- Duck Down Music Inc.
-
Duck Down Music Inc. 
Founded 1995 Headquarters New York, NY Key people Drew "Dru Ha" Friedman
(co-CEO)
Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake (co-CEO)Products Project Coordination, Physical CD/DVD & Digital Distribution, Music Licensing, Digital Marketing, Lifestyle Marketing, Publicity, Video Production & Network Promotion, Radio Promotion, Custom Merchandising, CD/DVD Duplication & Manufacturing, Poster/Flyer Printing Website Duck Down Website
Duck Down Twitter
Duck Down Facebook
Duck Down YouTubeDuck Down Music Inc is a New York City based record label, talent management, music-marketing, and consulting company founded by Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman and Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake in 1995. In Duck Down's 16 year existence, the Company has released over 40 Albums and sold more than 3 million collective copies world wide.[1] Home to established rap groups Black Moon, Smif-N-Wessun, Sean Price, Pharoahe Monch, Black Rob, 9th Wonder & Buckshot, KRS-One & Buckshot, B-Real of Cypress Hill (solo), Heltah Skeltah, Boot Camp Clik, as well as relative newcomers: Skyzoo, Random Axe (Sean Price, Black Milk, Guilty Simpson), Promise, David Dallas, Marco Polo, Ruste Juxx, Torae, Blue Scholars, and Kidz in the Hall.
Contents
Company History
Duck Down (whose name derived from Boogie Down Productions' 1992 hit single of the same name) was originally established as a management company in 1994 to manage the careers of Buckshot's group Black Moon and Smif-N-Wessun. In 1995, co-owners Drew "Dru Ha" Friedman and Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake launched Duck Down Music. After successful debut releases from Black Moon (Enta da Stage) and Smif-N-Wessun (Dah Shinin'), Duck Down entered into a label production deal with Priority Records, at the time the leading U.S. independent record label, which was home to N.W.A. and Master P's No Limit Records. Within the first year of the deal, Dru Ha & Buckshot introduced its two newest acts simultaneously: Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C. merging the two groups, forming a quintet, which they dubbed the Fab Five. At Priority, Duck Down eventually brought over the rest of its core roster which consisted of the Boot Camp Clik, members: Black Moon, Smif-N-Wessun, Heltah Skeltah, and O.G.C.. They released nine albums with Priority Records between 1995-2000.[2][3]
In 2002, Duck Down entered a new physical distribution partnership with Koch (now E1 Entertainment) for their CD and DVD products in the U.S. and Canada. Duck Down retained it's Digital Distribution rights and has its own direct deal with iTunes.[4] Duck Down produces, manufactures and markets its products independently.
In 2005, Duck Down released Monkey Barz (Sean Price's solo debut), Chemistry (a collaborative album between Buckshot & producer 9th Wonder) and Smif 'n' Wessun: Reloaded. Collectively, the three albums cover Artwork was created by clothing designer Marc Ecko and marketed under the campaign: "Triple Threat".[5]
From 2007 to present Duck Down has blossomed. Expanding its roster and releasing albums from Special Teamz's 2007 Stereotypez, Kidz in the Hall's 2008 The In Crowd and 2010 Land of Make Believe, as well as Cypress Hill's front man B-Real's 2009 solo LP Smoke N Mirrors[6] and KRS-One & Buckshot's 2009 Survival Skills - just a few examples of Duck Down's growing diversity.
In 2011, in addition to releasing Pharoahe Monch's W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) album, Duck Down Music formed 3D, a music-marketing and consulting firm with its own distribution network that's experienced in navigating the indie landscape. Executing a strategy where 3D provides General Management for Artist-owned indie sub-labels such as Talib Kweli's Javotti Media (Gutter Rainbows)[7] and Blue Scholars.[8] This allowed artists to tap into 3D's expertise, relationships, and networks, while retaining control of their projects and ownerships of their masters. Expanded services from 3D are a Music Supervision Department that places clients songs in film, TV, and video games and creation and sales of Artist Merchandising.
