Fondle 'Em Records
Encyclopedia
Fondle ‘Em Records was a record label based in New York City
, New York
. It was founded and owned by Robert “Bobbito” Garcia
from 1995 to 2001. Bobbito formed the label after realizing that the many unsigned rappers making guest appearances on “The Stretch Armstrong/Bobbito Show,” a program Bobbito co-hosted with DJ Stretch Armstrong on Columbia University
radio station WKCR 89.9 FM
, didn't have a proper outlet for their talents.
Fondle 'Em, along with Rawkus Records
, Solesides
, Stones Throw Records
and a handful of other small independent imprints helped jumpstart the underground hip hop scene in the late 1990s, establishing the subgenre as a viable branch of rap music. It also introduced cult artist MF DOOM
, rescued acts such as the Juggaknots
and KMD
from major label limbo, and became one of the first US labels to release music from a South African rap act with Cashless Society's "Blazetha Breaks" 12".
recorded by Kool Keith
and Godfather Don
. Many of the songs on The Cenubites originated as demo tapes the duo made for “The Stretch Armstrong/Bobbito Show,” as well as outtakes from the Ultramagnetic MCs
' "The Four Horseman
" project. (Later, both demand from fans, and Kool Keith's resurging popularity, led Fondle 'Em to reissue the project as The Cenobites LP, this time on cd as well as vinyl.) However, the popularity of the project led Bobbito to continue releasing music under the "Fondle 'Em" moniker.
Fondle 'Em's popularity continued to grow throughout the years of 1996 and 1997, with each successive year drawing more praise from critics:
. It did not enjoy major label
backing or private investment. No artists were actually signed to Fondle 'Em, and profits from their records were split 50/50 with them. No marketing budget was ever set, and it did not have a promotions department per se; rather, Fondle 'Em moved units on the strength of its artists' talent and Bobbito's penchant for sniffing out extremely talented up-and-comers in the New York indie rap scene.
All of the labels' releases were vinyl only, with the exception of the re-released Cenobites
album, and MF DOOM's Operation: Doomsday
. Legendary Manhattan, New York record store Fat Beats distributed Fondle 'Em's products throughout the U.S., with rap mailorder site SandboxAutomatic.com handling the online distribution of the label's output.
Fondle 'Em pressed its titles in extremely limited quantities, rarely making more than a few thousand copies available for each one; the exceptions to this general rule were the cd releases, and pressings of those reached barely 100,000. As a result, the label's catalog is now highly sought after by collectors. Certain titles, particularly Siah and Yeshua DapoED
's self-titled EP and the Juggaknots' album Clear Blue Skies, fetch high prices in online auctions and at swap meets.
, the assumed name of former KMD
member Zev Love X. Bobbito's relationship with MF DOOM had begun in the early 1990s, through common friends and "Constipated Monkey" family member Kurious Jorge
, who had released an album entitled "A Constipated Monkey" through Bobbito's first imprint Hoppoh Records, and Lord Sear, a common fixture on Bobbito and Stretch's radio show.
The label issued Zev's first two MF DOOM singles in 1997, with a second following in 1998 and a full-length, entitled Operation: Doomsday
in 1999. During the same period of time, the label issued unreleased KMD material from the Black Bastards
sessions (a period from 1993 to 1994) in the form of two twelve-inch singles and an EP entitled Black Bastards Ruffs + Rares
.
. Instead of issuing the album directly through Fondle 'Em, however, he chose fellow New York indie label Definitive Jux
to release it, as a Fondle 'Em release under the Definitive Jux banner. In the liner notes for Farewell Fondle 'Em, Bobbito stated he selected Definitive Jux because it was carrying on the independent hip-hop tradition formerly championed by Fondle 'Em.
Many artists who recorded for Fondle 'Em would go on to enjoy moderate underground success for some years after the label's disestablishment in 2001, simply dispersing to other independent labels such as Bigg Jus
's Sub Verse Music
and DJ Mighty Mi
's Eastern Conference Records
. Some of these artists include Cage
, the Arsonists, Scienz of Life and MF Grimm.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It was founded and owned by Robert “Bobbito” Garcia
Bobbito Garcia
Robert "Bobbito" García , also known as Kool Bob Love and formerly known as DJ Cucumberslice, Bobbito The Barber, Make It Happen, Boogie Bob, Soul Food Bob, and Bag of Tricks, is a Puerto Rican DJ, writer, entrepreneur, streetball player/coach/announcer, sneaker connoisseur, and member of the Rock...
from 1995 to 2001. Bobbito formed the label after realizing that the many unsigned rappers making guest appearances on “The Stretch Armstrong/Bobbito Show,” a program Bobbito co-hosted with DJ Stretch Armstrong on Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
radio station WKCR 89.9 FM
WKCR
WKCR-FM is a radio station. Licensed to New York, New York, USA, it serves the New York area. The station is currently owned by Trustees of Columbia University in New York.-History:...
