Funk Volume

Funk Volume
Founded 2009
Founder Hopsin, Damien "Dame" Ritter
Genre Hip hop
Country of origin United States
Location Los Angeles, California[1]
Official website myfunkvolume.com

Funk Volume is an independent hip hop record label and production company. It was co-founded by American rapper Hopsin and Damien "Dame" Ritter in 2009. The label is also home to additional artists Dizzy Wright, Jarren Benton, SwizZz, and producers DJ Hoppa and Kato.

History

Following an ill fated record deal with Ruthless Records rapper Hopsin and Damien Ritter founded the independent record label Funk Volume. To start the label Hopsin went on LegalZoom, set up the business, and got the papers in the mail.[2] The first rapper to be signed to Funk Volume would be Damien Ritter's younger brother and high school friend of Hopsin, SwizZz. The first project released by Funk Volume would be a collaboration mixtape between the two flagship artists, Hopsin and SwizZz titled Haywire on June 18, 2009.[3] They originally wanted to sell it for retail sale, but were unable to due to Hopsin still being contracted by Ruthless Records at the time.[4] The first official album to be released on Funk Volume would be Hopsin's second studio album Raw in November 2010, which was supported by the singles "Sag My Pants" and "Nocturnal Rainbows".

In November 2011 Las Vegas rapper Dizzy Wright was signed to Funk Volume after they were "impressed by his smooth flow, confident stage presence and energy that won over the crowd."[5] In early 2012 Hopsin would expand his roster by signing Atlanta rapper Jarren Benton, who would then release a mixtape Freebasing With Kevin Bacon in June 2012.[6][7] Dizzy Wright would be the first artist besides Hopsin, to release an official studio album on Funk Volume which would be titled, SmokeOutConversations on April 20, 2012.[8] It was followed by an EP titled The First Agreement in December 2012. Both peaked in the top 50 of the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Jarren Benton would release his debut studio album My Grandma's Basement on June 11, 2013.[9] My Grandma's Basement peaked at number four on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and number 152 on the Billboard 200.[10]

On August 9, 2013 SwizZz released the first single, "Zoom In" from his untitled 2014 debut album.[11] On August 20, 2013, Damien Ritter revealed in an interview that he had talked to many labels about distribution deals, but decided against it till the label built its brand more. He also stated that a Funk Volume compilation album would be released in the future.[2] On September 18, 2013, Funk Volume revealed they had expanded their production division to include Kato and Rikio.[12] The label then released Hopsin's Knock Madness on November 26, 2013. With the help of Empire Distribution, Knock Madness became the first Funk Volume release to be distributed in CD format to retail stores.[13] In May 2014, Jarren Benton became the third Funk Volume artist in as many years to be named to the XXL freshman class.[14]

Current roster

Acts currently signed to the record label include:[15]

Artists
Producers

Discography

Artist Album Album details
Hopsin Raw
  • Released: November 19, 2010.
  • Peaked at number 46 on the US Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.
Dizzy Wright SmokeOutConversations
Dizzy Wright The First Agreement EP
Jarren Benton My Grandma's Basement
  • Released: June 11, 2013
  • Peaked at number 152 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
Hopsin Knock Madness
  • Released: November 26, 2013
  • Peaked at number 76 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
Dizzy Wright State of Mind
Jarren Benton Slow Motion Volume One
  • Released: January 27, 2015
DJ Hoppa Hoppa And Friends
  • Released: March 31, 2015
Dizzy Wright The Growing Process
  • Released: May 26, 2015
Hopsin Pound Syndrome
  • Released: 2015
Jarren Benton Slow Motion Volume Two
  • Released: 2015
SwizZz Rock, Paper, SwizZzors
  • Released: 2015

References

  1. ↑ "About Funk Volume". "Funk Volume Record Label".
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Hopsin, Dame Ritter Talk Funk Volume's Inner-Workings, Growth". BallerStatus.com. 2013-08-20. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  3. ↑ "SwizZz & Hopsin - Funk Volume Mixtape: Haywire // Free Mixtape @". Datpiff.com. 2009-06-18. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  4. ↑ Max Bell (2013-08-08). "Funk Volume: Valley-Based Rap Label Builds an Independent Empire - Page 1 - Music - Los Angeles". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  5. ↑ http://www.myfunkvolume.com (2013-06-04). "Dizzy Wright - Funk Volume ArtistFunk Volume". Myfunkvolume.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  6. ↑ "The Come Up: Jarren Benton - Page 6 of 7 - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  7. ↑ "Jarren Benton - Freebasing With Kevin Bacon - Stream". Djbooth.net. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  8. ↑ "iTunes - Music - SmokeOut Conversations by Dizzy Wright". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  9. ↑ "The Come Up: Jarren Benton - Page 7 of 7 - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  10. ↑ Artist Biography by Jason Lymangrover. "Jarren Benton | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  11. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Zoom In - Single by SwizZz". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  12. ↑ http://www.myfunkvolume.com (2013-09-18). "Kato Announces Signing to Funk Volume! | Funk VolumeFunk Volume". Myfunkvolume.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  13. ↑ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.26394/title.swizzz-says-hopsin-s-knock-madness-is-important-for-rap-
  14. ↑ http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/05/jarren-benton-xxl-freshmen-2014/
  15. ↑ "Artists". "Funk Volume Record Label".
  16. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1033684126647381
  17. ↑ http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/dizzy-wright-announces-state-of-mind-ep-news.9399.html