Music Licensing
As of 2011, Duck Down has placed their artists' songs and original compositions on several notable TV Shows (ESPN's Mens College Basketball programming, ESPN's SportsCenter,[9] HBO's Hard Knocks & Entourage, MTV's Jersey Shore,[10] VH1's Basketball Wives,[11] CSI, The History Channel's Gangland,[12] and more), Video Game placements include (Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Tony Hawk: Ride, Madden NFL 09,[13] NBA 2K11,[14] Rockstar Games' Midnight Club: Los Angeles[15] and more), Movie placement (Limitless), and national brand campaigns (Smirnoff,[16] Belvédère).
Notable Marketing Campaigns
Duck Down's artists have previously aligned with several notable brands for their lifestyle and grassroots marketing campaigns such as Scion, Rockstar Games, Coca-Cola, Microsoft Zune,[17] Pepsi Max,[18] VTech, Reebok,[19] and more.
In 2010 and 2011, Duck Down partnered with 2K Sports to present a unique opportunity for aspiring producers and MCs. This involved an open call for submissions for original sample-free compositions for a chance to receive placement in the NBA 2K's game soundtrack (NBA 2K11 and NBA 2K12) and a trip to NYC to perform at Duck Down's CMJ Showcase.[20][21][22]
For NBA 2K12, the winners were the music producer/composer Alex Kresovich for his instrumental "The Return" (Ithaca, NY) and the rap group D.J.I.G. (Glassboro, NJ) for their song "Now's My Time" recorded over Alex's instrumental [23]. Alex Kresovich's instrumental "The Return" was also used for the music in the debut commercial for NBA 2K12 which aired on May 31, 2011 during Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks[24][25].
Current Artist Roster
- 9th Wonder & Buckshot
- B-Real of Cypress Hill (solo)
- Black Moon
- Black Rob
- Blue Scholars
- Boot Camp Clik (Buckshot, O.G.C., Heltah Skeltah, Smif-N-Wessun)
- Buckshot
- David Dallas
- Heltah Skeltah
- Kidz in the Hall
- KRS-One & Buckshot
- Marco Polo
- Promise
- Pharoahe Monch
- Random Axe (Sean Price, Black Milk, Guilty Simpson)
- Ruste Juxx
- Sean Price
- Skyzoo
- Smif-N-Wessun
- Statik Selektah
- The Away Team (Sean Boog, Khrysis)
- Torae
Discography
Albums
- 1996
- Heltah Skeltah - Nocturnal
- O.G.C. - Da Storm
- 1997
- 1998
- Cocoa Brovaz - The Rude Awakening
- Heltah Skeltah - Magnum Force
- 1999
- Black Moon - War Zone
- O.G.C. - The M-Pire Shrikez Back
- Various Artists - Duck Down Presents: The Album
- Buckshot- The BDI Thug
- Representativz - Angels of Death
- 2000
- Boot Camp Clik - Basic Training: Boot Camp Clik's Greatest Hits
- 2002
- Boot Camp Clik - The Chosen Few
- Various Artists - Collect Dis Edition
- 2003
- Buckshot - The BDI Thug (expanded re-released version)
- Black Moon - Total Eclipse
- 2005
- Sean Price- Monkey Barz
- Buckshot & 9th Wonder - Chemistry
- Smif-N-Wessun - Smif 'N' Wessun: Reloaded
- Black Moon - War Zone Revisited (expanded re-released version)
- 2006
- 2007
- Sean Price - Jesus Price Supastar
- Boot Camp Clik - Still For the People (For the People re-release)
- Boot Camp Clik -Casualties of War
- Special Teamz - Stereotypez
- Smif-N-Wessun - Smif-n-Wessun: The Album
- 2008
- Buckshot & 9th Wonder - The Formula
- Kidz in the Hall - The In Crowd
- Heltah Skeltah - D.I.R.T.
