Uptown Records - History

History

Founded in 1986 by one half of rap duo, Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, Andre Harrell. After securing distribution deal through MCA Records the compilation album, "Uptown Is Kickin' It" was released. Among the artists featured on the album was Heavy D & The Boyz and Marley Marl. By 1987 two debut albums by Heavy D and Al B. Sure! would be very successful for the young label. Heavy D & The Boyz Living Large would be certified Gold while Al B. Sure! Warner Bros distributed Uptown album In Effect Mode would have many hit singles and chart number seven on the R&B charts. In 1988, Guy featuring group member and producer Teddy Riley would release their debut album Guy. This album would continue Uptown's hot streak as the album went number one and continued building upon the bubbling New jack swing sound created by Teddy. Continued success followed the label with the release of Heavy D & The Boyz 1989 second album, Big Tyme and Guys 1990's The Future. Tragedy would struck as Heavy D & The Boyz member, Trouble T Roy died that summer due to an accidental fall while out on tour. The spiritual third Heavy D album, Peaceful Journey was dedicated in his honor. By 1990, Sean “Puffy” Combs had started interning at Uptown and started working with newly signed acts Jodeci, Father MC and Mary J. Blige would have many hit singles on the R&B charts. Around the same time, Andre was busy producing the film Strictly Business and it's accompanying soundtrack.

In 1992, due to all of Uptown's success, MCA offered Harrell a multimedia deal, which involved film and television productions. Uptown Records was subsequently renamed to Uptown Entertainment. Also in 1992, saw changes in the Hip Hop and R&B musical landscape which was changing towards a harder edge sound due to the popularity of gangsta rap. In keeping in step with the changing times, Mary J. Blige would release her debut album, "What's the 411?" in Summer 1992. Dubbed The Queen of Hip Hop Soul, the success of her debut single, You Remind Me and others would help her album be certified three times Platinum. By 1993, Uptown was the leading urban label. In February, Uptown artists Jodeci, Father MC, Mary J. Blige, Christopher Williams and Heavy D would perform an acoustic set on MTV Unplugged. Taped at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, California it would be called "Uptown Unplugged" and released as both a home video and CD. Jodeci did a live cover of Stevie Wonder’s "Lately" at the show and the song was released as single. It would chart at both number one on the R&B charts and number four Pop. Later that spring they released the soundtrack to the hip hop film Who's the Man? which featured a new rising emcee called B.I.G. who would later be known as The Notorious B.I.G.. Towards the end of the year, Jodeci would release their second album, "Diary of a Mad Band".