FatBeats Records

Since its inception on July 14, 1994, Fat Beats, Inc. has had one mission: to become the international Mecca for true lovers of Hip Hop. Owned by Joseph Abajian (DJ, B-Boy, and producer, DJ Jab), and partners with Ryan Sikorski in the Amsterdam operation, Fat Beats first opened it's doors as a small, retail store in a basement location at 323 East 9th Street in Manhattan's East Village. Since then, Jab has seen his company explode all over the place -- worldwide that is -- Fat Beats Retail has locations in NYC, LA and Amsterdam; Fat Beats Distribution is the premier international independent distribution company specializing in vinyl; Fat Beats Records is a rapidly emerging force as an independent label marketing and promoting it¹s own releases to tremendous early success; and the newly operational www.fatbeats.com is destined to corner the market in on-line hip hop sales.

Specializing in hard to find vinyl independents, classics, break beats, dj paraphernalia and merchandise such as clothing, turntables, slip mats, and dj needles (as well as cd¹s and cassettes), Fat Beats Retail is THE spot for the music lover with a passion for all things hip hop. The retail stores super-serve the market that the owner and CEO considers himself a part of: the true Hip Hop head. Nothing happens in Hip Hop that the Fat Beats consumer doesn¹t know about. To keep up with the consumer, Fat Beats employees are likely to be top area djs and a true representation of the customer visiting the store. There are current discussions on going regarding the opening of new Fat Beats Retail locations in several major markets spanning the globe.

Fat Beats Distribution has a worldwide clientele for wholesale and mail-order selections of various independent releases, crucial hard to find classics, Hip Hop videos, magazines, and graffiti paraphernalia. The Fat Beats Distribution customer is, no doubt, that crucial mom & pop retailer or dj store that every Hip Hop artist and record company needs to 'break' their record. Decidedly not a one stop, Fat Beats Distribution only carries exclusive lines and titles that the underground Hip Hop consumer is dying to throw on their turntables. Fat Beats Distribution boasts a customer base that extends to nearly every corner of the globe and puts records on the shelves of retailers and in front of consumers in every continent. Fat Beats Records, due to it¹s earned reputation, has an open door relationship to all of the hottest young, underground producers and emcees in the Hip Hop community and has already received much attention from major labels eyeing Fat Beats as an A&R source in hopes of landing the next big artist.

The Fat Beats website is a natural extension of the existing worldwide Fat Beats consumer population and the ever evolving Internet shopping experience. Having already established the brand name as interchangeable with independent Hip Hop, the Fat Beats web site has long received 'hits' from hungry consumers looking for a way to obtain product. The demand is there and now Fat Beats is primed to fulfill that demand. In it¹s short but exciting history, Fat Beats has worked with a series of artists; distributing and marketing a continuous flow of some of the most successful young artists in Hip Hop today. Artists affiliated with Fat Beats include D.I.T.C. (Showbiz, AG, Diamond, Lord Finesse, Big L., Buckwild, O.C. and Fat Joe), Atmosphere, J-Zone, Jurassic 5, Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Dilated Peoples, Bumpy Knuckles, Afu-Ra, Reflection Eternal, Non-Phixion, El The Sensei, Kool Keith, Indelibles (Company Flow, The Juggaknots, and J-Treds), The X-Ecutioners, Roc Raida, Diezzle Don and Redman and many others.

Record labels that have worked closely with, and profited tremendously from their relationship with Fat Beats include ABB Records, Battle Axe Recordings, DITC, D&D Recordings, Fondle'Em Records, Stones Throw, Audio Research, Guesswyld, and every other exciting and young independent record label. Newly formed alliances with companies such as Loud, Tommy Boy, Interscope, Caroline, and Koch speak volumes to the impact that Fat Beats is making at all levels of the Hip Hop landscape.

Over the course of eight years, Fat Beats has developed from a small basement store to an international force in the Hip Hop music business. Pioneering a market (vinyl sales) that previously seemed intentionally forgotten by the music industry, Fat Beats single handedly breathed life into the format. The resurgence of vinyl product (from such labels as Rawkus, Loud, Tommy Boy, Def Jam, etc.) over the last several years is a direct testament to the accomplishments of Fat Beats. Fat Beats is clearly capable of assessing what it is that the people want to hear. The company is highly selective in deciding which artists and labels to become associated with because Fat Beats believes in meeting a certain standard of quality. This method of operation is what has caused our customers to develop a trust in all Fat Beats products. It is the source of the company¹s credibility and the basis for every new area of growth that Fat Beats intends to move into.



www.fatbeats.com