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Rawkus Records (or Rawkus Entertainment) 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, producing a string of gold albums and a platinum album.
Over the years, Rawkus recorded several notable independent hip-hop artists, including Reflection Eternal, Company Flow, the High and Mighty, Mos Def and Talib Kweli (as Blackstar), Eminem, Common, Pharoahe Monch and Skillz.
In 2000, Rawkus released New York City rapper Big L's second and final studio album, The Big Picture. Released posthumously after Big L's 1999 murder, the album debuted and peaked in the top 15 on the Billboard 200. Anchored by the success of the single, Flamboyant, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA for selling over 500,000 copies in America.
In 2002, Rawkus signed a joint venture deal with MCA Records. Soon after, MCA folded and Interscope/Geffen Records bought Rawkus. After the sale of its catalog in 2004, Rawkus split from Geffen.
In 2006, Rawkus signed with RED Distribution (a Sony Music distribution company) and reemerged with a new lineup of notable independent hip-hop artists: The Procussions, Mr. J. Medeiros, Kidz in the Hall, Marco Polo, and Panacea.
In early 2007, Rawkus Records accepted album submissions from hip-hop artists, known or unknown, to be considered for their new campaign. The 50 artists chosen to wear the Rawkus 50 badge were signed to a digital distribution deal through IODA's (Independent Online Distribution Alliance) digital distribution network and had their albums released under the banner "Rawkus 50 presents". Since 2007, Rawkus has not released a new project.
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