, didn't have a proper outlet for their talents.
Fondle 'Em, along with Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records is an American hip-hop record label known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Rawkus started in 1996 with initial releases ranging from hip-hop to drum and bass...
, Solesides
Solesides
Solesides was an underground hip hop label based in Northern California, founded in 1991. It comprised various DJs and MCs, the most notable being DJ Shadow, MC–producer Lyrics Born, and the duo, Blackalicious. The members of Solesides all met via the radio station, KDVS, the 5000-watt community...
, Stones Throw Records
Stones Throw Records
Stones Throw Records is an independent hip hop record label based in Los Angeles, California. It was started in 1996 by DJ/Producer Peanut Butter Wolf in part to release the music he made with Charizma who was killed at the age of 20....
and a handful of other small independent imprints helped jumpstart the underground hip hop scene in the late 1990s, establishing the subgenre as a viable branch of rap music. It also introduced cult artist MF DOOM
Daniel Dumile
Daniel Dumile is a hip hop artist who has taken on several stage names in his career, most notably MF DOOM, where the "MF" stands for metal face, and for tracks he has produced, metal fingers...
, rescued acts such as the Juggaknots
Juggaknots
The Juggaknots is a hip hop group from New York consisting of siblings Breeze Brewin', Queen Herawin, Buddy Slim, and DJ Boo. The group has worked with both Sadat X and Prince Paul. The group’s first album, Clear Blue Skies, released on the vinyl-only New York independent Fondle 'Em Records, is...
and KMD
KMD
KMD was an American hip hop trio in the early 1990s, best known for launching the career of acclaimed rapper and producer MF DOOM, who at the time was known as Zev Love X. Other members of the group were Rodan and DJ Subroc–Zev Love X's younger brother...
from major label limbo, and became one of the first US labels to release music from a South African rap act with Cashless Society's "Blazetha Breaks" 12".
Beginnings
Bobbito started the vinyl-only Fondle ‘Em imprint in December 1995, partially as a joke. Most of the initial releases advertised the records as being released on "Fondle 'Em Records, A Division Of Tickle 'Em Label Group, A Subsidiary Of Squeeze 'Em Entertainment." Its first release was The Cenubites, a 7-song EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
recorded by Kool Keith
Kool Keith
Keith Matthew Thornton, better known by his stage name Kool Keith, is an American rapper from The Bronx, New York. A founding member of Ultramagnetic MCs, Kool Keith has recorded prolifically both as a solo artist and in group collaborations. Kool Keith is the self-proclaimed inventor of...
and Godfather Don
Godfather Don
Godfather Don is a New York City hip hop record producer. He was in Cenobites with Kool Keith and The Groove Merchantz with Victor Padilla, The Beatnuts production team. He has been "a creative force within New York City's underground hip-hop scene" since he appeared with debut in...
. Many of the songs on The Cenubites originated as demo tapes the duo made for “The Stretch Armstrong/Bobbito Show,” as well as outtakes from the Ultramagnetic MCs
Ultramagnetic MCs
The Ultramagnetic MC's is an American hip hop group based in Bronx, New York. Originally founded by Kool Keith, the group is composed of Ced Gee, TR Love, and Moe Love. Tim Dog became an unofficial member in 1989. In 1990, DJ Jaycee was added as Roadmanager and backup DJ. A former member, Rooney...
' "The Four Horseman
The Four Horsemen (album)
The Four Horsemen is the third studio album by Ultramagnetic MC's. Godfather Don, who produced tracks 2, 4, 5, and 8, helped to incorporate a darker, jazzier sound than the group's previous work. "Checkin' My Style" and "See the Man on the Street" were originally recorded in 1992 during Godfather...
" project. (Later, both demand from fans, and Kool Keith's resurging popularity, led Fondle 'Em to reissue the project as The Cenobites LP, this time on cd as well as vinyl.) However, the popularity of the project led Bobbito to continue releasing music under the "Fondle 'Em" moniker.
Fondle 'Em's popularity continued to grow throughout the years of 1996 and 1997, with each successive year drawing more praise from critics:
"Bobbito Garcia's Fondle 'Em label is indie all the way, and is also one of the most consistently compelling underground hip-hop labels you'll find. And although it still isn't sending out any promos, true heads will want to buy every new release on the label, since there hasn't been a bum one yet. Fondle 'Em started out partly as a gag with the now-infamous EP put out by the Cenobites...but Garcia's impeccable, yet twisted, taste and underground connections through his 'Stretch & Bobbito' show on New York City's WKCR allow him to explore New York's fertile hip-hop underbelly, and document it on wax." - Brian Coleman, CMJ
Air of an independent
During the late 1990s, Fondle ‘Em began to establish itself as a highly respected independent record labelIndependent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
. It did not enjoy major label
World music market
The music industry or music business sells compositions, recordings and performances of music. Among the many individuals and organizations that operate within the industry are the musicians who compose and perform the music; the companies and professionals who create and sell recorded music The...
backing or private investment. No artists were actually signed to Fondle 'Em, and profits from their records were split 50/50 with them. No marketing budget was ever set, and it did not have a promotions department per se; rather, Fondle 'Em moved units on the strength of its artists' talent and Bobbito's penchant for sniffing out extremely talented up-and-comers in the New York indie rap scene.
