Decon
Decon is a New York-based creative studio. Housing production, creative, strategy and music divisions, the company creates campaigns on behalf of brands and advertising agencies.[1]
Founded | 2002 |
---|---|
Headquarters | |
Key people | Peter Bittenbender (co-founder, CEO) Jason Goldwatch (co-founder) |
Website | www |
Footnotes / references distributed by The Orchard Enterprises |
History
Originally named Deconstruction Company, the company was founded in 2002 by Peter Bittenbender and Jason Goldwatch after the creation of their award-winning hip-hop documentary and accompanying soundtrack, One Big Trip.[2] The soundtrack was released as a double-sided DVD/CD in 2002 with Hieroglyphic Imperium Records - it is thought to be the first hip-hop-centric release in the hybrid format.[3]
In 2012, Decon earned a Promax Award for work on NBCUniversal's "Green Week" campaign.[4] That year, Misha Louy and Sacha Jenkins both joined as partners, expanding the Production and Entertainment divisions.[5][6]
Decon Records
Decon Records is the independent record label that is a division of Decon. It got its start releasing underground hip-hop recordings.[7] It was established in 2003. In 2013, Decon Records was noted as one of Billboard’s 50 Best Independent Labels in America.[8][9] Decon Records began by collaborating with the west coast collective Project Blowed to release projects from Aceyalone of the Freestyle Fellowship, such as Love & Hate which features production from El-P and RJD2.[10] Other early Decon Records projects include partnering with The Roots to establish Okayplayer Records.[11] The label provided further releases from Aceyalone as well as RJD2’s Magnificent City Instrumentals (2006) and Evidence’s Red Tape Instrumentals (2007).[12] In 2008, the label released an album from frequent Talib Kweli and Mos Def collaborator, 88-Keys, called The Death of Adam.[13] The album featured Kid Cudi and Redman and was executive produced by Kanye West.[14] The video for the lead single “Stay Up! (Viagra)” was directed by Decon co-founder Jason Goldwatch and premiered on MTV.[15]
The following year, Decon licensed RJD2’s “A Beautiful Mine” as the theme song for the AMC show Mad Men.[16] That year, Decon released Jay Electronica's Just Blaze-produced tracks "Exhibit A" and "Exhibit C".[17][18] While collaborating with Decon Records, Jay won two awards from MTV and signed a deal with Roc Nation.[19]
The Alchemist’s Russian Roulette, Gangrene’s Vodka & Ayahuasca, and Roc Marciano’s Reloaded all made the HipHopDX 2012 records of the year awards list.,[20] and were favorably reviewed in Complex Magazine.[21][22] XXL singled out Roc Marciano’s Decon Records release, Reloaded, as the “Best Slept-On Album” of that year.[23] Early album releases saw Decon working alongside Project Blowed and Okayplayer.[24] In 2011, Decon earned recognition from Billboard as one of the 50 Best Indie Labels in America.[25]
Roster
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Selected discography
2003
- The Good Brothers - Project Blowed Presents: The Good Brothers
- Aceyalone - Moonlit Skies
- Aceyalone - Love & Hate
2004
- Haiku D'Etat - Coup De Theatre
- Haiku D'Etat - Haiku D'Etat
- Various Artists - True Notes Vol. 1 REISSUE
- Aceyalone - All Balls Don't Bounce - Revisited
2005
- Various Artists - 2K6: The Tracks
- Ellay Khule - Califormula
- Lyrics Born - Big Money Talk
- Afu-Ra - State Of The Arts
- Various Artists - Cali Comm 2004
- Various Artists - Project Blowed: 10th Anniversary
- Various Artists - Who The F*ck Is You
2006
- Dan The Automator - 2K7 Instrumentals
- Dan The Automator - 2K7
- Aceyalone & Abstract Rude - Who Reframed The A-Team
- RJD2 - Magnificent City Instrumentals
- Aceyalone - Grand Imperial
- Aceyalone - Supahero
- Afu-Ra - God Of Rap
- Aceyalone - Magnificent City
2007
- Aceyalone - Lightning Strikes
- Dilated Peoples - The Release Party
- Z-Trip - All Pro
- Evidence - Red Tape Instrumentals
- The Alchemist - Rapper's Best Friend
2008
- Jurassic 5 - Jurassic 5 (Deluxe) REISSUE
- 88-Keys - The Death of Adam
- Various Artists - Fresh Rhymes & Videotape
- 88-Keys - Stay Up! (Viagra) ft. Kanye West (Single)
- Plantlife - Time Traveller
- Kenny Segal - Ken Can Cook
2009
- Various Artists - Never Not Fresh
- Jay Electronica - Exhibit C
- Nneka - The Uncomfortable Truth
