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| founded = 1987
| founded = 1987
| founder = Larry Robinson <br/>
| founder = Larry Robinson <br/>
| Physical Distributors = [[E1 Entertainment Distribution]]<br/> [[Pinnacle]]<br/> [[Play It Again Sam (record label)|PIAS]]<br/> [[Kartel]]<br/> [[JVC]]<br/> [[Venus]]
| Distributor = [[E1 Entertainment Distribution]]<br/> [[Pinnacle]]<br/> [[Play It Again Sam (record label)|PIAS]]<br/> [[Kartel]]<br/> [[JVC]]<br/> [[Venus]]
| genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]], [[Rock music|Rock]], [[World]], [[Alternative rock|Alternative]], [[R&B]], [[Latin]]
| genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]], [[Rock music|Rock]], [[World]], [[Alternative rock|Alternative]], [[R&B]], [[Latin]]
| country = [[United States]]
| country = [[United States]]

Revision as of 18:04, 25 August 2009

Avatar Records
AVATARLOGO-blk.png
Founded1987
FounderLarry Robinson
GenreHip hop, Rock, World, Alternative, R&B, Latin
Country of originUnited States
Official websitehttp://www.avatarrecords.com/
See also: Avatar (disambiguation)

Avatar Records is a Los Angeles, California based independent record label. Avatar is also a leading digital distributor, providing music to online retailers like Apple's iTunes Music Store. Some of the projects released on Avatar include The OZ Soundtrack, Planet Asia, Martin Luther, Fear of a Black Hat Soundtrack, One Block Radius, Deux Process, Bishop Don Magic Juan, the NVA Straight from The Crates compilation which features Mos Def, Blackmoon, Pharcyde & Jurassic 5, and others. Avatar's digital distribution clients include Anya Marina, Lord Tariq, Aaron Carter, Dinco D, Steve Harvey, Taylor Hawkins & The Coatail Riders, Tony Chasseur, Aurele, Martin Luther, and many others.[1]

Avatar's physical releases are distributed worldwide by a network of leading independent distributors including E1 Entertainment Distribution (North America), Pinnacle (UK), PIAS (Europe), Kartel (Poland), Venus (Italy), JVC (Japan) and others.

Avatar also publishes songs recorded by artists including Tony Toni Tone, DMX, Brandy, Tupac, Redman, Foxy Brown, Spice 1, Vanessa Williams, Bell Biv Devoe, Patti Labelle, One Block Radius, Boyz II Men, Ja Rule, Guy, Vinx, Planet Asia, Keith Murray, and many others. The company also licenses music into film and television programs and commercials. Additionally, the company collects royalties around the world on behalf of their writer and publishing partners.[2]

Notable releases

One of Avatar's most successful releases is the soundtrack to the hit HBO series OZ. The soundtrack featured the hit single "Behind The Walls" by Kurupt & Nate Dogg. The song reached #1 status at over 20 radio stations in the US. The soundtrack also featured newly recorded music by Snoop Dogg, Styles & Jadakiss, Master P, Cypress Hill, Wu Tang Clan and many others. A video for "Behind The Walls" directed by Gregory Dark garnered massive airplay at MTV and BET. The OZ Soundtrack remains the second highest selling soundtrack to an HBO TV series (second only to The Sopranos soundtrack).[3] Simultaneous with the release of the OZ Soundtrack, Avatar Records donated $10,000 to the Innocence Project, a non-profit organization which seeks to gain freedom for wrongfully convicted prisoners through DNA testing.[4]

Avatar released Grammy nominee Planet Asia's 2004 solo debut album "The Grand Opening". The album featured the singles "Right or Wrong", "Its All Big" and "Pure Coke" featuring Martin Luther. Planet Asia's album the chosen as the Best Indie Release of 2004 by The Source magazine.[5] Another Planet Asia track "G-s & Soldiers" featuring Kurupt was featured in the John Travolta film "Be Cool".[6] Planet Asia now records for his own record company Gold Chain Music and has released several other independent albums.

