Fondle 'Em Records

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Fondle ‘Em Records was a record label based in New York City, New York. It was founded and owned by Robert “Bobbito” Garcia from 1995 to 2001. He formed the label after realizing that the many unsigned rappers making guest appearances on “The Stretch Armstrong/Bobbito Show,” a program Bobbito co-hosted with DJ Stretch Armstrong on Columbia University radio station WKCR 88.9fm, didn't have a proper outlet for their talents.

Fondle 'Em, along with Rawkus Records, Solesides, and a handful of other small imprints helped jumpstart the underground hip hop scene. It also introduced cult artist MF DOOM.

1 History
2 Discography
3 References
4 See also

[edit] History

Bobbito began the vinyl-only Fondle ‘Em imprint in December 1995. Its first release was The Cenubites, a mini-album featuring Kool Keith and Godfather Don. Many of the songs on The Cenubites originated as demo tapes the duo made for the “The Stretch Armstrong/Bobbito Show.” Kool Keith's underground popularity led Fondle 'Em to later reissue the project as The Cenobites.

During the late 1990s, Fondle ‘Em established itself as an independent record label. It did not enjoy major label backing or private investment. No artists were actually signed to Fondle 'Em, and profits from their records were split 50/50 with them. No marketing budget was ever set, and all of its releases (with the exception of two) were vinyl only. Manhattan, New York record store Fat Beats distributed Fondle 'Em's products throughout the U.S.

Fondle 'Em pressed its titles in limited quanties, rarely making more than a few thousand copies available for each one. As a result, the label's catalog is now highly sought after by collectors. Certain titles, particularly Siah and Yeshua DapoED's self-titled EP (1996) and the Juggaknots' album Clear Blue Skies (1996), fetch high prices in online auctions and at swap meets.

Fondle 'Em's best known artist was MF DOOM, the nom de plume of Daniel Dumile. The label issued Dumile's first MF DOOM singles in 1997. (At the time, most fans knew Dumile as Zev Love X from the hip-hop group KMD.) In 1999, Fondle' Em issued MF DOOM's Operation: Doomsday. That same year, it released Black Bastards Ruffs + Rares EP, a collection of rare tracks from KMD's catalog.

Other artists who recorded for Fondle 'Em include Cage, the Arsonists, Scienz of Life, and MF Grimm.

Near the end of 2001, Bobbito closed the label. He compiled a greatest hits Compilation, Farewell Fondle 'Em. Instead of issuing the album through Fondle 'Em, however, he chose Definitive Jux to release it. In the liner notes for Farewell Fondle 'Em, Bobbito stated he selected Definitive Jux because it was carrying on the independent hip-hop tradition formerly championed by Fondle 'Em.

[edit] Discography

FE101: Godfather Don featuring Kool Keith, The Cenobites LP/CD
FE002: The Juggaknots, Clear Blue Skies LP
FE003: The Arsonists, "The Session/Halloween"
FE31: The Arsonists, "Blaze/Geembo's Theme/Flashback"
FE004: Mr. Live, "Relax Y'self/Supa Dupa/Hunger Strike"
FE005: Siah & Yeshua DapoED EP
FE0052: Siah, "Repetition/Pyrite"
FE006: Lord Sear, "Alcoholic Vibes" b/w Stak Chedda, "My Hindu Love"
FE007: Cage, "Radiohead/Agent Orange"
FE72: Cage, "Mersh/4 Letter Word"
FE008: MF DOOM, "Dead Bent/Gas Drawls/Hey!"
FE0082: MF DOOM, "Greenbacks/Go With The Flow"
FE83: KMD, Black Bastards Ruffs + Rares EP
FE84: KMD, "What A Nigga Know/Constipated Monkey/Q3"
FE85: MF DOOM, "The M.I.C./Red & Gold"
FE86: MF DOOM, Operation: Doomsday 2LP/CD
FE87: Subroc/KMD, "It Sounded Like A Roc/Stop Smokin' That Shit"
FE009: Scienz of Life, "Powers of Nine Ether/The Anthem"
FE91: Scienz of Life, "Metaphysic/2000 and What to Expect!"
FEMF1: MF Grimm, "Do It For The Kids/Bloody Love Letter"
FEMF2: MF Grimm, "Landslide Remix/Tick Tick"
FEMF3: MF Grimm, "WWIII/Scars & Memories"
FETBC: The Boulevard Connection, Sut Min Pik EP
FENH1: Da Nuthouse, "A Luv Supreme/Synapsis/Very Vocabulary"
FEMHZ1: MHz (MegaHertz), "World Premier/Camu"
FEMHZ2: MHz (MegaHertz), "Rocket Science/Magnetics/Absolutely Posolutely"
FEJT1: J-Treds, "Make It Happen/Praise Due"
FERO1: Rok One, "Certified Superior/Ninety Degrees A Piece"
FECK1: DJ Eli & Shan Boogs (Cloudkickers), "And So Kiddies.../Truly Gifted Ones"
FEJAKK1: Jakki Tha Mota Mouth, "Widespread (feat. Copywrite of MHz)/The Chosen"
FEMEG: Megalon, "One In A Million/Peace To The Homeless"
FESA1: Cashless Society, "Blazetha Breaks"/Mizchif "Place For A Wife"
FEYAK1: Y@k Ballz, "HomePiss/Nasty or Nice/The Plague/Flossin"