Obese Records was a record label that released music from the Australian hip hop genre. It was the largest Australian independent hip hop label, including performers Pegz, Hilltop Hoods, Thundamentals, Reason, Andy Struksha, and Dialectrix. Obese Records also operated two retail stores in Melbourne, a record distribution company, a soul imprint named Plethora Records, and operated the artists' management and touring company, Obese Records Artist Management.
History
1995–2005: Formation, Pegz, early releases
Obese Records was founded in 1995 as a small record store[1] called OB's by Ollie Bobbitt, in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran. Specialising in hip hop music,[2] the store changed its name to "Obese Records" after Bobbitt sold the business to Australian artist Don Shazlek. (p.k.a. Shazlek One)
In mid-2002 the store was bought by Melbourne-based artist Tirren Staaf (a.k.a. Pegz) who transformed it into a record label.[3]
According to Pegz, there were few other labels specializing in Australian hip-hop at the time, and none putting significant funds into marketing.[4] Pegz claims that he "saw the opening and went for it. It was about giving the people around me the opportunity they deserved."[5] Pegz used the label to create a distribution network,[6] and also purchased the Zenith Records vinyl pressing plant, one of only two companies then still pressing vinyl records in Australia.[7] The pressing plant was subsequently sold in November 2007.[8]
The first artist released on the label was MC Reason's EP Solid in 2000,[9][10] produced by Jolz with appearances from Brad Strut, Bias B and Pac D.[11]
Other early releases included the compilation album series Culture of Kings (which featured formative releases from acts like Hilltop Hoods, TZU, Hunter, Koolism, Terra Firma, Lyrical Commission, Downsyde, Layla, Bliss n Eso, Funkoars, DJ Bonez, Delta, Brad Strut, Bias B, Hospice and Brothers Stoney) [11] and Obesecity, both of which Pegz described as "key networking tools" for the growing Australian hip hop scene.[10]
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.[11]
2006–2010: Expansion, Culture of Kings, Hilltop Hoods
In 2003, Obese released the Hilltop Hoods album The Calling, which became the first Australian hip hop album to go gold.[12] Mark Pollard, founder of Stealth Magazine, commented during an interview with Tony Mitchell in 2004 that Hilltop Hoods’ success had been helped by Obese.[13]
Two artists associated with the label were nominated for four AIR Chart Awards in 2007 (three for Hilltop Hoods and one for Muph & Plutonic).[14] At the 2007 ARIA Awards, the Hilltop Hoods won 'Best Urban Release' for their album The Hard Road: Restrung.[15] 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.[16] In 2010 M-Phazes' album, Good Gracious, was nominated for 'Best Urban Album' at the ARIA Awards.[17]
Obese also had a soul imprint, Plethora Records,[18] and operated an artists' management and touring company, Obese Records Artist Management.[9]
2011–2016: Later years, defunction
Following Hilltops Hoods departure to start their own label with EMI,[19] Obese Records continued to focus on both established artists and underground locals.[10]Plethora Records was founded as Obese' Records subsidiary soul label in 2010.[19]
In 2012,Obese filmed episodes for Obese TV, their web series.[19] In 2013, Obese Records signed its first management contract with emcee Kerser, at that point having divisions for sales, publicity, marketing, accounts, and A&R.[9] In 2013, Pegz expanded the company by opening a second retail store in the Melbourne neighborhood of Frankston, which stocked music, merchandise, street apparel, spray paint, art supplies, DVDs, and street art magazines.[9]
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.[20]
In 2016, after 21 years, Obese Records shut down for good, with no specific reason ever given.[21] However, Pegz wrote a short statement about the label.[22] It read:
"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[20]