In 2006 Avatar released the album "Rebel Soul Music" by the former guitarist of The Roots, Martin Luther.[7] Martin's first single "Daily Bread" has been a hit single across Europe and Africa garnering airplay on BBC Radio 1 (UK), Radio Nova (France), MTV UK, MTV Bass (Europe), MTV Africa, and many other radio and video channels. Martin has toured Europe four times - most recently in 2006 when he played the Montreux Jazz Festival. In September 2007 Martin will star in the film Across The Universe, a $70- million Sony Pictures release.[8]

Avatar recording artists One Block Radius released their debut album "Long Story Short" in 2006 in the US and in 2007 in Europe. OBR's catchy pop single "Black Mercedes" was released in the UK in May 2007 and has received airplay on many UK radio stations including BBC, LBC London, BBC Radio Ulter, BBC Radio 2 and other major stations. OBR's first European tour is scheduled for fall 2007. OBR's lead singer Marty James was featured on the underground single "Stunna Glasses" by the group The Federation.

Legendary pimp turned preacher Bishop Don Magic Juan released a compilation of old school R&B love songs on Avatar in 2006 entitled "Green is for the Money, Gold is For the Honeys Vol. 1". The album featured songs by Willie Hutch, William DeVaughn, The Chi-Lites, The Temptations, Peabo Bryson and many others. Bishop is heard "Skinin Game" in between the songs. Bishop Don Magic Juan is best known for giving up pimping for life as a preacher and spiritual advisor to many well known celebrities. He is currently developing a television reality show and a feature film. Bishop owns his own line of clothing and has been featured on numerous ring tones made for cell phones.

In the mid-1990s, Avatar released Pump Ya Fist, the rap companion album to Mario Van Peebles film Panther. This critically acclaimed[citation needed] compilation featured newly recorded exclusive tracks by The Fugees, Tupac, KRS-One, Chuck D, Grand Puba, Yo Yo, and many others. The KRS-One track "Ah Yeah" became an underground hip hop anthem and #1 single college radio.[citation needed] Avatar donated $10,000 each to the Huey P. Newton Foundation and the Geronimo Pratt Legal Defense Fund.[9]

Avatar is also known for the release of the original soundtrack to the underground cult classic film Fear of a Black Hat. It featured the song, "Ice Froggy Frog" a parody of Snoop Dogg's "What's My Name".[10]

Avatar released the underground hip hop compilation NVA Straight From The Crates Vol. 1 in April 2004. This project—conceived as a tribute to the hip hop DJ and vinyl records—featured artists including Mos Def, Pharcyde featuring Jurassic 5, Blackmoon, Rakaa and Babu of Dilated Peoples, Phil da Agony and Planet Asia, Joey Zozza featuring D12, and Grouch and Ely. Three singles off of the compilation went top 5 at college radio in the US.[citation needed]

Avatar released Colorado-based artists Deux Process in 2006. The album, In Deux Time featured the singles "Take the Dance" and "The Process".

In 2009 Avatar released the soundtrack to the long running CW Network television show "Girlfriends" which featured an all female lineup of singers including Jill Scott, Chaka Khan & Mary J. Blige, Chrisette Michele, Angie Stone, Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, India Arie, Estelle, and South African star Lira among others.

Artists

Releases

References

  1. ^ Billboard Magazine May 25, 2007 Ayala Ben-Yehuda
  2. ^ Los Angeles Times, Juan Hovey, April 28, 1999
  3. ^ Neilson Soundscan
  4. ^ Los Angeles Times, Susan Carpenter, January 9, 2001
  5. ^ The Source Magazine, January 2005
  6. ^ Billboard Magazine, Barry Jeckell, January 6, 2005
  7. ^ Touch Magazine UK, Elle J. Small June 2006
  8. ^ Chocolate Magazine UK June 2006
  9. ^ Los Angeles Times, Susan Carpenter, January 9, 2001
  10. ^ New York Times, Jon Caramonica, September 28, 2003

See also

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