Ichiban Records
Encyclopedia
Ichiban Records was a hip hop
record label
founded in Atlanta, Georgia
, in 1985. Wrap Records and Nastymix Records were some of its subsidiary labels. Urgent! Records
was distributed by Ichiban. Most of its discography is now out of print. Besides hip hop groups, Ichiban also released albums by older, well-respected musicians such as Roy Ayers
and Raful Neal
. The catalog is now controlled by EMI
, but nothing was ever reissued after the label ceased operations.
The label's name "ichi-ban", is Japanese
for "number one" or "first one", an expression commonly used in Japan to mean, "the best."
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
founded in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, in 1985. Wrap Records and Nastymix Records were some of its subsidiary labels. Urgent! Records
Urgent! Records
Urgent! Records was a record company owned by Tim Whitsett, based in Jackson, MS, and distributed by Atlanta based Ichiban Records.Label founder Whitsett produced albums for singer Jerry Butler and longtime associate Tommy Tate...
was distributed by Ichiban. Most of its discography is now out of print. Besides hip hop groups, Ichiban also released albums by older, well-respected musicians such as Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers...
and Raful Neal
Raful Neal
Raful Neal was an American, Louisiana blues singer, harmonicist and songwriter.Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and reared by his aunt and uncle on a tenant farm in Chamberlin, West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States, Neal took up the blues harp at age 14, tutored by a local player named...
. The catalog is now controlled by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, but nothing was ever reissued after the label ceased operations.
The label's name "ichi-ban", is Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
for "number one" or "first one", an expression commonly used in Japan to mean, "the best."
Hip hop
- A.W.O.L.
- Detroit's Most WantedDetroit's Most WantedDetroit's Most Wanted were a hip hop group from Detroit, Michigan. Their name is a reference to the both America's Most Wanted List List and the California rap group Compton's Most Wanted. They were signed to Ichiban Records. Founding members were Motsi Ski , who is the grandson of late R&B...
- DFCDFC (group)DFC was an American hip hop duo composed of Flint, Michigan natives Alpha "Al" Breed and Bobby "T-Dub" Thompson...
- Father Dom
- Gangsta PatGangsta PatGangsta Pat is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee who established himself in the Memphis underground during the late 1980s and is the son of Stax Records drummer, Willie Hall...
- Ghetto MafiaGhetto MafiaThe Ghetto Mafia was an American hip hop group from Atlanta, Georgia, composed of Nino and Wicked. Formed in 1993, the Ghetto Mafia signed to local hip hop label, Ichiban Records, who then released their debut album, Draw the Line on May 20, 1994. The group then released 1995's Full Blooded Niggaz...
- Hard BoyzHard BoyzThe Hard Boyz was an American rap group, composed of three members, K.T., Big D and Royal C, formally signed to Ichiban and Big Beat Records....
- Insane PoetryInsane PoetryInsane Poetry is an American hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1988, Insane Poetry is considered to be one of the first horrorcore groups.-History:...
- Kilo AliKilo AliKilo Ali , formerly Kilo, is an American rap music Artist from Atlanta, Georgia. Kilo Ali recorded mainly bass music , but also hip hop tracks with a less distinctive southern flavor...
- K-Nock
- MC Brains
- MC BreedMC BreedEric Breed better known as MC Breed, was an American rapper best known for his singles "Ain't No Future in Yo Frontin", which peaked at #66 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Gotta Get Mine", featuring 2Pac, that made it to #6 on the Hot Rap Singles.-Biography:Born in Flint, Michigan, Breed is also...
- Rodney O & Joe CooleyRodney O & Joe CooleyRodney O & Joe Cooley are noted west coast hip hop pioneers from Los Angeles, California, best known for tracks such as "Everlasting Bass" and "This is for the Homies." DJ Cooley was highly influential in Miami Bass music; Latin emcees Jonny Z and SPM did their own version of it, which they called...
- Sir Mix-a-LotSir Mix-a-LotAnthony Ray , better known by his stage name Sir Mix-a-Lot, is an emcee and producer based in Seattle, Washington. The founder of the Nastymix record label, he debuted in 1988 with Swass...
