Anticon

Anticon (often styled as anticon.) was an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California.[1] It was founded in 1998 by seven musicians and manager Baillie Parker.[2][3] It was collectively owned among six musicians, co-founder Parker, and manager Shaun Koplow.[4] The original musicians signed to Anticon were once referred to as the Anticon collective.[5] Following the death of one of its founding members in 2018, the label dissolved.[6]

Anticon
Founded1998 (1998)
Founder
Defunct2018
Distributor(s)Redeye (World except UK)
Melodic (UK)
GenreIndie hip hop
Electronic music
Indie rock
Country of originUnited States
LocationLos Angeles, California
Official websitewww.anticon.com

History

The label's roster of artists has been described as "the hip-hop equivalent of post-rock" and "avant-garde hip-hop".[3] Releases feature material created by its members, affiliates, and extended musical family. Although Anticon cohered originally within alternative hip hop circles, Anticon's founders have become only tangentially related to hip hop, and the label has begun releasing music in the indie rock and electronica genres.[7] Artists signed to Anticon are based in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

The artists within the collective have been known to perform and release music in solo and group form. Artists on the label are known for frequent collaboration, both within and outside of their own collective. However, the Anticon collective has over time evolved into a group of separate artists who, despite sharing a similar progressive and often challenging indie quality, explore different styles of music including electronica and rock.[8] Many of the artists on Anticon are signed to multiple labels, and some have their own small, independent labels through which they have self-released material.

Anticon has also organized art exhibitions featuring visual art by several of the artists on the label.[9][10]

On February 9, 2010, co-founder Sole (Tim Holland) left Anticon exclaiming that it is time to try to push forward and find new opportunities.[11] He leaves citing business and ideological differences while maintaining his love for the artists on Anticon. He said, "There are no ill feelings between myself and members of anticon. I will continue to work with many of the artists and will always love them as brothers and consider them allies." He officially renounced his 1/8 of ownership and formal affiliations.[12][13]

On March 30, 2018, founding member Alias died of a heart attack at age 41.[14] In November 2018, the label released a posthumous album from Alias that had been completed with label-mate Doseone prior to his death.[15] The label has been quiet since then, and former co-founder Sole confirmed in July 2021 that the label had "dissolved" sometime after Alias's death.[6]

Owners

Roster

License

Collaborators

Moodswing9, Slug, Ant, Eyedea, DJ Abilities, Mr. Dibbs, DJ Signify, DJ Krush, Controller 7, J. Rawls, Dax Pierson, Daddy Kev, The Notwist, Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio, Mike Patton, Jessica Bailiff, Andrew Bird, Andrew Broder of Fog, Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason of Múm, Dark Dark Dark, John Herndon of Tortoise, Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers, Sufjan Stevens, Stefanie Böhm of Ms. John Soda, Anders Holm, Chris Adams of Hood, Circus of Shape Shifters, Scott Matelic, Matth, Megabusive, D-Styles, others.

Projects

The Anticon collective is known for its many musical projects. Not all of these projects are released on the Anticon label. Artists within the Anticon collective have released collaborative albums on different labels or on their own independent labels.

Some notable projects of the Anticon collective include the following:

Discography
Main article: Anticon Discography

See also

References
  1. Burns, Todd (September 1, 2003). "Anticon - Label Profile". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on March 29, 2006.
  2. "Anticon Records, Info". Facebook.
  3. Torreano, Bradley. "Anticon". Allmusic.
  4. Kerr, Dave (November 5, 2007). "anticon: ten years after it hit the prism". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on September 25, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  5. Burns, Todd (July 21, 2003). "The Anticon Collective: The Construction of a New Hip-Hop Authenticity". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on February 23, 2008.
  6. Sole [@mcsole] (July 19, 2021). "when @AliasAnticon died the @anticon label dissolved shortly after. There was no infrastructure left to manage his music. Big ups to @BDolanSFR & @SFRupdates for stepping up so that his family would receive all funds in perpetuity" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. "Anticon Records' Why? Announces Tour Dates". Synthesis. July 9, 2008. Archived from the original on June 9, 2012.
  8. Petitti, Michael (November 10, 2005). "Indie plus rap equals Why?". Arizona Daily Wildcat. Archived from the original on November 3, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
  9. "Arspace Gallery". Art Business. November 4, 2006.
  10. "POP BEAT". SFGate.com. November 5, 2006.
  11. Martins, Chris (February 23, 2010). "Exclusive: Sole Discusses Leaving Anticon Records". LA Weekly.
  12. Martins, Chris (February 10, 2010). "Anticon's Sole Leaves The Label He Founded, Label Manager Shaun Koplow Responds". LA Weekly.
  13. Breihanon, Tom (February 9, 2010). "Sole Leaves Anticon". Pitchfork Media.
  14. Yoo, Noah (31 March 2018). "Anticon Co-Founder Brendon Whitney (Alias) Dead at 41". Pitchfork Media.
  15. @anticon (November 2, 2018). "A celebration of 20 years of friendship, Alias & Doseone's Less Is Orchestra LP is OUT NOW" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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