All of the labels' releases were vinyl only, with the exception of the re-released Cenobites
Cenobites
This article is about the hip-hop album. For the race of demons created by Clive Barker, see Cenobite Cenobites was a Hip hop group/self-titled album featuring Kool Keith of Ultramagnetic MC's and Godfather Don...
album, and MF DOOM's Operation: Doomsday
Operation: Doomsday
Operation: Doomsday is the debut solo album by hip hop artist Daniel Dumile, under his MF DOOM alias, marking Dumile's return to the hip hop scene after KMD's demise...
. Legendary Manhattan, New York record store Fat Beats distributed Fondle 'Em's products throughout the U.S., with rap mailorder site SandboxAutomatic.com handling the online distribution of the label's output.
Fondle 'Em pressed its titles in extremely limited quantities, rarely making more than a few thousand copies available for each one; the exceptions to this general rule were the cd releases, and pressings of those reached barely 100,000. As a result, the label's catalog is now highly sought after by collectors. Certain titles, particularly Siah and Yeshua DapoED
Siah and Yeshua DapoED
Siah and Yeshua DapoED is a New York-based hip hop duo. They released their 1996 debut album The Visualz EP on Bobbito Garcia's famous record label Fondle 'Em Records. The EP features rapping from the group's two MCs, production from Jon Adler, and a guest appearance by Ken Bugaloo. The group's...
's self-titled EP and the Juggaknots' album Clear Blue Skies, fetch high prices in online auctions and at swap meets.
Fondle 'Em & MF DOOM
Fondle 'Em's best known artist was arguably MF DOOMDaniel Dumile
Daniel Dumile is a hip hop artist who has taken on several stage names in his career, most notably MF DOOM, where the "MF" stands for metal face, and for tracks he has produced, metal fingers...
, the assumed name of former KMD
KMD
KMD was an American hip hop trio in the early 1990s, best known for launching the career of acclaimed rapper and producer MF DOOM, who at the time was known as Zev Love X. Other members of the group were Rodan and DJ Subroc–Zev Love X's younger brother...
member Zev Love X. Bobbito's relationship with MF DOOM had begun in the early 1990s, through common friends and "Constipated Monkey" family member Kurious Jorge
Kurious Jorge
Jorge Alvarez, better known as Kurious, is an East Coast underground hip hop artist.-Biography:Kurious is of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, and grew up in a Upper Westside neighborhood called Manhattan Valley In NYC . He debuted in 1991 on Powerule's "Young Stars from Nowhere". He then appeared on...
, who had released an album entitled "A Constipated Monkey" through Bobbito's first imprint Hoppoh Records, and Lord Sear, a common fixture on Bobbito and Stretch's radio show.
The label issued Zev's first two MF DOOM singles in 1997, with a second following in 1998 and a full-length, entitled Operation: Doomsday
Operation: Doomsday
Operation: Doomsday is the debut solo album by hip hop artist Daniel Dumile, under his MF DOOM alias, marking Dumile's return to the hip hop scene after KMD's demise...
in 1999. During the same period of time, the label issued unreleased KMD material from the Black Bastards
Black Bastards
Black Bastards is an album by KMD , released in 2001 through Sub Verse Records...
sessions (a period from 1993 to 1994) in the form of two twelve-inch singles and an EP entitled Black Bastards Ruffs + Rares
Black Bastards Ruffs + Rares
Black Bastards Ruffs + Rares is an EP containing rare and demo tracks by KMD from the album Black Bastards. It was released in 1998 on Fondle 'Em Records, available on 12" vinyl only.-Side B:# "Get You Now" # "Popcorn"...
.
No more Fondle 'Em
Near the end of 2001, Bobbito closed the label, and compiled the retrospective disc Farewell Fondle 'EmFarewell Fondle 'Em
Farewell Fondle 'Em is a compilation album that marked the ending of Fondle 'Em Records. The founder and owner of Fondle 'Em Records, Robert "Bobbito" Garcia decided to shut down the label nearing 2001...
. Instead of issuing the album directly through Fondle 'Em, however, he chose fellow New York indie label 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...
to release it, as a Fondle 'Em release under the Definitive Jux banner. In the liner notes for Farewell Fondle 'Em, Bobbito stated he selected Definitive Jux because it was carrying on the independent hip-hop tradition formerly championed by Fondle 'Em.
