ULTRA MUSIC FOUNDER PATRICK MOXEY RELAUNCHES HIS ICONIC RECORD LABEL PAYDAY RECORDS ON ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
Payday Releases New Music from Legendary Producer DJ Premier of Gang Starr, with First Single “Our Streets” Featuring A$AP Ferg Set For Release This Friday
Ultra Music Founder and hip-hop and electronic music pioneer Patrick Moxey is today relaunching iconic record label Payday Records. This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the label, which helped launch the careers of some of the biggest and most influential names in hip-hop, including Jay Z and Showbiz & A.G. Legendary producer and Gang Starr member DJ Premier is reunited with his longtime Gang Starr manager Moxey as the first artist signed to the newly relaunched Payday Records.
Payday Records, created in 1992, was the first record label to sign Jay Z, releasing his first single “In My Lifetime” in 1995. Other artists signed to Payday throughout the 90s include Jeru the Damaja, Mos Def (via his first group U.T.D.), Showbiz & A.G., Group Home, Guru, WC and the Maad Circle and more. DJ Premier played an integral role in Payday throughout the 1990s, bringing artists like hip-hop duo Group Home and rapper Jeru the Damaja to Payday for release, and producing a number of the label’s biggest hits including “Come Clean,” and “Supa Star”.
Payday will relaunch with its first single “Our Streets” by legendary producer DJ Premier, featuring A$AP Ferg this Friday, November 3rd. “Our Streets” marks the first time Premier and Ferg have worked together, and is a true raw, New York record. The song is the first of many for Payday and DJ Premier, who is the newly relaunched record label’s first signed artist.
“Patrick always had his ear to the street and it didn’t take a lot of explaining the culture since he was so involved with so many aspects of it, including managing Gang Starr’s legacy since 1989 – 2003” DJ Premier stated. “Our memories of growing together is monumental, so relaunching Payday brings it all back to the roots of where our flight to success lifted off.”
In addition to DJ Premier, Payday Records has also signed artist Pell, rapper OJ Da Juiceman, upcoming UK hip-hop star Yung Fume and hip-hop group Gloss Gang. Payday’s next release will be Pell’s single “chirpin’” on Friday, November 10th, which will be followed by his girasoul EP on December 8th.
Moxey, who is the President and Founder of Ultra Records, Ultra Music and Ultra International Music Publishing, originally formed Payday Records in New York City in 1992. London-born Moxey is a music industry pioneer, being one of the first to truly bring electronic dance music to the mainstream. Alongside Payday, Moxey managed the infamous hip-hop duo Gang Starr for over 15 years, leading him to work with some of the greatest artists of all time, including Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. A three-time Grammy Award-winning Executive Producer, Moxey is a true music powerhouse and is bringing back Payday Records for a new generation.
“Hip-hop has become a Global language and the new Payday is here to reflect that and help bring diverse and talented artists to the world” Moxey stated. “Our initial signings are from four different cities – New York, Atlanta, New Orleans, and London – and it reflects today’s relationship of music and the internet. We want to push hip-hop’s creative boundaries across borders and cultures. Our recording studios in LA, London, and Atlanta will be promoting this creative exchange. DJ Premier represents the essence of hip-hop and everything that Payday stands for – I am so excited to have him be a part of the relaunch.”
Moxey will serve as the President of Payday Records, with Payday veteran Neale Easterby serving as Managing Director of the UK. Easterby was an instrumental Payday employee in the 1990s and part of the original Gang Starr management team alongside Moxey. He is currently one of the most successful hip-hop managers in the UK, representing Grammy Award-winning producer Fraser T. Smith and hip-hop producer ZDOT. Adrian Nunez will manage A&R for Payday and Will Scott will head up the Product Management and Marketing divisions. Nunez currently handles A&R for Ultra International Music Publishing, covering artists and producers such as Zaytoven, Honorable CNOTE, Cassius Jay and Maaly Raw. Scott was formerly product manager at Mass Appeal Records working records for Run The Jewels, DJ Shadow, and Dave East.
ABOUT PAYDAY RECORDS
The New York-based hip-hop label Payday Records was launched in 1992 by Patrick Moxey. The label began in association with FFRR/London Records, and released in the UK and Europe via London/Polygram Records. Artists launched via Payday Records include Jeru the Damaja (“Come Clean”), Jay Z (“In My Lifetime”), Mos Def (via his first group U.T.D.), Showbiz & A.G., Group Home, and W.C. & the Madd Circle. Other associated productions include the works of DJ Premier and Guru of Gang Starr. Payday came to life as a roving “outlaw” hip-hop party in the late 80s, hosting some of the most exciting and exclusive parties in NYC. Payday Records played the hand in being the first record label to sign and release Jay-Z’s first single “In My Lifetime” in 1995. Alongside Payday, Patrick Moxey managed the infamous duo, Gang Starr for over 15 years leading him to work with some of the greatest artists of all time including Tupac and Notorious B.I.G.. Payday Artists include Jeru the Damaja, Jay-Z, DJ Premier, Mos Def (via his first group U.T.D.), Showbiz & A.G., Group Home, Mass 187, Guru, WC and the Maad Circle, Kaliphx, Big Shug & many more. Patrick Moxey, London-born but raised in America, always had a worldly outlook. As Patrick moved to New York he transitioned to party promoter, throwing a series of roving parties that would land Moxey widespread acclaim, with some of the biggest names in music and pop culture passing through including the Beastie Boys, De La Soul, JFK Jr., Daryl Hannah and more. One such person who did walk through the door was Russell Simmons who gave Moxey his first proper music industry job at Def Jam Records. Under the tutelage of Russell Simmons, Moxey learned the ins and outs of the record label and management facets of the music industry. After Def Jam, Moxey went on to manage legendary hip-hop acts such as Gang Starr, as well as dance artists like Little “Louie” Vega and Moby under his company Empire Artists Management. Shortly after Patrick received a call from Pete Tong encouraging him to start his own label under Polygram and thus Payday Records was born where Moxey would go on to sign one of the biggest up-and-coming acts of the time, Jay-Z. From there, Moxey went on to Virgin, serving as the Senior VP of A&R for EMI’s Virgin Records America, while at Virgin he signed successful acts such as N.E.R.D, Kelis and Beenie Man. Two decades later, Patrick Moxey returns to his roots with the relaunch of Payday Records.
Payday Records:
Website | Instagram | Facebook | SoundCloud | YouTube
DJ Premier:
Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud | Facebook