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Wild Pitch Records

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Wild Pitch Records
Founded1985; 39 years ago (1985)
FounderStu Fine
Defunct1999 (1999)
Distributor(s)EMI Records
GenreGolden age hip hop
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York City, New York, US

Wild Pitch Records was an American Golden age hip hop record label, started in 1987 by Stuart Fine, that was eventually distributed by EMI.[1][2] Artists who released records on the label included Gang Starr, Chill Rob G, Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth, Main Source, The U.M.C.'s, Hard Knocks, Brokin English Klik, Street Military, Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud, The Coup, Ultramagnetic MCs, O.C., as well as Latee, Jamose, and female rapper N-Tyce.[1][3][4]

Together, Fine and Howard re-established and released the label's catalogue, while also releasing records by Bigmouth, The Wallmen, Mary Lee's Corvette and Mighty Purple. The hip hop music catalogue was eventually acquired by Jay Faires, who tried to reactivate it as part of his short-lived JCOR Entertainment label.

As the majority of its albums were released in the early 1990s and went out of print, Faires re-released the label's catalog on April 22, 2008, through Fontana Distribution.[5]

In 2013, Complex placed Stu Fine at No. 25 of their 'The 25 Best A&Rs in Hip-Hop History' list.[6]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Album details Peak chart positions
US US R&B UK UK R&B
1980s Gang StarrNo More Mr. Nice Guy
  • Released: April 22, 1989
83
Chill Rob GRide the Rhythm
  • Released: May 23, 1989
60
1990s Lord Finesse & DJ Mike SmoothFunky Technician
  • Released: February 6, 1990
93
Main SourceBreaking Atoms
  • Released: July 23, 1991
40
The U.M.C.'sFruits of Nature
  • Released: October 15, 1991
32
Hard KnocksSchool of Hard Knocks
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: EMI
Brokin English KlikBrokin English Klik
  • Released: April 20, 1993
  • Label: EMI
The CoupKill My Landlord
  • Released: May 4, 1993
  • Label: EMI
83
Ultramagnetic MCsThe Four Horsemen
  • Released: August 10, 1993
  • Label: EMI
55
The U.M.C.'sUnleashed
  • Released: January 25, 1994
  • Label: EMI
63
Main SourceFuck What You Think
  • Released: March 22, 1994
The CoupGenocide & Juice
  • Released: October 13, 1994
  • Label: EMI
62
Wild Pitch Classics
  • Released: April 12, 1994
  • Label: EMI
O.C.Word...Life
  • Released: October 18, 1994
  • Label: EMI
34
BigmouthBigmouth
  • Released: August 5, 1997
Bryan Steele GroupBryan Steele Group
  • Released: 1997
WallmenElectronic Home Entertainment System
  • Released: March 10, 1998
Mary Lee's CorvetteTrue Lovers of Adventure
  • Released: March 23, 1999
Mighty PurplePara Mejor ó Peor...Mighty Purple Live
  • Released: March 9, 1999
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays

[edit]
Year Album details Peak chart positions
US US R&B UK UK R&B
1993 Street MilitaryDon't Give a Damn
  • Released: June 29, 1993
Super Lover Cee & Casanova RudBlow Up the Spot
  • Released: June 29, 1993
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

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  • 1987: Gang Starr — "The Lesson"
  • 1987: LeMonier — "The Hardest Beat Around"
  • 1987: Latee — "This Cut's Got Flavor"
  • 1987: Gang Starr — "Believe Dat!"
  • 1988: Chill Rob G — "Dope Rhymes"
  • 1988: Latee — "No Tricks"
  • 1988: Artomatik — "Free"
  • 1988: Kool D & Technolo-G — "Now Dance"
  • 1988: Gang Starr — "Movin' On"
  • 1988: Trybe — "Psychedelic Shack"
  • 1989: Chill Rob G — "Court Is Now in Session"
  • 1989: Gang Starr — "Words I Manifest"
  • 1989: Jamose — "Dance to the Megablast"
  • 1989: Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth — "Baby, You Nasty"
  • 1989: Gang Starr — "Positivity"
  • 1990: Chill Rob G — "Let Me Show You"
  • 1990: Power Jam & Chill Rob G — "The Power"
  • 1990: Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth — "Strictly for the Ladies"/"Back to Back Rhyming"
  • 1990: Main Source — "Looking at the Front Door"
  • 1990: N-Tyce — "Black to the Point"/"Chinese Eyes"
  • 1991: Main Source — "Just Hangin' Out"
  • 1991: The U.M.C.'s — "Blue Cheese"/"Anyway the Wind Blows"
  • 1991: Elements of Style — "That's the Kind of Girl"/"Walking in Harmony"
  • 1991: Main Source — "Peace Is Not the Word to Play"
  • 1991: Hard Knocks — "Nigga for Hire"
  • 1991: The U.M.C.'s — "One to Grow On"
  • 1992: Main Source — "Fakin' the Funk"
  • 1992: Hard Knocks — "Dirty Cop Named Harry"
  • 1992: The U.M.C.'s — "Never Never Land"
  • 1992: Ultramagnetic MCs — "Two Brothers With Checks (San Francisco, Harvey)"
  • 1993: N-Tyce — "Walk a Little Closer"/"Peace Ride"
  • 1993: Brokin English Klik — "Who's da Gangsta?"
  • 1993: The Coup — "Dig It"
  • 1993: The Coup — "Funk"
  • 1993: The U.M.C.'s — "Time To Set It Straight"/"Ill Demonic Clique"
  • 1993: Main Source — "What You Need"
  • 1993: Brokin English Klik — "Hard Core Beats"/"Here Come da Hoods"
  • 1993: The Coup — "Not Yet Free"
  • 1993: Ultramagnetic MCs — "Raise It Up"/"The Saga of Dandy, The Devil and Day"
  • 1993: N-Tyce — "Hush Hush Tip"/"Root Beer Float"
  • 1994: The Coup — "Takin' These"
  • 1994: O.C. — "Born 2 Live"
  • 1994: O.C. — "Time's Up"
  • 1994: The U.M.C.'s — "Hit the Track"
  • 1995: N-Tyce — "Sure Ya Right"
  • 1995: The Coup — "Fat Cats, Bigga Fish"

References

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  1. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 368. ISBN 0-7535-0252-6.
  2. ^ McGee, Alan (January 3, 2008). "The missing link of hip-hop's golden age". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  3. ^ "Wild Pitch Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  4. ^ "Wild Pitch Records". Bandcamp.
  5. ^ Paine, Jake (April 16, 2008). "Wild Pitch Records Re-releases Historic Catalogue". HipHopDX. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  6. ^ Charnas, Dan (February 1, 2013). "The 25 Best A&Rs in Hip-Hop History". Complex. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
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