Fake Four Inc
Encyclopedia
Fake Four Inc. is an independent record label based in New Haven, CT. It was founded in 2008 by Ceschi and David Ramos. According to an interview with Ceschi on Ugsmag.com, the Ramos brothers started Fake Four with help from San Bernardino, California's Grimm Image Records and Dayton, Ohio's Squids Eye Recording Collective as an outlet to release and distribute their personal music projects and those of their friends. Since the initial David Ramos This Up Here release, Fake Four Inc has been an entirely self-sufficient label.
Although the label does not adhere to genre specifications, it is closely tied to the experimental independent hip hop sound associated with labels such as Definitive Jux
, Anticon
and Rhymesayers Entertainment
and indie rock
. In May, 2010 Brett Uddenberg of URB magazine praised the label for pushing the boundaries of indie rap and in a July, 2010 review Chris Faraone of The Phoenix wrote "Fake Four is the most important label in progressive hip-hop right now."
magazine's Top 10 Progressive drummers. The album received praise from publications such as Tiny Mix Tapes
and XLR8R
among others.
In 2010 Fake Four became official label partners with Portland, Oregon based Circle Into Square and took on production and distribution duties for the smaller like minded label. Fake Four is exclusively distributed by Sonic Unyon Distribution in Canada and by Redeye Distribution
Worldwide.
From there the label went on to release albums by Factor, Myka 9
, Boy In Static
, Awol One (of the Shape Shifters
), Sole & The Skyrider Band, Sole
, Electric President
, Moka Only
, and Blue Sky Black Death
among many others.
In June 2009 Fake Four Inc signed an exclusive distribution deal with Redeye Distribution joining labels such as Kill Rock Stars
, Warp Records
, Thrill Jockey
, and Ninja Tune
among others.
Nearly all Fake Four releases have placed on CMJ charts, including a #2 CMJ Hip Hop ranking for Dark Time Sunshine's "Vessel" and #3 CMJ Hip Hop showings for Factor's "Lawson Graham" and Awol One & Factor's "Owl Hours." The label is also known for their intra-label collaborations and extensive self-booked touring. Fake Four has sponsored and promoted tours of the United States,
Canada, Japan, and Europe.
releases 2009:
releases 2010:
releases 2011:
Although the label does not adhere to genre specifications, it is closely tied to the experimental independent hip hop sound associated with labels such as Definitive Jux
Definitive Jux
Definitive Jux is an independent record label based in New York City, United States. It was co-founded in 1999 by Jaime Meline and Amaechi Uzoigwe. The label was initially known simply as Def Jux, but in 2001, popular hip hop label Def Jam Recordings sued Def Jux over the name similarity...
, Anticon
Anticon
Anticon is an Oakland based independent record label founded in 1997. It is collectively owned among six founding artists and one manager...
and Rhymesayers Entertainment
Rhymesayers Entertainment
Rhymesayers Entertainment is an independent hip hop record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, co-founded in 1995 by Sean Daley, Anthony Davis, Brent Sayers and Musab Saad....
and indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
. In May, 2010 Brett Uddenberg of URB magazine praised the label for pushing the boundaries of indie rap and in a July, 2010 review Chris Faraone of The Phoenix wrote "Fake Four is the most important label in progressive hip-hop right now."
History
The first Fake Four Inc. full-length release came on May 20, 2008 with FFINC001 David Ramos - This Up Here, an album by one of the label founders and Modern DrummerModern Drummer
Modern Drummer is a monthly publication targeting the interests of on drummers and percussionists. The magazine features interviews, equipment reviews, and columns offering advice on technique, as well as information for the general public...
magazine's Top 10 Progressive drummers. The album received praise from publications such as Tiny Mix Tapes
Tiny Mix Tapes
Tiny Mix Tapes is an online music and film webzine that focuses primarily on new music and related news. In addition to its reviews, it is noted for its subversive, political, and sometimes surreal news, as well as its mix tapes generator.-History:Originally called Tiny Mixtapes Gone to Heaven and...
and XLR8R
XLR8R
XLR8R is a magazine and website thatcovers music, culture, style, and technology. It was founded as anewsprint ‘zine in 1993 by publisher Andrew Smith in Seattle; themagazine currently has offices in San Francisco and New York...
among others.
In 2010 Fake Four became official label partners with Portland, Oregon based Circle Into Square and took on production and distribution duties for the smaller like minded label. Fake Four is exclusively distributed by Sonic Unyon Distribution in Canada and by Redeye Distribution
Redeye Distribution
Redeye Distribution is an independent music distribution company founded in 1996 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Redeye currently distributes such labels as Marsalis Music, Barsuk Records, Warp Records, Daptone Records, Luaka Bop Records, Kill Rock Stars, Sargent House, Hydra Head Records, The...
