|
Hip hop sans frontieres >> Audio Research hope to up the ante by SCOTT C
Audio Research and their Montreal-based hip hop label are definitely rooted here, but 3/4 of the 8000+ records they've managed to sell in 1998 have been outside of the French connection. "We're trying to stimulate things in Montreal," says label-owner/producer Dave One, "but at the same time we're trying to evaluate our music with borderless standards." You're probably familiar with the story of the hometown talent who seem to get more attention away from home. Not that these guys don't get respect in Mtl, but some in this city have gone as far as saying that the Audio Research team are hip hop snobs. "They can call us whatever they want," says Dave confidently. "We're just organised and focused on making good music and having as many people as possible hear it." Dave, his brother A-Trak and business partners Willow Perron and the infamous Big Buddy are presently making sure that signees Obscure Disorder and D-Shade get the props they deserve. Mass appeal is one thing but the independent game is something different altogether and Dave knows it. "As far as sales go, I still feel that we're pretty low for indie hip hop standards--I'd like to be selling 10,000 copies of one single this year," he says. Fat Beats, the New York-based one-stop hip hop shop recently bought 3000 of the latest Obscure single "Maintain the Focus" for distribution to stores across the states. With Dave making beats in Montreal, A-Trak gigging all over the place, Willow politicin' in L.A. and Big Buddy handling all of the logistics, Audio Research is taking full opportunity of every resource they have. "We're trying to chart worldwide, and if you have a good record, anything is possible."
|
How many times have you heard somebody say, "this is pretty good--as far as Montreal hip hop goes..."? It seems heads still ain't ready to up the ante--or are they?