobs , known by the stage names Shock G and Humpty Hump, is an American musician and rapper, known as the lead vocalist for the hip hop group Digital Underground...
, front-man for the multi-platinum group Digital Underground
Digital Underground
Digital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. It could have been considered a music "family" rather than a group, as its personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour....
. The group was signed to the label, and released their final studio album "..Cuz A d.u. Party Don't Stop!" in May 2008, which has had strong physical unit and digital sales. Two singles were chosen from the album, "Cali Boogie" and "Blue Skyy," both of which received very light west coast airplay, though the latter was featured during a nationally syndicated interview. In October 2008 the label re-released the 2004 solo album from Shock G
Shock G
Gregory E. Jacobs , known by the stage names Shock G and Humpty Hump, is an American musician and rapper, known as the lead vocalist for the hip hop group Digital Underground...
"Fear Of A Mixed Planet" as a "Bonus Edition" with two new tracks. In May 2010, the label released another Digital Underground project, "The Greenlight EP" featuring several previously unreleased songs. The EP was met with critical success, and hailed as a positive "goodbye" release for the group, which has been disbanded since 2008. The EP was marketed as the final collection of unreleased songs. Notably, the EP features a live version of the group's hit "Same Song" which features a young Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
prior to his rise to fame.
In July 2008, Jake Records signed longtime Digital Underground
Digital Underground
Digital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. It could have been considered a music "family" rather than a group, as its personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour....
tour mates Element. Their "Variety Pak" album released in December 2008. Also in October 2008, the label announced its first imprint project, taking on distribution and marketing for Killer Groove, Inc. the production company founded by Hip Hop pioneer Almighty Kay Gee of The Cold Crush Brothers
The Cold Crush Brothers
The Cold Crush Brothers is a hip hop group that formed in 1979 in the Bronx, New York City, New York, alongside other early hip hop acts.-Formation:...
. The first release under that partnership was the debut album "Unexpected" from renowned Reggae/Dancehall producer Dainjamental, which hit stores in March 2009. Digital Underground protege BINC has been signed to the label since 2009, and has released several singles including the San Francisco Bay Area hit "We So On." His debut album, entitled "200X" was released in January 2011.
The label has produced several specialty releases including the instrumental series "Beats For Ballers" and the acclaimed 2008 compilation album "Westside Bugg Presents... The Best Of The West" which featured tracks from Jake Records artists alongside well known west coast artists including The Conscious Daughters
The Conscious Daughters
The Conscious Daughters is a female rap duo, consisting of members Special One and CMG, out of Northern California's Bay Area. The duo signed in 1993 to rapper/activist Paris's record label Scarface Records after passing him a demo tape at a club...
and Saafir
Saafir
Reggie Gibson, better known as Saafir is an emcee, producer and actor from Oakland, California. After moving from Fresno, California to Oakland, he lived with Tupac Shakur and became a dancer for Digital Underground...
. A compilation album entitled "Hip Hop Xplosion" was released as a digital-only release in April 2010, and featured several Jake Records artists along with several up and coming rappers. In a February 2011 interview, Thomas said the label was working on a new specialty release series called "Unsigned Grind" which will feature unsigned Hip Hop artists from around the country, though no specific release date was given.
The company was named a 2009 finalist in the American Business Awards. The label continues to grow and expand its operations.
Associated Artists
- Jiggy
- Shock GShock GGregory E. Jacobs , known by the stage names Shock G and Humpty Hump, is an American musician and rapper, known as the lead vocalist for the hip hop group Digital Underground...
- Digital UndergroundDigital UndergroundDigital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. It could have been considered a music "family" rather than a group, as its personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour....
- Element
- BINC
- Dainjamental
- Jay Smith Biatch
- The EX Box Boys
- The Conscious DaughtersThe Conscious DaughtersThe Conscious Daughters is a female rap duo, consisting of members Special One and CMG, out of Northern California's Bay Area. The duo signed in 1993 to rapper/activist Paris's record label Scarface Records after passing him a demo tape at a club...
- Mixmaster F
- SaafirSaafirReggie Gibson, better known as Saafir is an emcee, producer and actor from Oakland, California. After moving from Fresno, California to Oakland, he lived with Tupac Shakur and became a dancer for Digital Underground...
- Dae One