Broken Records

Broken Records was an American Christian record label founded in 1985 and active primarily during the late 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s. Rather than concentrating on conventional contemporary Christian pop, the label emphasized modern rock, punk, new wave and related alternative styles. Its roster included artists associated with the emerging West Coast Christian alternative scene as well as early Christian hip hop, making the label an important outlet for music that was stylistically more adventurous than much of the established Christian music market. The label released or represented work by a broad group of artists, including Level Heads, The Altar Boys, The Choir, Crumbächer, The 77s, 4-4-1, Riki Michele, Adam Again and Undercover. Other acts connected with its catalog or artist roster included The Clergy, J.C. and the Boyz, Mercy and S.F.C. The range of these artists reflects Broken Records' role as a platform for guitar-driven alternative music, punk-informed Christian rock and hip hop-oriented releases. Broken Records later encountered difficulties involving its distribution arrangements. During a subsequent period, operations were successfully managed under Brainstorm Artists International, associated with Ojo Taylor and Gene Eugene. This transition helped sustain activity around the label and its artists for a time, but Broken Records ultimately closed in the early 1990s. Its operating life was relatively short, yet its catalog and roster are significant in accounts of the development of Christian alternative rock on the West Coast and the formation of a Christian hip hop community.

Broken Records emerged in the United States in 1985 as a Christian record label oriented toward newer and less conventional forms of religious music. Its core focus was modern rock, punk and new wave, genres that were not always central to the mainstream Christian recording business at the time. By providing a label platform for alternative artists, Broken Records contributed to the growth of a distinct West Coast Christian alternative rock scene. The label's roster included Level Heads, The Altar Boys, The Choir, Crumbächer, The 77s, 4-4-1, Riki Michele, Adam Again and Undercover. The wider group of artists associated with the label also included The Clergy, J.C. and the Boyz, Mercy and S.F.C. This catalog demonstrated a broad interpretation of Christian music, combining alternative rock and punk with new wave, modern rock and hip hop. Broken Records therefore occupied a position between independent alternative music culture and the developing Christian music industry. In addition to its importance for Christian alternative rock, Broken Records was connected with the early development of Christian hip hop. Releases and artists linked to the label helped create space for music that used hip hop forms while addressing Christian themes, at a time when the style was still establishing its audience and institutional support. The label later experienced problems with its distributor. During a period of restructuring or operational difficulty, the business was run successfully as Brainstorm Artists International by Ojo Taylor and Gene Eugene. This arrangement allowed activity connected with the label and its artists to continue for a time, although the available reference material does not specify the precise distribution agreement, dates of the transition or the full corporate structure. Broken Records closed in the early 1990s. Despite its limited lifespan, the label retained historical importance because it helped document and promote the West Coast Christian alternative movement and the early Christian hip hop scene. Its catalog included releases such as Homeboys, Sticks and Stones, Ten Songs by Adam Again and Voices in Shadows, while its artist roster connected it to several influential strands of independent Christian music.

• 1990

  Closure in the early 1990s

  [1]Broken Records (record label)en.wikipedia.org

  Broken Records ceased operations in the early 1990s; the reference material does not identify an exact closing year.

• 1985

  Label founded

  [1]Broken Records (record label)en.wikipedia.org

  Broken Records was established in the United States as a Christian record label focused on modern rock, punk and new wave music.

• Expansion into alternative and hip hop scenes

  [1]Broken Records (record label)en.wikipedia.org

  Through its roster and releases, the label became associated with the development of West Coast Christian alternative rock and Christian hip hop.

• Operations associated with Brainstorm Artists International

  [1]Broken Records (record label)en.wikipedia.org

  After experiencing distribution difficulties, the label was for a period operated successfully as Brainstorm Artists International by Ojo Taylor and Gene Eugene.

An independent Christian label focused on alternative, punk, new wave and hip hop music, with particular importance in the development of West Coast Christian alternative rock and Christian hip hop.

• Album

  Homeboys

  An album listed among releases associated with Broken Records. The available reference material does not provide further detail about its artist, release date or commercial performance.

• Album

  Sticks and Stones

  A Broken Records-associated album named in reference material. Specific information about the performer, track listing and release chronology is not established in the supplied sources.

• Album

  Ten Songs by Adam Again

  An album associated with Adam Again and included in lists of Broken Records releases. The supplied reference does not specify its exact release date or edition history.

• Album

  Voices in Shadows

  A recording listed in connection with Broken Records. No additional verified product details are provided in the available reference material.

• Operational transition to Brainstorm Artists InternationalStrategy

  Background

  Broken Records encountered difficulties with its distributor, creating a need for an alternative operating arrangement.

  Action taken

  For a period, the label was run successfully as Brainstorm Artists International under the involvement of Ojo Taylor and Gene Eugene.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement supported continued label activity for a time, although Broken Records ultimately closed in the early 1990s.

  Source

1. 1Broken Records (record label)en.wikipedia.org