Uprok Records
Encyclopedia
Uprok Records was a record label
created in 1999
under the parent company Tooth & Nail Records
, with a focus on distributing Christian hip-hop artists. The name Uprok Records refers to the breakdancing term (also spelled Uprock
). The first three artists on the label were Ill Harmonics, Sup the Chemist and MG! The Visionary
. Shortly after its inception Josh Niemyjski, who created and maintains SphereOfHipHop.com, took over as President and Artist & Repertoire manager. According to Niemyjski, "It was started because I feel like BEC and Tooth and Nail saw a niche that wasn't being filled." Through its parent companies BEC
/Tooth & Nail
and EMI Christian, it was able to sell in Christian and secular stores. However, a grassroots marketing was used to sell many of the albums online directly through the label, at SphereOfHipHop.com, at other hip-hop websites and local records stores, as well as at the artists live shows.
Currently the record label is not defunct but Josh Niemyjski has left to form ILLECT Recordings and parent label BEC
/Tooth & Nail
has very few hip-hop artists currently signed and being distributed under the Uprok label. Many of the former artists have signed to competing Christian hip-hop label Gotee Records
, co-founded by TobyMac
and also distributed by EMI, while others have started their own label or joined smaller labels and collectives.
BK & Associates
KJ-52
Manafest
MG! The Visionary
Sup the Chemist
Deepspace5
and members:
Beat Rabbi
Freddie Bruno
Ill Harmonics
The Listener
Mars ILL
(manCHILD
& DJ Dust
)
Playdough
Sev Statik
Sintax the Terrific
The Tunnel Rats and members:
Jurny Big
LPG
New Breed
Peace 586
Raphi
Sev Statik
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
created in 1999
1999 in music
-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
under the parent company Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
, with a focus on distributing Christian hip-hop artists. The name Uprok Records refers to the breakdancing term (also spelled Uprock
Uprock
Uprock, or Rocking as it was originally referred to, also known as Rock, is a soulful and competitive urban street dance, performed in synchronization to the beats and rhythms of soul, rock and funk music, but was mostly danced to a specific and exclusive collection of songs that contained a hard...
). The first three artists on the label were Ill Harmonics, Sup the Chemist and MG! The Visionary
MG! The Visionary
MG! The Visionary is an underground hip hop artist who was a member of New Life Crew, known from 1993-1996 as Third Nail Productions , considered by many to be a founding member of the Christian hip hop community...
. Shortly after its inception Josh Niemyjski, who created and maintains SphereOfHipHop.com, took over as President and Artist & Repertoire manager. According to Niemyjski, "It was started because I feel like BEC and Tooth and Nail saw a niche that wasn't being filled." Through its parent companies BEC
BEC Recordings
BEC Recordings is a Christian rock record label that is a subsidiary of Tooth and Nail Records. The label was formed in 1997 in partnership with the EMI Christian Music Group....
/Tooth & Nail
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
and EMI Christian, it was able to sell in Christian and secular stores. However, a grassroots marketing was used to sell many of the albums online directly through the label, at SphereOfHipHop.com, at other hip-hop websites and local records stores, as well as at the artists live shows.
Currently the record label is not defunct but Josh Niemyjski has left to form ILLECT Recordings and parent label BEC
BEC Recordings
BEC Recordings is a Christian rock record label that is a subsidiary of Tooth and Nail Records. The label was formed in 1997 in partnership with the EMI Christian Music Group....
/Tooth & Nail
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
has very few hip-hop artists currently signed and being distributed under the Uprok label. Many of the former artists have signed to competing Christian hip-hop label Gotee Records
Gotee Records
Gotee Records is a record label founded by dc Talk member Toby McKeehan , Todd Collins, and Joey Elwood...
, co-founded by TobyMac
TobyMac
Toby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
and also distributed by EMI, while others have started their own label or joined smaller labels and collectives.
Artist list
The following artists either have performed or released an album under the Uprok Records label:BK & Associates
KJ-52
KJ-52
KJ-52 is a Christian rapper from Tampa, Florida. The "KJ" part of his name refers to his old rap alias, "King J...
Manafest
Manafest
Chris Greenwood better known by his stage name Manafest, is a Canadian Christian rapper and rock artist from Pickering, Ontario....
MG! The Visionary
MG! The Visionary
MG! The Visionary is an underground hip hop artist who was a member of New Life Crew, known from 1993-1996 as Third Nail Productions , considered by many to be a founding member of the Christian hip hop community...
Sup the Chemist
Deepspace5
Deepspace5
Deepspace5 is a Christian indie hip hop collective currently including Beat Rabbi, Manwell?/DJ Manwell, Fred B, Listener, manCHILD & DJ Dust of Mars ILL, Playdough, Sintax.the.Terrific, Sivion, and Sev Statik. Past Members have included Illtripp, Recon & The Pride...
and members:
Beat Rabbi
Freddie Bruno
Ill Harmonics
The Listener
Mars ILL
Mars ILL
Mars Ill is an emcee/DJ hip-hop duo from Atlanta, Georgia. The duo consists of Gregory Owens and Nathan Corrona . They are also part of the hip-hop collective Deepspace5....
(manCHILD
ManCHILD
manCHILD is a Christian hip hop rapper and an avid contributor to alternative hip hop. His real full name is Gregory Lamar Owens...
& DJ Dust
DJ Dust
DJ Dust is the DJ and producer for the underground hip-hop group, Mars ILL. His real name is Nathan Corrona. DJ Dust is known for his hard hitting "boom bap" style of production, often mixing samples from obscure 60's and 70's guitar and drum driven records....
)
Playdough
Sev Statik
Sintax the Terrific
The Tunnel Rats and members:
Jurny Big
LPG
LPG (hip hop group)
LPG is an American hip-hop group from Los Angeles, California. Their name was understood to stand for "Lord's Personal Gangsters", but now is "Living Proof of Grace". They released their first album on Brainstorm Records.- Tunnel Rats :...
New Breed
Peace 586
Peace 586
Peace 586 is a prolific hip-hop artist from the United States, whose career has spanned the period from the 1980s to the present. A beatmaker who also has rapped, he's made a mark with his signature, sample-based production style and down-to-earth lyrical content—best known for expressing his...
Raphi
Sev Statik