Obese Records

Obese Records was a record label that released music from the Australian hip hop genre. It was the largest Australian independent hip hop label,[1] including performers Pegz, Thundamentals and Dialectrix. Obese Records also operated two retail stores in Melbourne, a record distribution company, a soul imprint named Plethora Records,[2] and operates the artists' management and touring company Obese Records Artist Management.[3]

Obese Records
Parent companyWarner Music Group
FounderCapitol Records
Distributor(s)Atlantic
GenreHip hop
Country of originAustralia
LocationMelbourne
Official websiteobeserecords.com

History

Founding as OB's record store

Obese Records was founded in 1995 as a small record store[4] called OB's by Ollie Bobbitt, in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran. Specialising in hip hop music,[5] the store changed its name to "Obese Records" after Bobbitt sold the business to Shazlek One. In mid-2002 the store was bought by Melbourne-based artist Tirren Staaf (a.k.a. Pegz) who transformed it into a record label.[6]

According to Pegz, there were few other labels specializing in Australian hip hop at the time, and none putting significant funds into marketing.>[7] Pegz "saw the opening and went for it. It was about giving the people around me the opportunity they deserved."[8] Pegz used the label to create a distribution network,[9] and also purchased the Zenith Records vinyl pressing plant, one of only two companies then still pressing vinyl records in Australia.[10] The pressing plant was subsequently sold in November 2007.[1]

Expansion

The first artist released on the label was MC Reason's EP Solid in 2000,[3][11] produced by Jolz with appearances from Brad Strut, Bias B and Pac D.[12]

Other early releases included compilation albums, Culture of Kings (which included songs by Koolism, Hilltop Hoods, Hunter, Terra Firma, Lyrical Commission and Downsyde)[12] and Obesecity, which Pegz describes as "key networking tools" for the growing Australian hip hop scene,[11] as well as formative releases from Bliss n Eso, Bias B, DJ Bonez, Downsyde, Brad Strut and Layla. The two-disc Culture of Kings Volume Two included tracks by Hilltop Hoods, Delta, Layla, TZU, Hospice, Brothers Stoney, Bliss N Eso and Funkoars. It was the first Australian hip hop album to be selected for the Triple J feature album spot on local radio.[12]

In 2003, Obese released the Hilltop Hoods album The Calling, which became the first Australian hip hop album to go gold.[13] Mark Pollard, founder of Stealth Magazine, commented during an interview with Tony Mitchell in 2004 that Hilltop Hoods’ success had been helped by Obese.[14]

— Mark Pollard, founder of Stealth Magazine (2004)[14]

In 2006 the Hilltop Hoods were nominated and won awards for Best Performing Independent Album (The Hard Road) and Best Independent Artist at that year's Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) Chart Awards.

Two artists associated with the label were nominated for four AIR Chart Awards in 2007 (three for Hilltop Hoods and one for Muph & Plutonic).[15] At the 2007 ARIA Awards, the Hilltop Hoods won 'Best Urban Release' for their album The Hard Road: Restrung.[16] The Hilltop Hoods DVD, The City of Light, released by Obese Records in 2007, has also been classified gold. In 2008 two artists on the Obese label, Muph & Plutonic and Spit Syndicate, received nominations for 'Best Urban Album' at the ARIA Awards.[17] In 2010 M-Phazes' album, Good Gracious, was nominated for 'Best Urban Album' at the ARIA Awards.[18]

Recent years

Following Hilltops Hoods departure to start their own label with EMI,[19] Obese Records continued to focus on both established artists and underground locals.[11] Plethora Records was founded as Obese' Records subsidiary soul label in 2010.[19]

Obese was filming episodes for Obese TV, their web series, by 2012.[19] In 2013 Obese Records signed its first management contract with emcee Kerser, at that point having divisions for sales, publicity, marketing, accounts, and A&R.[3] The record store in Prahran at 4A Izett Street[20] continues to sell hip-hop merchandise as of 2013, and also hosts listening parties, radio marathons, and a segment on Obese TV.[3] Pegz expanded the company in 2013, opening a retail store in the Melbourne neighborhood of Frankston. It stocks music, merchandise, street apparel, spray paint, art supplies, DVDs, and street art magazines.[3]

Periscope Pictures announced on 19 September 2013, that Obese Records would be distributing its documentary Hunter: For The Record locally in Australia. The feature film chronicles hip hop artist Robert Hunter before his death from cancer in 2011. Hunter had released all his albums on Obese, and in conjunction with the DVD the label is releasing his final album, Bring it All Back, posthumously.[21]

In 2016 Obese Records announced that their official closing date would be 7 May. They will no longer be releasing any music.