Worldwide.
From there the label went on to release albums by Factor, Myka 9
Myka 9
Myka 9 is a musician/rapper from Los Angeles.-History:Originally known as Microphone Mike, in the 80s he was a member of the MC Aces with Aceyalone and Spoon Iodine. As one of the founding members of Freestyle Fellowship, Myka 9 was instrumental in the scene at the Good Life Cafe in the early 90s...
, Boy In Static
Boy In Static
Boy in Static is a band currently based in San Francisco, California, composed of Alexander Chen and Kenji Ross. The first Boy in Static album Newborn was released in 2004 on small label Alien Transistor . Mush Records released the second album Violet in 2007...
, Awol One (of the Shape Shifters
Shape Shifters (band)
The Shape Shifters is a Los Angeles based underground collective of hip hop artists, currently consisting of Awol One , Existereo , Die Young , Life Rexall, Akuma, Radioinactive , Circus, LA Jae, and DJ Rob One .The group prevented another act from the United Kingdom, The Shapeshifters, from using...
), Sole & The Skyrider Band, Sole
Sole (artist)
Tim Holland, known as Sole, is an alternative hip hop artist and a co-founder of the Anticon collective/label. Sole is known for his dense and often dark stream-of-consciousness style of rapping. His verses are often filled with abstraction, metaphor and sarcasm while avoiding or deconstructing...
, Electric President
Electric President
Electric President is a Jacksonville, Florida musical duo started in 2003 by Ben Cooper and Alex Kane. Both were in Helicopter Project prior to its breakup though no music from this group was ever released. Afterwards the pair decided to continue to make music together. They subsequently completed...
, Moka Only
Moka Only
Daniel Denton , known professionally as Moka Only, is a Canadian hip hop artist. Originally from Langford, British Columbia, near Victoria, he is now based in Vancouver. He was previously part of the hip hop group Swollen Members, and briefly a part of Len. His albums are released by Legendary...
, and Blue Sky Black Death
Blue Sky Black Death
Blue Sky Black Death is a production duo based in Seattle, Washington. The duo consists of Kingston and Young God . They are known principally for their hip hop and instrumental music, made with a mix of live instrumentation and sampling...
among many others.
In June 2009 Fake Four Inc signed an exclusive distribution deal with Redeye Distribution joining labels such as Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
, Warp Records
Warp Records
Warp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is a pioneering independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the more enduring artists in electronic music....
, Thrill Jockey
Thrill Jockey
Thrill Jockey Records is an American independent record label established in 1992 in New York City by former Atlantic Records A&R representative Bettina Richards.-History:...
, and Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune is a London-based independent record label started by DJs Matt Black and Jonathan More, better known as Coldcut and managed by Peter Quicke. The label has a strong leaning towards mostly Electronic Music...
among others.
Nearly all Fake Four releases have placed on CMJ charts, including a #2 CMJ Hip Hop ranking for Dark Time Sunshine's "Vessel" and #3 CMJ Hip Hop showings for Factor's "Lawson Graham" and Awol One & Factor's "Owl Hours." The label is also known for their intra-label collaborations and extensive self-booked touring. Fake Four has sponsored and promoted tours of the United States,
Canada, Japan, and Europe.
Artists
- ANONYMOUS INC.
- ASTRONAUTALISAstronautalisAstronautalis is an American hip hop artist based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.After gaining some renown in local circles in Jacksonville and competing at Scribble Jam, Astronautalis self-released his debut album, You and Yer Good Ideas, in 2003...
- AWOL ONE (of the Shape ShiftersShape Shifters (band)The Shape Shifters is a Los Angeles based underground collective of hip hop artists, currently consisting of Awol One , Existereo , Die Young , Life Rexall, Akuma, Radioinactive , Circus, LA Jae, and DJ Rob One .The group prevented another act from the United Kingdom, The Shapeshifters, from using...
) - AWOL ONE and FACTOR
- BLACK KETTLE
- BLEUBIRDBleubirdJacques Bruna , better known by his stage name Bleubird. is an American rapper originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is known for his rapid-fire delivery, comic relief, lyrical wit, and freestyle ability....
- BLUE SKY BLACK DEATHBlue Sky Black DeathBlue Sky Black Death is a production duo based in Seattle, Washington. The duo consists of Kingston and Young God . They are known principally for their hip hop and instrumental music, made with a mix of live instrumentation and sampling...
- BOY IN STATICBoy In StaticBoy in Static is a band currently based in San Francisco, California, composed of Alexander Chen and Kenji Ross. The first Boy in Static album Newborn was released in 2004 on small label Alien Transistor . Mush Records released the second album Violet in 2007...