- DJ Revolution - Kings of the Decks
- Ruste Juxx - Indestructible
- 2009
- B-Real -Smoke N Mirrors
- Torae & Marco Polo - Double Barrel
- General Steele of Smif-N-Wessun - Welcome To Bucktown
- Blue Scholars - OOF! EP
- Blue Scholars - Bayani Redux
- KRS-One & Buckshot - Survival Skills
- Skyzoo - The Salvation
- 2010
- General Steele of Smif-N-Wessun - AmeriKKKa's Nightmire Part 2: Children of War
- Kidz in the Hall - Land Of Make Believe
- Marco Polo & Ruste Juxx - The eXXecution
- Marco Polo - The Stupendous Adventures of Marco Polo
- Various Artists - 15 Years Of Duck Down
- Skyzoo & Illmind - Live From The Tape Deck
- 2011
- Promise - Awakening
- Pharoahe Monch - W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)
- Random Axe (Sean Price, Guilty Simpson, Black Milk) - Random Axe
- Pete Rock & Smif-N-Wessun - Monumental
- Black Rob - Game Tested & Street Approved
- The Away Team - Scars and Stripes
- TBA
- 9th Wonder & Buckshot - The Solution
- Sean Price - Mic Tyson
- Skyzoo - A Dream Deferred
- Statik Selektah - Population Control
Mix CDs
- 2002: Boot Camp Clik & Dj Peter Parker Search And Recover Part 1
- 2004: Smif-N-Wessun & Dj Revolution Still Shinin
- 2004: Sean Price Donkey Sean Jr
- 2004: Boot Camp Clik & Dj Evil Dee Search And Recover Part 2
- 2005: Dj Bucktown Blastin' Off Vol.1
- 2005: Boot Camp Clik & Tony Touch Best of BCC Freestyles
- 2005: Dj Logic (Dj Master Nash) Rap Center
- 2006: Black Moon - Alter the Chemistry
- 2006: Smif-N-Wessun X-Files Official Mix
- 2006: Boot Camp Clik & Dj Sherazta Search And Recover Part 3
- 2006: Steele America Nigthmare
- 2006: Tek Famlee First Mix Cd - Vol. 1
- 2006: Tek I Got This
- 2006: Dj Bucktown Blastin' Off Vol.2
- 2007: Steele Hotstyle Takeover
- 2007: Sean Price Master P
- 2007: Ruste Juxx Reign of Destruction
- 2007: Supreme The Perfect Weapon
- 2008: Rock Shell Shock
- 2008: Duck Down Hotline
- 2008: Ruste Juxx The Prelude Mixtape
- 2009: Naledge of Kidz In The Hall Chicago Picasso
- 2009: General Steele Welcome To Bucktown
- 2009: Sean Price Kimbo Price
- 2010: Tek 24KT Smoke
- 2010: Rock Rockin Out West
- 2010: Ruste Juxx Adamantine
- 2011: David Dallas The Rose Tint
See also
External links
References
- ^ "Indie Hip-Hop Month Featured Label: Duckdown Records". iHipHop.com. Triumph Media Network. http://www.ihiphop.com/?p=591. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ Markman, Rob. "Duck Down, Home of the Originoo Backpackers". XXLMag.com. http://www.xxlmag.com/bloggers/2009/10/duck-down-home-of-the-originoo-backpackers/. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
- ^ Sewer, Jesse. "Duck Down 15 Year Anniversary". TimeOutNY. http://newyork.timeout.com/music-nightlife/music/75079/duck-down-15-year-anniversary.
- ^ Firecloud, Johnny. "Duck Down Makes Direct Deal With iTunes". Crave Online. http://www.craveonline.com/music/articles/142034-duck-down-makes-direct-deal-with-itunes.
- ^ "Duck Down Records Readies Three-CD Triple Threat Box Set". Vibe.com. http://www.vibe.com/mt/2009/11/duck-down-records-readies-three-cd-triple-threat-box-set. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
- ^ Dukes, Will. "B-Real 'Smoke N Mirrors' Album Review". SPIN. http://www.spin.com/reviews/b-real-smoke-n-mirrors-duck-down.
- ^ Zisook, Brian. "TALIB KWELI JUMPS "IN THE MIX" [DJBOOTH INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE"]. DJBooth.net. http://www.djbooth.net/index/news/entry/talib-kweli-in-mix-0120111/. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
- ^ Houghton, Bruce. "Another New Model: Label Signed By Artist". Hypebot.com. http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2009/08/another-new-model-label-signed-by-artist.html. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ Burgess, Omar. "Brief News On Duck Down Records". HipHopDX.com. http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.6061/title.brief-news-on-duck-down-records.