Many artists who recorded for Fondle 'Em would go on to enjoy moderate underground success for some years after the label's disestablishment in 2001, simply dispersing to other independent labels such as Bigg Jus
Bigg Jus
Bigg Jus is an American hip hop artist from New York City, formerly a member of Company Flow along with Mr. Len and El-P. After the late-1990s breakup of Company Flow, Bigg Jus formed the now defunct Sub Verse Music and began to pursue his solo career...
's Sub Verse Music
Sub Verse Music
Sub Verse Music was a record label specializing in hip hop. It existed from 1998 to 2003 and released recordings by MF Doom, Blackalicious and KMD, among others.-History:...
and DJ Mighty Mi
High and Mighty (band)
The High & Mighty are an underground hip hop duo from Philadelphia consisting of rapper Mr. Eon and DJ Mighty Mi...
's Eastern Conference Records
Eastern Conference Records
Eastern Conference Records is an independent record label based in New York City, New York. It is owned and operated by DJ Mighty Mi, the DJ/producer for the High & Mighty....
. Some of these artists include Cage
Cage Kennylz
Chris Palko, better known by his stage name Cage, is an American rapper from New York City. He has released three studio albums and two extended plays. Cage is also the founder of the underground hip-hop supergroup called the Weathermen.-Early life:...
, the Arsonists, Scienz of Life and MF Grimm.
Fondle 'Em Records Releases
- FE001: Godfather Don & Kool Keith, "The Cenubites" EP
- FE101: Godfather Don & Kool Keith, The Cenobites LP/CD
- FE002: The Juggaknots, Clear Blue Skies LP
- FE003: The Arsonists, "The Session/Halloween"
- FE31: The Arsonists, "Blaze/Geembo's Theme/Flashback"
- FE004: Mr. Live, "Relax Y'self/Supa Dupa/Hunger Strike (feat. Tony Bones)"
- FE005: Siah & Yeshua DapoED EP
- FE0052: Siah, "Repetition/Pyrite"
- FE006: Lord Sear, "Alcoholic Vibes" b/w Stak Chedda, "My Hindu Love"
- FE007: Cage, "Radiohead/Agent Orange"
- FE72: Cage, "Mersh/4 Letter Word"
- FE008: MF DOOM, "Dead Bent/Gas Drawls/Hey!"
- FE0082: MF DOOM, "Greenbacks/Go With The Flow"
- FE83: KMD, Black Bastards Ruffs + Rares EP
- FE84: KMD, "What A Nigga Know/Constipated Monkey/Q3"
- FE85: MF DOOM, "The M.I.C./Red & Gold"
- FE86: MF DOOM, Operation: Doomsday 2LP/CD
- FE87: Subroc/KMD, "It Sounded Like A Roc/Stop Smokin' That Shit"
- FE009: Scienz of Life, "Powers of Nine Ether/The Anthem"
- FE91: Scienz of Life, "Metaphysic/2000 and What to Expect!"
- FEMF1: MF Grimm, "Do It For The Kids/Bloody Love Letter"
- FEMF2: MF Grimm, "Landslide Remix/Tick Tick"
- FEMF3: MF Grimm, "WWIII/Scars & Memories"
- FETBC: The Boulevard Connection, Sut Min Pik EP
- FENH1: Da Nuthouse, "A Luv Supreme/Synapsis/Very Vocabulary"
- FEMHZ1: MHz (MegaHertz), "World Premier/Camu"
- FEMHZ2: MHz (MegaHertz), "Rocket Science (feat. Jakki Tha Mota Mouth)/Magnetics/Absolutely Posolutely"
- FEJT1: J-Treds, "Make It Happen/Praise Due"
- FERO1: Rok One, "Certified Superior/Ninety Degrees A Piece"
- FECK1: DJ Eli & Shan Boogs (Cloudkickers), "And So Kiddies... (feat. Cage) / Truly Gifted Ones (feat. Yeshua DapoED, J-Treds & Pumpkinhead)"
- FEJAKK1: Jakki Tha Mota Mouth, "Widespread (feat. Copywrite of MHz)/The Chosen"
- FEMEG: Megalon, "One In A Million/Peace To The Homeless"
- FESA1: Cashless Society, "Blazetha Breaks" / Mizchif, "Place For A Wife"
- FEYAK1: Y@k Ballz, "HomePiss/Nasty or Nice/The Plague/Flossin"
Fondle 'Em / Definitive Jux Releases
- DJX016: Breezly Brewin, Q-Unique, Godfather Don, J-Treds, MF DOOM & DJ Eli, "Fondle 'Em Fossils" / Dysfunctional Family, "Feelin' Da Highs" / "Fondle 'Em Fossils" (El-P Remix)
- DJX019-2: Various Artists, Farewell Fondle 'Em Compilation