Kartel Records

Kartel Records Sdn Bhd is a Malaysian record label focused primarily on hip-hop and R&B. It was established in 2005 by Joe Flizzow, who had previously built his career as a member of the Malaysian hip-hop duo Too Phat and as an artist signed to EMI Malaysia. The label was created to give Flizzow greater control over his recording career and to provide a platform for Malaysian and regional hip-hop talent. Kartel's first major release was Too Phat's Rebirth Into Reality, issued in 2005 in partnership with EMI Malaysia. The album brought the new label immediate recognition and won Best Local English Album and Best Album Cover at the 2006 Anugerah Industri Muzik. These awards helped position Kartel as a serious participant in Malaysia's English-language and hip-hop recording sector. In 2008, Kartel Records entered a distribution agreement with Sony Music Entertainment Malaysia. The arrangement expanded the label's ability to market and distribute its artists beyond its initial base. That year, the company also released President, Joe Flizzow's debut solo studio album. The record included collaborations with regional and international artists including KRS-One, Jin, Thaitanium, TerryTyeLee and Hady Mirza, reflecting Kartel's ambition to connect Malaysian hip-hop with wider Asian and international scenes. President subsequently won Best Local English Album at the 16th Anugerah Industri Muzik and received additional nominations. The label broadened its artist roster in 2009 by signing Altimet, SonaOne, Richard J, Micbandits and DJ Iman. The signings included artists from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, giving Kartel a more regional profile. Its publicly documented roster has also included Ila Damiaa, Yung Raja, Fariz Jabba, Abubakarxli and Alif of Magicpotion. Kartel Records has additionally operated Kartel Music Publishing, which was sub-published by EMI Music Publishing Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. The company's known activities span recorded music, artist development, music publishing and collaborations. Its catalogue and artist strategy have centered on hip-hop and R&B while incorporating performers from across Southeast Asia. Publicly available reference material documents the label's founding, releases, distribution partnership, artist signings and awards, but does not establish its current ownership, leadership, website, financial position or operational status.

Kartel Records emerged from Joe Flizzow's experience as a recording artist with EMI Malaysia and as one half of Too Phat, a prominent Malaysian hip-hop duo. Seeking greater control over his music career, Flizzow founded Kartel Records in 2005. The label's formation gave him an institutional base for releasing his own work and developing other artists within Malaysia's urban music scene. Kartel's first major release was Rebirth Into Reality by Too Phat, issued in 2005 through a partnership involving Kartel Records and EMI Malaysia. The album established the label quickly and was recognized at the 2006 Anugerah Industri Muzik, where it won Best Local English Album and Best Album Cover. The awards provided early evidence that an independently driven hip-hop imprint could compete in Malaysia's mainstream recording industry. The label's next major phase centered on Joe Flizzow's solo career. In 2008, Kartel released President, his debut solo studio album. The project included collaborations with KRS-One, Jin, Thaitanium, TerryTyeLee and Hady Mirza, linking Malaysian hip-hop to artists from other regional and international markets. President won Best Local English Album at the 16th Anugerah Industri Muzik and received nominations in categories including Best New Artist, Best Album Cover, Best Local English Song and Best Hip-Hop Song. Also in 2008, Kartel Records entered a distribution agreement with Sony Music Entertainment Malaysia. The partnership was intended to give the label and its artists broader access to marketing and distribution. It represented a move from a primarily artist-led imprint toward a more scalable label structure while retaining Kartel's focus on hip-hop and R&B. In 2009, the label expanded its roster with five signings: Malaysian artists Altimet, SonaOne and DJ Iman, Singaporean artist Richard J, and Bruneian group Micbandits. The recruitment of Altimet was particularly significant in the documented account of the label because of his established presence in Malaysia's hip-hop scene. Kartel's wider listed roster has included Ila Damiaa, Yung Raja, Fariz Jabba, Abubakarxli and Alif, also known as Alif of Magicpotion. Kartel's business activities have extended beyond recordings. The company owns or operated Kartel Music Publishing, which was sub-published by EMI Music Publishing Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. This publishing activity complemented the label's recording and artist-development functions. Public reference material presents Kartel Records as a Malaysian, regionally oriented hip-hop and R&B company, but does not provide reliable current information about its ownership, management, headquarters beyond Kuala Lumpur references, catalogue continuity or present operating status.

• 2009

  Five artists join the roster

  [1]Kartel Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Kartel announced signings including Altimet, SonaOne, Richard J, Micbandits and DJ Iman.

• 2008

  Sony Music Malaysia distribution agreement

  [1]Kartel Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Kartel Records entered a distribution arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment Malaysia.

• 2008

  President is released

  [1]Kartel Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Kartel issued Joe Flizzow's debut solo studio album, President.

• 2006

  First documented Anugerah Industri Muzik wins

  [1]Kartel Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Rebirth Into Reality won Best Local English Album and Best Album Cover.

• 2005

  Kartel Records is established

  [1]Kartel Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Joe Flizzow founded Kartel Records after his work with EMI Malaysia and Too Phat.

• 2005

  Release of Rebirth Into Reality

  [1]Kartel Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Too Phat's Rebirth Into Reality became Kartel Records' first documented release, produced in partnership with EMI Malaysia.

A Malaysian hip-hop label built around local artist development, English-language urban music and Southeast Asian collaboration.

• Album · 2005

  Rebirth Into Reality

  Too Phat's Rebirth Into Reality was Kartel Records' first documented release. It was produced through a partnership with EMI Malaysia and gave the newly established label an immediate industry profile. The album won Best Local English Album and Best Album Cover at the 2006 Anugerah Industri Muzik.

• Album · 2008

  President

  President was Joe Flizzow's debut solo studio album and a major Kartel release from 2008. It included collaborations with KRS-One, Jin, Thaitanium, TerryTyeLee and Hady Mirza. The album won Best Local English Album at the 16th Anugerah Industri Muzik and received several other nominations.

• Music publishing

  Kartel Music Publishing

  Kartel Music Publishing is the label's documented publishing operation. Reference material states that it was sub-published by EMI Music Publishing Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., complementing Kartel's recording and artist-development activities.

• 2009

  Expand the artist roster across Southeast AsiaStrategy

  Background

  Kartel Records aimed to strengthen its position in regional hip-hop by adding artists from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

  Action taken

  The label signed Altimet, SonaOne, Richard J, Micbandits and DJ Iman.

  Aftermath

  The signings broadened the documented roster and reinforced Kartel's regional orientation.

  Source

• 2008

  Enter a distribution agreement with Sony Music MalaysiaStrategy

  Background

  Kartel Records sought broader reach for its artists and releases after establishing itself through its own projects and partnerships.

  Action taken

  The label entered a distribution agreement with Sony Music Entertainment Malaysia.

  Aftermath

  The agreement expanded the label's potential marketing and distribution access, although the available reference does not provide detailed commercial results.

  Source

1. 1Kartel Recordsen.wikipedia.org