- CARS & TRAINS
- CESCHI
- COMMON GRACKLE
- DARK TIME SUNSHINE featuring Onry Ozzborn of GrayskulGrayskul-Formation:In 2003 Onry Ozzborn and JFK, both members of the Pacific Northwest hip hop collective Oldominion, teamed up with bassist Rob Castro to form Grayskul. They recorded about 55 songs in eight months at ATB Studios; these would eventually become Creature, Thee Adventures! and Deadlivers...
- DAVID RAMOS
- DEADPAN DARLING
- DELBY L
- DJ SCIENTIST
- ELECTRIC PRESIDENTElectric PresidentElectric President is a Jacksonville, Florida musical duo started in 2003 by Ben Cooper and Alex Kane. Both were in Helicopter Project prior to its breakup though no music from this group was ever released. Afterwards the pair decided to continue to make music together. They subsequently completed...
- FACTOR
- GHOST NOTES
- GREGORY PEPPER & HIS PROBLEMS
- K-THE-I???K-the-I???K-the-I??? is an American rapper and producer born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and now based in Los Angeles, California.K-the-I??? began recording in 2002, and released several small-issue records before signing with Mush Records in 2006...
- KAY THE AQUANAUT
- LORD FOWL featuring ex-members of Spring Heeled JackSpring Heeled JackSpring-heeled Jack is a character in English folklore of the Victorian era who was known for his startling jumps. The first claimed sighting of Spring-heeled Jack was in 1837. Later sightings were reported all over England and were especially prevalent in suburban London, the Midlands and...
and Jasta 14 - LOUIS LOGICLouis LogicLouis Logic is a New York City based underground hip-hop MC. He is a former member of the Demigodz, appearing on a number of tracks on their first album. He has also released albums as a solo artist, and as The Odd Couple with Jay Love. He has recently made his arrangement with longtime producer J.J...
- MAD GREGS
- MIC K!NG & CHUM
- MYKA 9Myka 9Myka 9 is a musician/rapper from Los Angeles.-History:Originally known as Microphone Mike, in the 80s he was a member of the MC Aces with Aceyalone and Spoon Iodine. As one of the founding members of Freestyle Fellowship, Myka 9 was instrumental in the scene at the Good Life Cafe in the early 90s...
- NOAH23Noah23Noah Raymond Brickley, better known by his stage name Noah23, is an alternative hip hop artist and founder of the Plague Language collective.- Biography :...
- ONRY OZZBORN
- PARANOID CASTLE
- PRETEND YOU'RE HAPPY
- RON CONTOUR A.K.A. MOKA ONLYMoka OnlyDaniel Denton , known professionally as Moka Only, is a Canadian hip hop artist. Originally from Langford, British Columbia, near Victoria, he is now based in Vancouver. He was previously part of the hip hop group Swollen Members, and briefly a part of Len. His albums are released by Legendary...
& FACTOR - THE SHAPE SHIFTERSShape Shifters (band)The Shape Shifters is a Los Angeles based underground collective of hip hop artists, currently consisting of Awol One , Existereo , Die Young , Life Rexall, Akuma, Radioinactive , Circus, LA Jae, and DJ Rob One .The group prevented another act from the United Kingdom, The Shapeshifters, from using...
- SOLESole (artist)Tim Holland, known as Sole, is an alternative hip hop artist and a co-founder of the Anticon collective/label. Sole is known for his dense and often dark stream-of-consciousness style of rapping. His verses are often filled with abstraction, metaphor and sarcasm while avoiding or deconstructing...
& THE SKYRIDER BAND - TOMMY V.
- ZAVALA
Discography
releases 2008:- FFINC001 - (5/27/08) - David Ramos "This Up Here"
- FFINC002 - (7/21/08) - Factor "Chandelier"
- FFINC003 - (8/26/08) - Mad Gregs "Big Nun"
- FFINC004 - (9/23/08) - Lord Fowl "Endless Dynamite"
- FFINC005 - (11/4/08) - Pretend You're Happy "Pretend You're Happy'
releases 2009:
- FFINC006- (1/15/09) - Myka 9Myka 9Myka 9 is a musician/rapper from Los Angeles.-History:Originally known as Microphone Mike, in the 80s he was a member of the MC Aces with Aceyalone and Spoon Iodine. As one of the founding members of Freestyle Fellowship, Myka 9 was instrumental in the scene at the Good Life Cafe in the early 90s...
"1969" - FFINC007- (4/14/09) - Boy In Static "Candy Cigarette"
- FFINC008- (5/5/09) - Delby L "Nine Skies"
- FFINC009- (6/16/09) - Gregory Pepper and His Problems "With Trumpets Flaring"
- FFINC010 - (7/21/09) - Awol One and Factor "Owl Hours"
- FFINC011- (10/13/09) - Sole and the Skyrider BandSole (artist)Tim Holland, known as Sole, is an alternative hip hop artist and a co-founder of the Anticon collective/label. Sole is known for his dense and often dark stream-of-consciousness style of rapping. His verses are often filled with abstraction, metaphor and sarcasm while avoiding or deconstructing...