Staff
  • Tirren Staaf (Pegz) – CEO
  • Fern Greig-Moore – Operations Manager & Artist Management[21]
  • Lindsey Martin – Publicity & Communications[3]
  • Lee Rawlings – Sales & Distribution [3]

Distribution

Obese Records Distribution provides distribution for the following labels, in addition to Obese Records:[22]

  • The Ayems
  • Born Fresh
  • Broken Tooth Entertainment
  • Crate Cartel
  • Fat Beats
  • Karsniogenics
  • Lookup
  • Myspherical
  • Nuff Said Records
  • Plethora Records
  • Uknowho Records
  • WordBurner Entertainment/Bias B

Artists

Discography
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Cat. # Title Artist Year
OBR001Solid Reason[23]2000
OBR002Culture of Kings: Volume 1 (CD,[24] vinyl[25])Various2000
OBR003Hip Hop LifeBias B2001
OBR004-
OBR008		Culture of Kings: Volume 2[26]Various (Solomon Klepto, Pegz, Bob Balans, Hilltop Hoods, Hospice, Art of War, Layla, etc.)2002
OBR009The Courageous L.P. Matty B2002
OBR010The Authentic LP Brad Strut2002
OBR013ObeseCity[27]Various (Terra Firma, Brothers Stoney, Sol Klept, Chopper Read-Brad Stru -Bias B-Balans, The Hospice, Koolism, etc.)2003
OBR015Culture of Kings: Volume 3Various2004
OBR017The CallingHilltop Hoods2003
OBR022Capricorn CatPegz2003
OBR024Hunger PainsMuph n Plutonic2007
OBR026When the Dust SettlesDownsyde2004
OBR032Who Am IDrapht2005
OBR034AxisPegz2005
OBR047The Hard RoadHilltop Hoods2006
OBR049What a Great NightHilltop Hoods2007
OBR050 Been There Done That Bias B2007
OBR051The Hard Road: RestrungHilltop Hoods2007
OBR054Burn CityPegz2007
OBR055 Don't Let Your Guard Down Chasm2008
OBR057Brothers GrimmDrapht2008
OBR063Left To WriteSkryptcha2009
OBR065Long Story ShortIlly2009
OBR071 Power of the Spoken Mantra2010
OBR075The ChaseIlly2010
OBR081Window of Time Reason2011
OBR084ObeseCity 2[27]Various2012
OBR085Bring It BackIlly2012
OBR086Sunday Gentlemen Spit Syndicate2013
OBR087 Diamond Cuts EP Chasm2013
OBR088 The Cold Light of Day Dialectrix2013
OBR089Smoking Aces EPChasm2013
OBR090The WorksM-Phazes2013
OBR091Sunday Gentlemen: Deluxe EditionSpit Syndicate2013
OBR092Day Turns to Night EPChasm2013
OBR093So We Can RememberThundamentals2014
OBR094Night Vision EPChasm2014
Source: Official Discography
Plethora Records (imprint)
Cat. # Title Artist Year
PLR001 Neon Heartache Jess Harlen2010
PLR002 Park Yard Slang Jess Harlen2012

See also
  • List of independent record labels

References
  1. Walter, John. "Fatter Than Ya Mama". Melbourne Pixel magazine. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
  2. "Releases". Plethora Records. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  3. Steps, Jim (8 March 2013). "Obese Records – Frankston Store Opening". All Aussie Hip Hop. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  4. "Obese Records Interview by Writin' Exact". Scene Magazine. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  5. "Australian Music Online - record label profile 'Obese Records'". Archived from the original on 29 July 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
  6. "Reason, Local Noise (02/10/2004)". Archived from the original on 23 March 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  7. Dennes, Caz (1 May 2008). "OBESE BLOCK PARTY - Block Rockin' Beats". BMA Magazine. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
  8. Kuch, Jesse (24 September 2009). "The Don". The Cairns Post. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  9. Colman, Tim (9 December 2005). "Milkbar Stars". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
  10. "New vinyl records donated to the NFSA". Australian Film Commission. Retrieved 17 March 2007.
  11. "Tales of Obese City". Mag. Slattery Media Group. June 2009.
  12. "Obese Records interview". Scene Magazine. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  13. "Tiptop hip-hop with an Aussie accent". Record Scout Music News. 18 October 2004.
  14. Mitchell, Tony. "Mark Pollard Interview". Local Noise. University of Technology, Sydney. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  15. "Jagermeister AIR Award nominees". FasterLouder.com.au. 19 October 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  16. "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2007: 21st Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  17. "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2008: 22nd Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  18. Ferris, Rina; Brennan, Kristyn (28 September 2010). "2010 ARIA Awards Nominations & Artisan Award Winners Announced" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original (Portable Document Format (PDF)) on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  19. "Chewing the fat with Obese Records – Red Bull website". Red Bull. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  20. "Obese Records". Acclaim Mag. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  21. "Obese Records to Distibute Hunter: For The Record Documentary". if.com.au. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  22. "Distribution". Obese Records. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  23. "Releases". Obese Records. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  24. "Various - Culture Of Kings Volume 1". Discogs. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  25. "Various - Culture Of Kings Volume 1 - vinyl". Discogs. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  26. "Various - Culture Of Kings Volume 2". Discogs. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  27. "Various - Obesecity". Discogs. Retrieved 21 March 2011.

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