Avatar Records

infobox record label


founded = 1987
founder = Larry Robinson
distributor = KOCH Pinnacle PIAS Kartel JVC Venus
genre = Hip hop, Rock, World, Alternative, R&B, Latin
country = United States
url = http://www.avatarrecords.com/

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. [Billboard Magazine May 25, 2007 Ayala Ben-Yehuda]

Avatar's releases are distributed worldwide by a network of leading independent distributors including Koch, 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. [Los Angeles Times, Juan Hovey, April 28, 1999]

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). [Neilson Soundscan] Simultaneous with the release of the OZ Soundtrack, Avatar Records donated $10,000 to the Innocence Project, a non-profit organization which seaks to gain freedom for wrongfully convicted prisoners through DNA testing. [Los Angeles Times, Susan Carpenter, January 9, 2001]

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. [The Source Magazine, January 2005] Another Planet Asia track "G-s & Soldiers" featuring Kurupt was featured in the John Travolta film "Be Cool". [Billboard Magazine, Barry Jeckell, January 6, 2005] 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. [Touch Magazine UK, Elle J. Small June 2006] 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. [Chocolate Magazine UK June 2006]

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 90's Avatar released "Pump Ya Fist", the rap companion album to Mario Van Peebles film "Panther". This critically acclaimed compilation features 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. Avatar donated $10,000 each to the Huey P. Newton Foundation and the Geronimo Pratt Legal Defense Fund. Nine months after Avatar made its $10,000 donation to Pratt's lead attorney Johnnie Cochran, Mr. Pratt was released from jail.

Avatar is also known for the release of the original soundtrack to the underground cult classic film "Fear of a Black Hat". The film was written, directed and starred Rusty Cundieff who in the past several years has directed many of the comedy sketches featured on the Dave Chappell Show. The film was the runaway hit at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival and has gained more popularity as the years have gone by. The soundtrack featured the hit video to the song, "Ice Froggy Frog" a parody of Snoop Dogg's hit song, "What's My Name". [New York Times, Jon Caramonica, September 28, 2003]

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 many of the most well known hip hop acts in the business including Mos Def, Pharcyde feat. Jurassic 5, Blackmoon, Rakaa & Babu of Dilated Peoples, Phil da Agony & Planet Asia, Joey Zozza feat D12, Grouch & Ely and others. Three singles off of the compilation went top 5 at college radio in the US.

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

Artists

* Planet Asia
* One Block Radius
* Blanca G
* The Prophet of CMe
* Martin Luther
* Hogg Boss
* Don "Magic" Juan
* Rosalia de Souza
* Blaxuede
* Deux Process
* Tragedy

Releases

* Planet Asia "The Grand Opening"
* One Block Radius "Long Story Short"
* Don "Magic" Juan "Green is for the Money..."
* National Vinyl Association "Straight From The Crates"
* Mos Def "Workin' it Out"
* Various Artists "The OZ Soundtrack"
* Pharcyde feat Jurassic 5 "Hard Times"
* NWH "Fear of a Black Hat Soundtrack"
* Martin Luther "Rebel Soul Music"
* The Prophet of MCe "Sworn In"
* Domingo Presentando "Dulce de Leche"
* Deux Process "In Deux Time"
* Saigon "Do You Know"

References

See also

* List of record labels

External links

* [http://www.avatarrecords.com Official site]