- Kid SensationKid SensationSteven Spence , best known by his stage name Kid Sensation, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Spence made his debut as a guest rapper featured on Sir Mix-A-Lot's album Swass, where he appeared on the tracks "Rippin'" and "Square Dance Rap"Spence has sold over one...
- Success-n-EffectSuccess-n-EffectSuccess-n-Effect was an Atlanta based hip hop group, known for their controversial 1989 single, "Roll It Up My Nigga". The group started out as part of a mixed tape crew named Edward J & the J Team. King Edward J as he is referred to now, is credited as being the original mixed tape king in...
- Vanilla IceVanilla IceRobert Matthew Van Winkle , best known by his stage name Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper, extreme athlete and home improvement television personality...
Pop/rock/blues
- The FleshtonesThe FleshtonesThe Fleshtones are an American garage rock band from Queens, New York formed in 1976.- 1976-1979 :The Fleshtones were formed in 1976 in Whitestone, New York by Keith Streng and Marek Pakulski The Fleshtones are an American garage rock band from Queens, New York formed in 1976.- 1976-1979 :The...
- Deadeye DickDeadeye Dick (band)Deadeye Dick was an American alternative rock trio that was formed in New Orleans, Louisiana.-History of the band:The band, which consisted of vocalist/guitarist Caleb Guillotte, bassist Mark Adam Miller, and drummer Billy Landry, was formed in 1991 and took their name from a Kurt Vonnegut novel. ...
- Matt KendrickMatt KendrickMatt Kendrick is a double bassist and composer. Born in Greenville, North Carolina, U.S., he currently lives in Winston-Salem...
- Barbara LynnBarbara LynnBarbara Lynn is an American rhythm and blues and electric blues guitarist and singer. She is best known for her R&B chart-topping hit, "You'll Lose A Good Thing" .-Life and career:She played piano as a child, but switched to guitar...
- Phunk JunkeezPhunk JunkeezThe Phunk Junkeez are an American rap rock band from Phoenix, Arizona that formed in 1991 and have established a strong underground following. The band regularly tours the United States and Japan....
- Raful NealRaful NealRaful Neal was an American, Louisiana blues singer, harmonicist and songwriter.Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and reared by his aunt and uncle on a tenant farm in Chamberlin, West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States, Neal took up the blues harp at age 14, tutored by a local player named...
- Roy AyersRoy AyersRoy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers...
(released two albums Drive and Wake Up) - Chick WillisChick WillisRobert "Chick" Willis is an American blues singer. His cousin was Chuck Willis.Chick Willis served in the military in the early 1950s before working as a chauffeur for Chuck Willis during his heyday...
- Miisa
- Buster BentonBuster BentonBuster Benton was an American blues guitarist and singer, who played guitar in Willie Dixon's Blues All-Stars, and is best known for his solo rendition of the Dixon-penned song "Spider in My Stew." He was tenacious and in the latter part of his lengthy career, despite the amputation of parts of...
- Gary B.B. ColemanGary B.B. ColemanGary B.B. Coleman was an American soul blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer.Originally a local-musician turned-blues promoter and session musician, Coleman recorded his debut album in 1986, which was re-released on Ichiban Records...
Soul acts
- Clarence CarterClarence CarterClarence Carter is a blind American soul singer and musician.-Life and career:Born in Montgomery, Alabama on 14 January 1936, Carter attended the Alabama School for the Blind in Talladega, Alabama, and Alabama State College in Montgomery, graduating in August 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree...
- The Three DegreesThe Three DegreesThe Three Degrees are an American female vocal group. Formed in 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,, the group has always been a trio though there have been a number of personnel changes and a total of fourteen women have represented the group so far. The original members were Fayette Pinkney,...
(released 1 album And Holding... with members Valerie Holiday, Helen Scott and Victoria Wallace) - Millie JacksonMillie JacksonMildred "Millie" Jackson is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter and comedienne. Three of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA for over 500,000 copies....