Stones Throw

Headquarters: L.A., California

Founded: 1996

Founded by: Peanut Butter Wolf

Link: http://www.stonesthrow.com/

Active Roster: Aloe Blacc, Breakestra, DJ Rels, J Dilla, Jaylib, Koushik, Lootpack, Madlib, Madvillain, MED/Medaphor, Oh No, Peanut Butter Wolf, Percee P, Dudly Perkins, Quasimoto, Wildchild, Gary Wilson, Yesterday's New Quintet

Inactive Roster: Captain Funkaho, Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf

Genre(s): hip-hop, funk, breakbeat, soul

Key Releases: Quasimoto - The Unseen, Jaylib - Champion Sound, Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf - Big Shots, Madvillain - Madvillainy

Stones Throw Records, started by beat maker/producer/DJ extrodinaire Peanut Butter Wolf, was created in 1996 as an outlet for releasing his own material after he realized that he got as much enjoyment promoting the music as he did creating it. It was also a way to release the material he produced with his late friend, emcee Charizma (who passed away in 1993) after a failed stint on Hollywood Basics (hip-hop subsidary of Walt Disney). Stones Throw started by releasing 12"s, 7"s and instrumentals before breaking on to the scene hard in the late 90s. Within 4 years (1998-2002) and the release of long players by Peanut Butter Wolf (My Vinyl Weighs a Ton - 1998, Jukebox 45s - 2002), Lootpack (Soundpieces: Da Antidote - 1999), Quasimoto (The Unseen - 2000), Breakestra (The Live Mix Part 2}, Yesterday's New Quintet (Angels Without Edges - 2001) and a fantastic funk compilation called The Funky 16 Corners (2001) along with singles from from the rest of their core line-up (MED, Dudley Perkins, Wildchild), Stones Throw was able to solidify their position as the essential independent hip-hop label on the west coast. The label would not have earned nearly as much popularity without beatmaker/producer/emcee/DJ Madlib, ST's flagship artist.  He is not only responsible for probably about 75% of the label's music and production, but is actually 40% of the label's artists himself, just under different monikers. His unparalleled innovation musically along with PBW's creative knack for promotion and presentation has made Stones Throw maybe the most important independent label of recent times and moving strong into the future. Basically, it has made the same impact to hip-hop as Stax made on soul music in the late 60s and 70s. Just think of Peanut Butter Wolf as Jim Stewart/Al Bell, Charizma as Otis Redding, Madlib doubling as Isaac Hayes and Booker T. & the MG's, MED and Wildchild as Sam & Dave and Dudley Perkins as Wilson Pickett. Hell, Quasimoto could even be Rufus Thomas.

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