Tuff City Records

Edit links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Tuff City Records
Founded1981 (1981)
FounderAaron Fuchs
GenreHip hop, doo-wop, dancehall
Country of originU.S.
LocationNew York City
Official websitewww.tuffcity.com

Tuff City Records is a New York–based record label founded by journalist Aaron Fuchs in 1981.[1] Initially concentrating on hip hop music, the label's roster expanded to include doo-wop, dancehall, and hip hop–jazz fusion, and releases included reissues of music from as far back as the 1940s.[1]

History

Aaron Fuchs was a journalist with

the Honey Drippers, was the subject of a court case with Fuchs filing a lawsuit against Sony Music and Def Jam Recordings for illegally sampling the track on recordings by LL Cool J and EPMD.[3] The case was settled out of court.[4]
In late 1980s and early 1990s Tuff City released a string of new hip hop recordings by ANTTEX, Lakim Shabazz, Mark the 45 King and YZ. In the mid-1990s, Tuff City launched the Ol' Skool Flava sub-label for reissues of classic hip hop material.[5][6] Another sub-label, Night Train International, was established to re-release Academy, Lucky Four and Magic Touch blues and rhythm and blues music. Works of Professor Longhair, James Booker, Tuts Washington and Lenny LaCour, among others, have been released by the label.[7]

In subsequent years the label began reissue projects in soul with Soul-Tay-Shus Records, funk with Funky Delicacies, and New York Latin music with Andale Records. Via its subsidiary Tufamerica, Tuff City became also known for suing artists like Kanye West and the Beastie Boys for their use of samples the rights to which Tuff City acquired for this purpose.[8][9]

In another case, Tuff City sued EMI records for its failure to pay royalties to Tuff City in connection with songs credited to the late George Patterson. EMI countered that Tuff City did not have proper chain of title.[10] The case is ongoing, but its status is unknown since the subsequent purchase and break-up of EMI by Universal Music in 2013.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Verna, Paul (1994) "Tuff City Records Moves Forward and Looks Back," Billboard, July 16, 1994, retrieved 2010-08-29
  2. ISBN 978-1-58980-677-1
    , p. 125
  3. ISBN 978-1-56639-362-1
    , p. 9
  4. ISBN 978-0-415-96918-5
    , p. 455
  5. ^ Reynolds, J.R. (1995) "Tuff City Plans Aggressive Campaign for Rap Reissues," Billboard, June 24, 1995, retrieved 2010-08-29
  6. CMJ New Music Monthly
    , October 1995, retrieved 2010-08-29
  7. ^ Tuff City Records, Night Train International Product Overview. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  8. ^ "Kanye West's Latest Sample Lawsuit Puts Him in Good Company". October 2012.
  9. ^ "The Beastie Boys Beat Lawsuit over 'Paul's Boutique' Sampling". The Hollywood Reporter. 25 March 2015.
  10. ^ a b TufAmerica, Inc. v EMI Music Inc. Supreme Court, New York County, 651197/2011, docket entry 49
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tuff_City_Records&oldid=1176550979"