"PlastiquePlastique (album)Plastique is a 2009 album by rapper Sole and instrumental hip-hop band Skyrider.-Track listing:#"Children of Privilege"#"Battlefields" #"Longshots"#"Nothing Part 2"#"More"#"Pissing in the Wind"#"Bait"#"Mr Insurgent"#"Black"...
" - FFINC012 - (10/13/09) - Sole and the Skyrider Band "BattlefieldsBattlefields (album)Battlefields is a 2009 EP by rapper Sole and instrumental hip-hop band Skyrider.-Track listing:#"Battlefields" #"This Bad Reputation"#"Cutoffmoon"#"Good Bacteria"#"Battlefields "#"Black "...
" - FFINC013 - (12/08/09 ) - MiC K!NG & Chum "Flavor Ade"
releases 2010:
- FFINC014 - Cars & Trains - "The Roots, The Leaves" - 1/26/10
- FFINC015 - Electric President - "The Violent Blue" - 2/23/10
- FFINC016 - Ron ContourMoka OnlyDaniel Denton , known professionally as Moka Only, is a Canadian hip hop artist. Originally from Langford, British Columbia, near Victoria, he is now based in Vancouver. He was previously part of the hip hop group Swollen Members, and briefly a part of Len. His albums are released by Legendary...
& Factor - "Saffron" - 3/8/10 - FFINC017 - Dark Time Sunshine - "Vessel" - 4/20/10
- FFINC018 - Factor - "Lawson Graham" - 5/18/10
- FFINC019 - Ceschi - "The One Man Band Broke Up" - 6/29/10
- FFINC020 - Common Grackle - "The Great Depression" - 8/10/10
- FFINC021 - Blue Sky Black DeathBlue Sky Black DeathBlue Sky Black Death is a production duo based in Seattle, Washington. The duo consists of Kingston and Young God . They are known principally for their hip hop and instrumental music, made with a mix of live instrumentation and sampling...
- "Third Party" - 9/7/10
releases 2011:
- FFINC022 - Onry Ozzborn - "Hold On For Dear Life" - 1/25/11
- FFINC023 - Awol One & Factor - "The Landmark" - 2/15/11
- FFINC024 - Kay The Aquanaut - "Waterloo" - 3/29/11
- FFINC025 - Noah23Noah23Noah Raymond Brickley, better known by his stage name Noah23, is an alternative hip hop artist and founder of the Plague Language collective.- Biography :...
- "Fry Cook on VenusFry Cook on VenusFry Cook on Venus is a 2011 album by hip-hop artist Noah23.Music videos were produced for "Bright Green Laces" and "Intagible Heart Crescendo".-Track listing:...
" - 3/29/11 - FFINC026 - Blue Sky Black DeathBlue Sky Black DeathBlue Sky Black Death is a production duo based in Seattle, Washington. The duo consists of Kingston and Young God . They are known principally for their hip hop and instrumental music, made with a mix of live instrumentation and sampling...
- "Noir" - 4/26/11 - FFINC027 - K-The-I???K-the-I???K-the-I??? is an American rapper and producer born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and now based in Los Angeles, California.K-the-I??? began recording in 2002, and released several small-issue records before signing with Mush Records in 2006...
- "Synesthesia" - 6/21/11 - FFINC028 - SoleSoleSole may refer to:* Sole , the bottom of the foot* Sole , the bottom supporting member of the shoe-Business:* Sole proprietorship, a business which legally has no separate existence from its owner...
& The Skyrider Band - "Hello Cruel World" - 7/19/11 - FFINC029 - Awol One and Nathaniel MotteNathaniel MotteNathaniel Warren Seth Motte is an American songwriter, performer, singer, music producer, film composer, instrumentalist, and playwright from Parsons, Kansas. Motte and Sean Foreman form the electronic pop duo 3OH!3. Motte was born on January 13, 1984 in Parsons, Kansas. He moved to Parsons in 1987...
- "The Child Star" - 8/16/11 - FFINC030 - Paranoid Castle - "Champagne Nightmares" - 8/30/11
- FFINC031 - AstronautalisAstronautalisAstronautalis is an American hip hop artist based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.After gaining some renown in local circles in Jacksonville and competing at Scribble Jam, Astronautalis self-released his debut album, You and Yer Good Ideas, in 2003...
- "This Is Our Science" - 9/13/11
External links
- http://www.fakefourinc.com
- http://www.circleintosquare.com/fakefour
- http://www.discogs.com/label/Fake+Four+Inc.