- Chali 2na - Fish Outta Water
- Jay Electronica - Exhibit A
- Aceyalone - Aceyalone and the Lonely Ones
- Evidence - The Layover
2010
- Gangrene - Sawblade EP
- Lyrics Born - As U Were
- Gangrene - Gutter Water
- Freddie Gibbs - Str8 Killa EP
- Rakaa - Crown Of Thorns
- Chali 2na - Fish Market 2
- Aceyalone - Hip Hop And The World We Live In REISSUE
- Aceyalone - Accepted Eclectic REISSUE
- Nneka - Concrete Jungle
2011
- Freestyle Fellowship - The Promise
- Blended Babies - Shooter McGavin
- Goapele - Break Of Dawn
- Goapele - Play (Single)
- Roc Marciano - Greneberg EP
- Roc Marciano - Greneberg EP Instrumentals
- Pusha T - Trouble On My Mind (Single)
- Ryan Leslie - Glory (Single)
- Classified - Handshakes and Middle Fingers
- Pusha T - My God (Single)
- Various Artists - Closed Sessions: ATX
- Nneka - Soul Is Heavy
- Various Artists - One Big Trip REISSUE
2012
- Goapele - Break Of Dawn (Deluxe)
- Roc Marciano - Reloaded
- The Hood Internet - FEAT
- Ninjasonik - Red Cups (Single)
- Lyrics Born - As U Were (Remixes)
- The Alchemist - Russian Roulette
- The Alchemist - Flight Confirmation (Single)
- Gangrene - Odditorium
- Roc Marciano - Emeralds (Single)
- The Alchemist - Rapper's Best Friend 2
- Gangrene - Vodka & Ayahuasca
2013
- Evidence - Green Tape Instrumentals
- Aceyalone - Leanin' On Slick
- Boldy James - Grand Quarters
- Notes to Self - Target Market [RECOIL]
- Alexander Spit - A Breathtaking Trip To That Otherside
- The Hood Internet - FEAT Remixes
- Aaron Cohen- Potential Fans[26]
See also
- List of advertising agencies
- List of record labels
References
- Frazer, Bryant (May 30, 2012). "Five Questions: Peter Bittenbender, Co-Founder and CEO, Decon". Studio Daily.
- Soleimanpour, Arthur (March 25, 2010). "Brands Who Became Agencies: Decon Creative Group". PSFK.
- "Del, Automator, Dilated Take 'Big Trip'". Billboard. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- "2012 promaxbda design north america awards winners list" (PDF). PromaxBDA.
- Wolfe, Jennifer (March 20, 2012). "Misha Louy Partners with Decon as Executive Producer". AWN.
- "Decon Keeps Rolling with Sacha Jenkins". Newsle. May 2, 2012.
- Ugwu, Reggie (August 10, 2013). "Double Agents: Hybrid label/creative agencies thrive by mixing brands and bands better than the competition". Billboard. p. 7.
- "Billboard Pro's D.I.Y. 50 Indie Labels (Part II)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- "BEST SOUNDTRACK: One Big Trip". High Times. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- "Aceyalone - Love & Hate". Splendid. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
- "The Roots Launch Okayplayer Records". Glide Magazine. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- "Label - Decon". Discogs. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- "88-Keys - The Death of Adam". The Phoenix. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
- "The Death of Adam - 88-Keys". Allmusic. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- Reid, Shaheem. "Kanye West, 88-Keys Become Dirty Old Men For 'Stay Up (Viagra)' Video". MTV. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- Kujundzic, Petar. "HYPETRAK INSIGHTS with Peter Bittenbender, Co-founder of Decon Records". HYPETRAK. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- "Jay Electronica - Exhibit A". Discogs. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- "Jay Electronica - Exhibit C". Discogs. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- "HYPETRAK INSIGHTS with Peter Bittenbender, Co-founder of Decon Records". HYPETRAK. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- "HipHopDX's Top 25 Albums Of 2012". DX Staff. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- "The 50 Best Albums of 2012 (So Far)". Complex Magazine. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- "The 50 Best Albums of 2012 - Roc Marciano - Reloaded". Complex. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- "First Annual XXL Awards Winners". XXL. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- Mitchell, Gail (January 22, 2004). "Roots Launch Okayplayer Records". Billboard.
- "Billboard Pro's D.I.Y. 50 Indie Labels (Part II)". Billboard. August 15, 2011.
- http://nahright.com/news/2013/11/11/aaron-cohen-potential-fans-mixtape/
External links
- Official website
- Decon discography at Discogs