Unda K9 Records

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Unda K9 Records
Unda K9 Official Logo.jpg
Founded2002
FounderLui
Distributor(s)MGM Metropolitan Groove Merchants (In Australia)
Genre hip hop
Country of origin Australia
Location Crows Nest, New South Wales
Official website undak9.com

Unda K9 Records is an independent Australian record label [1] founded by a female hip-hop record producer Lui. Since the formation, the label has represented a number of hip-hop acts including Figgkidd a.k.a. Lee Monro, Bishop a.k.a. Michael Sison, DJ Eko, Bukkcity a.k.a. Andre Knight, DJ Denno, DJ Funk (Melbourne), Big Dave (Distribution Only), Tycotic, 13th Son, Syntax (from Trace Elements), DirtBox Kings, Herb (from Basic Equipment) and DJ Crusador. [2] Even though the company had seen some very positive times, it folded its recording studio, label and management division in 2009. Unda K9 Records has since re-branded dropping the "records" to only Unda K9 and concentrates on selected musical releases, artist meet and greets, publicity, touring and MMA events.

Australia Country in Oceania

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the largest country in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country by total area. The neighbouring countries are Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and East Timor to the north; the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east. The population of 26 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard. Australia's capital is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney. The country's other major metropolitan areas are Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.

A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing, promotion, and enforcement of copyright for sound recordings and music videos, while also conducting talent scouting and development of new artists, and maintaining contracts with recording artists and their managers. The term "record label" derives from the circular label in the center of a vinyl record which prominently displays the manufacturer's name, along with other information. Within the mainstream music industry, recording artists have traditionally been reliant upon record labels to broaden their consumer base, market their albums, and be both promoted and heard on music streaming services, radio, and television. Record labels also provide publicists, who assist performers in gaining positive media coverage, and arrange for their merchandise to be available via stores and other media outlets.

Figgkidd is an Australian rapper from Bankstown, New South Wales. He is often compared to Eminem. He won best new talent at the 2006 Urban Music Awards.

Contents

History

After Lui established Unda K9 Pty Limited, [3] in 2002 as an independent hip-hop record label, that was heavily involved in record production, management, publishing and the promotion of their artist's material, and its release on both a national and international scale. In the heyday period of Unda K9 Records (2003-2009), the label hosted a predominantly hip-hop roster and was is based out of the recording studio and office in Willoughby Road, Crows Nest in New South Wales in Sydney. [4]

Crows Nest, New South Wales Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Crows Nest is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is also part of the North Sydney region, 5 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of North Sydney Council.

New South Wales State of Australia

New South Wales is a state on the east coast of Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria to the south, and South Australia to the west. Its coast borders the Coral and Tasman Seas to the east. The Australian Capital Territory is an enclave within the state. New South Wales' state capital is Sydney, which is also Australia's most populous city. In March 2019, the population of New South Wales was over 8 million, making it Australia's most populous state. Just under two-thirds of the state's population, 5.1 million, live in the Greater Sydney area. Inhabitants of New South Wales are referred to as New South Welshmen.

Sydney City in New South Wales, Australia

Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Port Jackson and extends about 70 km (43.5 mi) on its periphery towards the Blue Mountains to the west, Hawkesbury to the north, the Royal National Park to the south and Macarthur to the south-west. Sydney is made up of 658 suburbs, 40 local government areas and 15 contiguous regions. Residents of the city are known as "Sydneysiders". As of June 2017, Sydney's estimated metropolitan population was 5,230,330 and is home to approximately 65% of the state's population.

The label enjoyed its strongest commercial success to date with the release of FiggKidd's album What Is FiggKidd? . In 2005, Unda K9 Records' Lui founded Park Jam Festival presented by Triple J, the first Australian hip-hop festival, at Luna Park, Sydney. The Park Jam concept was the first to bring together all types of hip hop from underground and commercial spheres, including indigenous, alternative and experimental, with headliners such as Digital Underground, Kool Keith and KutMasta Kurt. [5] Since 2007 Unda K9 Records has been developing Australian born American raised - Melbourne residing artist Bukkcity, who since signing to the label has won three major independent music awards, before releasing his official debut mini-album Same Place in January 2009. Also calling Unda K9 Records home is a diverse collective of artists and DJ’s including young Central Coast rapper Tycotic and his label Asylum 57, Sydney local artist 13th Son, Herb (from Sydney collective Basic Equipment), DirtBox Kings (a collective of well known underground emcee’s and DJ’s from Sydney), Benji from Sydney crew PK Crew and DJ Jay Funk.

Digital Underground American alternative hip hop group

Digital Underground was an American alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. Their personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour.

Kool Keith American rapper and record producer from the Bronx

Keith Matthew Thornton, better known by his stage name Kool Keith, is an American rapper and record producer from The Bronx, New York known for his surreal, abstract and often profane or incomprehensible lyrics. Kool Keith has recorded prolifically both as a solo artist and in group collaborations. Kool Keith is generally considered to be one of hip-hop's most eccentric and unusual personalities.

Kurt Matlin, professionally known as KutMasta Kurt, is an American hip hop producer, best known for his work with Kool Keith, as well as occasional tracks and remixes for artists such as the Beastie Boys, Linkin Park, and Dilated Peoples.

As of 2008, FiggKidd and Unda K9 Records officially parted ways on mutual terms and still remain good friends. [6]

Unda K9 Records through MGM distribution also acts as a third party distributor.

Other artists formerly signed to Unda K9 include A Broken Silence and The Vangarde. Both acts left Unda K9 without releasing a commercial album.

Artists

Unda K9 former artist roster:

Andre Knight, better known by his stage name Bukkcity, is an Australian-American rapper who is currently signed to the Unda K9 Records record label.

Melbourne City in Victoria, Australia

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia and Oceania. Its name refers to an urban agglomeration of 2,080 km2 (800 sq mi), comprising a metropolitan area with 31 municipalities, and is also the common name for its city centre. The city occupies much of the coastline of Port Phillip bay and spreads into the hinterlands towards the Dandenong and Macedon ranges, Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley. It has a population of 5 million, and its inhabitants are referred to as "Melburnians".

Canberra capital city of Australia

Canberra is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory; 280 km (170 mi) south-west of Sydney and 660 km (410 mi) north-east of Melbourne.

See also

The Australian Independent Record Labels Association, formerly Association of Independent Record Labels, is a non-profit trade association which supports the growth and development of Australia's independent recording industry independent recording industry. It represents Australian-owned record labels and independent artists based in Australia who function without the backing of major record labels.

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References

  1. ↑ "ASIC Company Listings". Australian Federal Government. 6 April 2002. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  2. ↑ LABEL website
  3. ↑ AIR database at the Australian Independent Record Labels Association website (search company database under "U")
  4. ↑ Urban Hitz Magazine Issue #7 Jan/Feb '05 - Page 27. Bring The Noise - Lui/Unda K9, Derwent Howard Pty Ltd, 2 January 2005
  5. ↑ Event Coverage: Park Jam @ Luna Park, inthemix.com.au, 5 March 2005
  6. ↑ FiggKidd (PDF), Premier Harbour Agency, 11 October 2006
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