Obese Records


Obese Records was a record label that released music from the Australian hip hop genre. It was the largest Australian independent hip hop label, including performers Pegz, Thundamentals and Dialectrix. Obese Records also operated two retail stores in Melbourne, a record distribution company, a soul imprint named Plethora Records, and operates the artists' management and touring company Obese Records Artist Management.

History

Founding as OB's record store

Obese Records was founded in 1995 as a small record store called OB's by Ollie Bobbitt, in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran. Specialising in hip hop music, the store changed its name to "Obese Records" after Bobbitt sold the business to Shazlek One. In mid-2002 the store was bought by Melbourne-based artist Tirren Staaf who transformed it into a record label.
According to Pegz, there were few other labels specializing in Australian hip hop at the time, and none putting significant funds into marketing.> Pegz "saw the opening and went for it. It was about giving the people around me the opportunity they deserved." Pegz used the label to create a distribution network, and also purchased the Zenith Records vinyl pressing plant, one of only two companies then still pressing vinyl records in Australia. The pressing plant was subsequently sold in November 2007.

Expansion

The first artist released on the label was MC Reason's EP Solid in 2000, produced by Jolz with appearances from Brad Strut, Bias B and Pac D.
Other early releases included compilation albums, Culture of Kings and Obesecity, which Pegz describes as "key networking tools" for the growing Australian hip hop scene, as well as formative releases from Bliss n Eso, Bias B, DJ Bonez, Downsyde, Brad Strut and Layla. The two-disc Culture of Kings Volume Two included tracks by Hilltop Hoods, Delta, Layla, TZU, Hospice, Brothers Stoney, Bliss N Eso and Funkoars. It was the first Australian hip hop album to be selected for the Triple J feature album spot on local radio.
In 2006 the Hilltop Hoods were nominated and won awards for Best Performing Independent Album and Best Independent Artist at that year's Australian Independent Record Labels Association Chart Awards.
Two artists associated with the label were nominated for four AIR Chart Awards in 2007. At the 2007 ARIA Awards, the Hilltop Hoods won 'Best Urban Release' for their album . The Hilltop Hoods DVD, The City of Light, released by Obese Records in 2007, has also been classified gold. In 2008 two artists on the Obese label, Muph & Plutonic and Spit Syndicate, received nominations for 'Best Urban Album' at the ARIA Awards. In 2010 M-Phazes' album, Good Gracious, was nominated for 'Best Urban Album' at the ARIA Awards.

Recent years

Following Hilltops Hoods departure to start their own label with EMI, Obese Records continued to focus on both established artists and underground locals. Plethora Records was founded as Obese' Records subsidiary soul label in 2010.
Obese was filming episodes for Obese TV, their web series, by 2012. In 2013 Obese Records signed its first management contract with emcee , at that point having divisions for sales, publicity, marketing, accounts, and A&R. The record store in Prahran at 4A Izett Street continues to sell hip-hop merchandise as of 2013, and also hosts listening parties, radio marathons, and a segment on Obese TV. Pegz expanded the company in 2013, opening a retail store in the Melbourne neighborhood of Frankston. It stocks music, merchandise, street apparel, spray paint, art supplies, DVDs, and street art magazines.
Periscope Pictures announced on 19 September 2013, that Obese Records would be distributing its documentary Hunter: For The Record locally in Australia. The feature film chronicles hip hop artist Robert Hunter before his death from cancer in 2011. Hunter had released all his albums on Obese, and in conjunction with the DVD the label is releasing his final album, Bring it All Back, posthumously.
In 2016 Obese Records announced that their official closing date would be 7 May. They will no longer be releasing any music.

Staff

Obese Records Distribution provides distribution for the following labels, in addition to Obese Records:
Cat. #TitleArtistYear
OBR001Solid Reason2000
OBR002Culture of Kings: Volume 1 Various2000
OBR003Hip Hop LifeBias B2001
OBR004-
OBR008		Culture of Kings: Volume 2Various 2002
OBR009The Courageous L.P. Matty B2002
OBR010The Authentic LP Brad Strut2002
OBR013ObeseCityVarious 2003
OBR015Culture of Kings: Volume 3Various2004
OBR017The CallingHilltop Hoods2003
OBR022Capricorn CatPegz2003
OBR024Hunger PainsMuph n Plutonic2007
OBR026When the Dust SettlesDownsyde2004
OBR032Who Am IDrapht2005
OBR034AxisPegz2005
OBR047The Hard RoadHilltop Hoods2006
OBR049What a Great NightHilltop Hoods2007
OBR050 Been There Done That Bias B2007
OBR051Hilltop Hoods2007
OBR054Burn CityPegz2007
OBR055 Don't Let Your Guard Down Chasm2008
OBR057Brothers GrimmDrapht2008
OBR063Left To WriteSkryptcha2009
OBR065Long Story ShortIlly2009
OBR071 Power of the Spoken Mantra2010
OBR075The ChaseIlly2010
OBR081Window of Time Reason2011
OBR084ObeseCity 2Various2012
OBR085Bring It BackIlly2012
OBR086Sunday Gentlemen Spit Syndicate2013
OBR087 Diamond Cuts EP Chasm2013
OBR088 The Cold Light of Day Dialectrix2013
OBR089Smoking Aces EPChasm2013
OBR090The WorksM-Phazes2013
OBR091Sunday Gentlemen: Deluxe EditionSpit Syndicate2013
OBR092Day Turns to Night EPChasm2013
OBR093So We Can RememberThundamentals2014
OBR094Night Vision EPChasm2014

Cat. #TitleArtistYear
PLR001 Neon Heartache Jess Harlen2010
PLR002 Park Yard Slang Jess Harlen2012