Deep Thinka Records

Deep Thinka Records
Founded 1997
Founder Anthony Caferro
Robert Hill
Distributor(s) The Orchard
Genre Indie hip hop,
Country of origin  United States
Location Buffalo, NY
Official website www.deepthinka.com

Deep Thinka Records is an independent record label and booking agency based in Buffalo, New York. Founded by Anthony Caferro (Tone) and Robert Hill (Speed) in April 1997, it is the largest and most prominent hip-hop label in Upstate New York. Deep Thinka Records produces, publishes and books hip hop music, tours and events geared toward organizing the community, as well as developing strategic partnerships with other independent businesses.[1] The label is proudly independent and active in such operations as Artist Management, Artist Development, Tour Booking, Visual/Film Production, Social Media Marketing and Street Promotion. The current roster includes prominent independent artists such as Blueprint, Moka Only, Billy Drease Williams, Tanya Morgan, and Fresh Kils.[2]

History

Deep Thinka Records began as an ambitious idea out of a University of Buffalo dorm room,[3] has now grown into the most influential independent Hip Hop label in “The Queen City” of Buffalo. The label has dedicated itself to expressive artistic revolution, skillful and innovative music, social consciousness and aims to counterbalance the brash materialism, meat-headed misogyny, and glorified violence that have become synonymous with popular rap.[4]

The name of the label was borne out of a collaborative song entitled “How The Real Crew Bang”, recorded in 1996 and 1997 for an early internet hip hop crew called Ill Crew Universal (ICU). Caferro felt the previous ICU mixtapes during that time featured primarily California or overseas based artists, and wanted to record a posse cut with ICU members located in the eastern USA for the crew’s third mixtape: The Death of Hip Hop.[5] The song ultimately featured DTR co-founder Robert “Speed” Hill as well as Jason “Furious” Floyd; Iz-Real, The Joker, Quest One, and Kid Logik. In the interest of cohesion, the artists involved decided to credit themselves collectively for the song, and eventually they settled on “Deep Thinkaz”. [6] Shortly after the release of the mixtape, Caferro and Hill decided to form an indie label based on the positive experience of working together, and the exuberant support and response to the song, and “Deep Thinkaz” became Deep Thinka Records. The label was originally formed as a personal partnership in 1997; and in 2001, was legally formed as a Limited Liability Company in the State of New York.[7]

From 2004-2009, DTR, alongside Billy Drease Williams curated the annual Art of Hip Hop[8]event in Buffalo. The Art of Hip Hop focuses on educating young people in Western New York on art, music, mathematics and business. [9]

Current Talent Roster

Past Talent Roster

Videography

Discography

1997

1998

1999

2000

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

References

  1. ↑ "About DTR". DTR. August 1, 1997..
  2. ↑ Sussman, Sarah. "Fresh Kils signs to Deep Thinka Records & announces European tour". Hip Hop Canada. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Honigman, Daniel (April 20, 2006). "This Is Buffalo Hip Hop". Artvoice.
  4. ↑ Sweeney, Joe (May–June 2005). "Hip Hop: Two Turntables and a Business Loan". Buffalo Spree Magazine.
  5. ↑ "ICU 3: Who's Tru?". Discogs.
  6. ↑ "DeepThinkaz". Discogs.
  7. ↑ Park, Gene. "Deep Thinking". UB Spectrum. Retrieved 2 Sep 2002.
  8. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Drease_Williams#The_Art_of_Hip-Hop. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ Buffalonian4life. "Art of Hip Hop: Community Event at the AKAG Lives On!". Buffalo Rising. Retrieved August 22, 2009.

External links