Obese Records was an Australian hip-hoprecord label based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was the largest independent hip-hop label in Australia and was home to acts such as Pegz, Hilltop Hoods, Thundamentals, Reason, Andy Struksha, and Dialectrix. Obese Records also operated two retail stores in the suburbs of Prahran and Frankston, a distribution company for non-Australian music, Zoo Records, a soul label, Plethora Records, and their own management and touring company, Obese Records Artist Management.
In 1995, graffiti writer and DJ Ollie Bobbit opened up a record store at 4A Izett Street, located within the Melbourne suburb of Prahran called "O.B.'s Records."[1][2][3] With only A$2000, one clothes rack and one crate of vinyl, Bobbit started the business after being frustrated with not being able to buy any new hip-hop releases himself. At some point between 1996 and 1998, Bobbit sold the business to Shazlek One (Don Shazlek). Rapper Bias B suggested adding two E's to the store's name, changing it to Obese Records, playing off Shazlek's weight at the time.[4] Shazlek laid down the early foundations for the store's in-house record label, with its first two releases, Reason's Solid and the first volume of the Culture of Kings compilation series both releasing in 2000. In 2002, the store was bought by artist and Obese employee Pegz (Tirren Staaf).[5]
According to Pegz, there were few other labels specialising in Australian hip-hop at the time, and none putting significant funds into marketing,[6] with him stating "It was about giving the people around me the opportunity they deserved."[7] Pegz used the label to create a distribution network,[8] and in 2005 he purchased the Zenith Records vinyl pressing plant, one of only two companies then still pressing vinyl records in Australia.[9] The pressing plant was subsequently sold in November 2007.[10]
The first release under the label was MC Reason's EP Solid in 2000,[11][12] produced by Jolz with appearances from Brad Strut, Bias B and Pac D.[13] Other early releases included the compilation album series Culture of Kings (which featured formative releases from Hilltop Hoods, TZU, Hunter, Koolism, Terra Firma, Lyrical Commission, Downsyde, Layla, Bliss n Eso, Funkoars, DJ Bonez, Delta, Brad Strut, Bias B, The Hospice Crew and Brothers Stoney) [13] and ObeseCity, both of which Pegz described as "key networking tools" for the growing Australian hip-hop scene.[12] The second volume of Culture of Kings, released in October 2002, was the first Australian hip-hop album to be selected for the Triple J feature album spot.[13]
In 2003, Hilltop Hoods released their breakout album, The Calling, under the Obese label. The album was the first Australian hip hop album to be certified gold, and has been credited by critics and fans alike with bringing Australian hip hop to the attention of the masses and helping it become a commerically viable genre.
2006–2015: Expansion, Hilltop Hoods, later years
In 2003, Obese released the Hilltop Hoods album The Calling, which became the first Australian hip-hop album to go gold.[14] Mark Pollard, founder of Stealth Magazine, commented during an interview with Tony Mitchell in 2004 that Hilltop Hoods’ success had been helped by Obese.[15]
Two artists associated with the label were nominated for four AIR Chart Awards in 2007 (three for Hilltop Hoods and one for Muph & Plutonic).[16] At the 2007 ARIA Awards, the Hilltop Hoods won 'Best Urban Release' for their album The Hard Road: Restrung.[17] 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.[18] In 2010 M-Phazes' album, Good Gracious, was nominated for 'Best Urban Album' at the ARIA Awards.[19]
In 2008, Hilltops Hoods departured from Obese Records to start their own label, Golden Era Records, with EMI.[20] Obese continued to focus on both established artists and underground local acts,[12] and founded the subsidiary soul label Plethora Records, in 2009.[21][20]
In 2012, Obese filmed episodes for a new web series, Obese TV.[20] In 2013, Obese Records signed its first management contract with Kerser, at that point having divisions for sales, publicity, marketing, accounts, and A&R.[11] On 8 March that same year, Pegz expanded the company by opening a second retail store at 6 Wells Street in the Melbourne neighbourhood of Frankston, which stocked music, merchandise, street apparel, spray paint, art supplies, DVDs, and street art magazines.[11][22]
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 released his final album, Bring it All Back, posthumously.[23]
In 2014, Obese Records relocated from its original spot at 4A Izett Street in Prahran, to 211 Commerical Road in South Yarra, and in the following year, sold its Frankston store just two years after opening.
2016: Defunction
On 7 May 2016, after 21 years, Pegz shut down Obese Records and all of its operations.[24] While no specific reason was given, Pegz posted a short statement about the label on Facebook:[25]
"I am so thankful for the times we shared. We ruled the country for a beautiful moment. The little record store that launched Australian hip-hop to the masses. Thank you for your amazing support and contribution over her 21 years."
Staff
Tirren Staaf–CEO
Fern Greig-Moore–Operations Manager, Artist Management[23]
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