Inspired by the absence of creativity in hip-hop and the recent “indy” explosion, VJC Recordings has been steadily making a name for itself over the past three years. The label has been intent on bringing a forward-thinking, danceable and eclectic rush of adrenaline back to music, and is doing so with flying colors. Formed in an underground hip-hop sound, the label and its artists have evolved into an all encompassing musical force, with sounds ranging from electro-jazz, down-tempo and reggae to our own signature sounds of “IntelliCrunk” and “GhettoTech”.
VJC Recordings’ first official release, “What’s The Meaning?” (EP) was strictly a vinyl release in the fourth quarter of 2002. The label partnered with TRC Distribution and Sandbox Automatic for the release, selling a surplus of 500 pieces of wax and creating a major buzz in Japanese and European markets. The EP charted with the song “Mojo”, which hit the top of college charts early in 2003 and stayed there for a record 12 weeks. Since then, several projects have been released, including “The Listening Party” (2004), a compilation featuring artists from Female Fun Music, L.A.Ment (Fat Beats), and hip-hop legends People Under the Stairs. The year 2004 also saw a slew of remix and instrumental projects released on a promotional level, including DJ Amdex’s “Tomorrow’s Yesterday Remixes”, X-Man’s “Xtramentals, Vol.1: For All Sexes” and X-Ro’s “She Needs Love Too”, all showcasing the broad sounds of the producers on the roster. VJC Recordings artists have appeared on works produced by such notables as Female Fun Music, Kwerk Records (London), Definitive Jux (NYC), and Tony Touch.
VJC Recordings’ focus on creating accessible music stems from its founders, CEO’s Jesse Pinkney and Mario Prins, both seasoned DJ’s and promoter. Years of holding down parties and learning to understand what makes people move has become the basis for the company’s underlying mission; to make creative and exciting music that moves the masses. Far beyond the processed club music of today and the drab underground sounds of yesteryear, VJC Recordings is constantly striving the find the perfect blend of commercial sensibility with tasteful artistry.
Today, more than three years after its founding, VJC Recordings is committed to delivering the fresh, the new, the recognizable and the alien all at once. The market for the label is a niche as wide as our imaginations, which allows infinite mobility in growth. With a healthy and marketable roster that ranges from DJ’s, producers, MC’s and vocalists, VJC Recordings is sure to be a formidable force in the decade to come.