- ^ Barber, Andrew. "Kidz In The Hall License Land of Make Believe To MTV, VH1 & Comedy Central". FakeShoreDrive.com. http://www.fakeshoredrive.com/2010/06/kidz-in-the-hall-license-land-of-make-believe-to-mtv-vh1-comedy-central.html.
- ^ "VH1 Basketball Wives". VH1.com. 19 December 2010. http://takeout.vh1.com/viewpromo.php?promo_id=1567.
- ^ Burgess, Omar. "Brief News On Duck Down Records". HipHopDX.com. http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.6061/title.brief-news-on-duck-down-records.
- ^ Totilo, Stephen. "'Madden NFL 09' Soundtrack Features Gym Class Heroes, Busta Rhymes, Good Charlotte And More". MTV.com. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1590564/madden-nfl-09-soundtrack-announced.jhtml.
- ^ "NBA® 2K11 Compiles Most Powerful Hoops Soundtrack Ever". 2KSports.com. http://2ksports.com/news/nba2k11/402.
- ^ "Midnight Club Los Angeles:Music:Full Credits". Rockstar Games.com. http://www.rockstargames.com/midnightclubLA/music/fullcredits.html.
- ^ "Buckshot & Kardinal Offishall – I Got Cha Opin ’09 (Smirnoff Signature Mix)". NahRight.com. 29 April 2009. http://nahright.com/news/2009/04/29/buckshot-kardinal-offishall-i-got-cha-opin-09-smirnoff-signature-mix/.
- ^ "Zune Hooks Up with Murs and Kidz in the Hall". URB.com. http://www.urb.com/2008/01/25/zune-hooks-up-with-murs-and-kidz-in-the-hall/.
- ^ "Pepsi MAX NFL Audible - Jets vs. Colts". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-pepsi-audible/09000d5d81d86826/NFL-Audible-Jets-vs-Colts.
- ^ Chanda, Devin. "Kidz In The Hall and Reebok Remixes Kicks and Classics". Giant Magazine. http://giantmag.com/the-magazine/giant-magazine-staff/kidz-in-the-hall-and-reebok-remixes-kicks-and-classics/.
- ^ "NBA 2K11 X DUCK DOWN RECORDS HOLD MC/PRODUCER CONTEST". WoooHa.com. http://woooha.com/2010/03/nba-2k11-x-duck-down-records-hold-mcproducer-contest/.
- ^ Fleischer, Adam. "Enter to Have Your Music in NBA 2K12". XXLMag.com. http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2011/04/enter-to-have-your-music-on-the-nba-2k12-soundtrack/.
- ^ "2K Sports Partners with Duck Down Music For Second Installment of NBA(R) 2K12 Soundtrack Contest". Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20110323-906881.html.
- ^ http://www.duckdown.com/nba2k12/contest/index.html
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh_EwI8pjQU
- ^ http://twitter.com/#!/druha/status/75731308495646720
1993-1995 Album Releases 1996 Album Releases 1997 Album Releases 1998 Album Releases 1999 Album Releases 2000 Album Releases Basic Training: Boot Camp Clik's Greatest Hits2002 Album Releases The Chosen Few · Collect Dis Edition2003 Album Releases The BDI Thug (expanded re-released version) · Total Eclipse2005 Album Releases Monkey Barz · Chemistry · Smif 'n' Wessun: Reloaded · The Last Stand · War Zone Revisited (expanded re-released version)2006 Album Releases War Zone Revisited (expanded re-released version)2007 Album Releases Jesus Price Superstar · Still For the People (For the People re-release) · Casualties of War · Stereotypez · Smif-n-Wessun: The Album2008 Album Releases 2009 Album Releases 2010 Album Releases AmeriKKKa's Nightmire Part 2: Children of War · Land Of Make Believe · The eXXecution · The Stupendous Adventures of Marco Polo · 15 Years Of Duck Down · Live From The Tape Deck2011 Album Releases Promise · W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) · Random Axe · Monumental · Game Tested & Street Approved · The Solution · Mic Tyson ·3D Album Releases Gutter RainbowsCategories:- Hip hop record labels
- American independent record labels
- Record labels established in 1995
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