From the womb to the tomb

The greatest hip-hop label of the 1990s was Rawkus Records. Sure, they weren't as big as Bad Boy, as popular as Def Jam, or as cheesy as No Limit, but they were by far the most noteworthy presence in recording during the mid to late 90's. Just take a look at the artists that have been affiliated with Rawkus: Eminem, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, El-P, Big L, the High & Mighty, Kool G Rap, Pharoahe Monch, Skillz, Common... The list is endless and impeccable. I mean, who can compete with that? After eight years in existence, however, Rawkus called it quits last week.

Started in 1996 by college students Brian Brater, Jarret Mayer, and James Murdoch, Rawkus quickly became a force in underground hip-hop. Built upon the ideal of promoting independent, original hip-hop and allowing for artistic freedom from its artists, the label first gained fame with the release of Company Flow's Funcrusher Plus in 1997. I remember listening to Funcrusher Plus for the first time and instantly becoming a fan of Rawkus. After that, I bought every release that the label put out. Lyricist Lounge Volume 1 was legendary, mixing together a blend of unknown emcees alongside greats like De La Soul and showcasing some of the best freestyles ever put on wax. Soundbombing 2 dropped in 1999, and instantly became one of my five favorite CDs of all time. Mixed by J-Rocc and Babu of the Beatjunkies, Soundbombing had a Hall of Fame line-up including the likes of Eminem, Dilated Peoples, Tash, and Pharoahe Monch. Plus, the three albums from Mos Def and Talib Kweli: Black Star, Black on Both Sides, and Reflection Eternal. I mean, what label can claim such success over the same amount of time? None.

Things started to slump for Rawkus around 2000 though, when out of nowhere they shut their doors and left many of their artists without a label. A few months later, the label, in search of cash to keep up its production, sold its rights to MCA. This was the turning point for Rawkus. After being sold to MCA, and later becoming part of Geffen/Universal, Rawkus strayed from its ideals and focused more on the commercial aspect of things. Subsequently, the fans stopped buying the albums that were put out. Last month, Geffen/Universal opted not to renew their deal with Rawkus, leaving them without a distribution deal. It's a little ironic that a label once so grounded in the independent spirit gets shut down after complications with a major label.

With their doors now shut, Rawkus' legacy is indisputable. Obviously, nobody can question the quality of the music that they put out from 1997-2000. Yet their legacy is more than just the music. Rawkus started and boosted the careers of so many popular artists today. Where would Mos Def and Talib Kweli be, if it weren't for Rawkus? In addition, the spirit that was promoted by the label led to many offshoots, including labels like Eastern Conference Records and Definitive Jux. The independent, artistic vibe that Rawkus encouraged was unparallel at the time, and still seems invigorating today.

So the next time you wander down to the record store, check out a Rawkus release and take home your own little part of hip-hop history. It'll be well worth it.