Fake Four | |
---|---|
Founded | 2008 (2008) |
Founder | Ceschi, David Ramos |
Distributor(s) | Sonic Unyon, Redeye Distribution |
Genre | Indie hip hop, indie rock |
Country of origin | U.S. |
Location | New Haven, Connecticut |
Official website | www |
Fake Four is an independent record label based in New Haven, Connecticut. It was founded by brothers Ceschi and David Ramos in 2008.
According to an interview with Ceschi on Ugsmag.com, the Ramos brothers started Fake Four with help from Grimm Image Records in San Bernardino, California and Squids Eye Recording Collective in Dayton, Ohio as an outlet to release and distribute their personal music projects and those of their friends. Since the initial release This Up Here by David Ramos, Fake Four Inc. has been a self-sufficient label.
Style
Fake Four Inc. does not adhere to genre specifications. Brett Uddenberg of URB praised the label for pushing the boundaries of indie rap. Chris Faraone of The Phoenix wrote: "you heard it here first: Fake Four is the most important label in progressive hip-hop right now."
History
The first full-length release on Fake Four Inc. came with This Up Here by David Ramos on May 20, 2008. It is a self-published album by co-founder of the label and Modern Drummer magazine's Top 10 Progressive drummers. and XLR8R.
In 2010, Fake Four Inc. became official label partners with Circle Into Square in Portland, Oregon and took on production and distribution duties for the smaller like-minded label. Fake Four Inc. is exclusively distributed by Sonic Unyon in Canada and Redeye Distribution worldwide.
In 2013, an Indiegogo campaign for Fake Four Inc. raised over $52,000 to cover manufacturing costs and operating expenses.
Fake Four Inc. has released albums by Astronautalis, Blue Sky Black Death, Boy in Static, Busdriver, Electric President, K-the-I???, Myka 9, Noah23. Nearly all releases on the label have placed on CMJ charts, including Vessel by Dark Time Sunshine on #2 CMJ Hip Hop ranking and Lawson Graham by Factor Chandelier and Owl Hours by Awol One & Factor on #3 CMJ Hip Hop showings.
Fake Four Inc. has also been noted for their intra-label collaborations and artists signed to the label have self-booked tours through the United States, Canada and Europe.
Artists
According to their site as of 2017, Fake Four Inc.'s current promoted artists include
- Andy the Doorbum & Justin Aswell
- Bleubird
- Ceschi
- Factor Chandelier
- Gregory Pepper & His Problems
- Onry Ozzborn
- Zavala
Artists still on the roster include
- Awol One
- Bike for Three!
- Blue Sky Black Death
- Boy in Static
- Busdriver
- Cars & Trains
- Child Actor
- Dark Time Sunshine
- David Ramos
- Grayskul
- Louis Logic
- Moodie Black
- Open Mike Eagle
- Paranoid Castle
- Sadistik
- Sister Crayon
- Tommy V
Artists now archived include
- Astronautalis
- Common Grackle
- Electric President
- greencarpetedstairs
- K-the-I???
- Kaigen
- Mad Gregs
- Mic King & Chum
- Myka 9
- Nathaniel Motte
- Noah23
- Sixo
- Sole
- Sole and the Skyrider Band
Artists with one time releases on the label include
- Delby L
- Hired Hand
- Lord Fowl
- Pretend You're Happy
- Ron Contour
See also
References
- ^ Pas, Jake Ten (February 17, 2011). "Artists from indie label Fake Four perform Saturday at Backspace". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- Dawers, Bill (December 6, 2012). "Man About Town: Wormhole, Live Wire bring the heat this weekend". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- Rajbot (Oct 7, 2009). "Fake Four Inc". ugsmag.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- Uddenberg, Brett (May 13, 2010). "Dark Time Sunshine – Vessel (Review)". urb.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- Faraone, Chris (July 13, 2010). "Ceschi - The One Man Band Broke Up". The Phoenix. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- David Ramos – This Up Here at Discogs
- Bernstein, Benjamin. "David Ramos - This Up Here". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- Maharaj, Zoneil (June 4, 2008). "David Ramos - This Up Here". xlr8r.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- Hamad, Michael (March 24, 2014). "Hip Hop's Ceschi Ramos Celebrates Freedom With Hometown Appearance". Hartford Courant. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- S, Jack (February 27, 2010). "Fake Four Unites Sole, Onry Ozzborn/Dark Time Sunshine, Ceschi for Spring Tour". altsounds.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "Sole's West-coast Canadian Tour with Factor & Def 3 + Help Get Skyrider into Canada". ugsmag.com. Nov 2, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "Love Fights Back Tour with 2Mex - Ceschi - Final Tour Dates". Equinox Records. Sep 9, 2009. Archived from the original on April 11, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- Stewart, Jeanette (December 8, 2011). "Producer gets instrumental: Prolific artist gets help from friends". The StarPhoenix. p. C1. Retrieved August 20, 2017.