- Source: Duck Down Music
Duck Down Music Inc is a New York City based record label, talent management, music-marketing, and consulting company founded by Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman and Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake in 1995. In Duck Down's 20-year existence, the company has released over 40 albums and sold more than 3 million collective copies worldwide. Home of established hip hop artists such as Boot Camp Clik, Pharoahe Monch, Black Rob, 9th Wonder, KRS-One, B-Real of Cypress Hill, The Away Team, Statik Selektah, Random Axe, Promise, David Dallas, Marco Polo, Ruste Juxx, Torae, Blue Scholars, Special Teamz (Slaine of La Coka Nostra, Edo G., Jaysaun, DJ Jayceeoh) and Kidz in the Hall.
History
Duck Down (whose name derived from Boogie Down Productions' 1992 hit single of the same name) was originally established as a management company in 1994 to manage the careers of Buckshot's group Black Moon and Smif-N-Wessun. In 1995, co-owners Drew "Dru Ha" Friedman and Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake launched Duck Down Music. After successful debut releases from Black Moon (Enta da Stage) and Smif-N-Wessun (Dah Shinin'), Duck Down entered into a label distribution deal with Priority Records, at the time EMI's top hip hop label, which was home of N.W.A and Master P's No Limit Records. Within the first year of the deal, Dru Ha & Buckshot introduced its two newest acts simultaneously: Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C. merging the two groups, forming a quintet, which they dubbed the Fab Five. At Priority/EMI, Duck Down eventually brought over the rest of its core roster, which consisted of the Boot Camp Clik, members: Black Moon, Smif-N-Wessun, Heltah Skeltah, and O.G.C.. They released nine albums with Priority Records between 1995 and 2000.
In 2002, Duck Down entered a new physical distribution partnership with Navarre Corporation for their CD and DVD products in the U.S. and Canada. Duck Down retained its Digital Distribution rights and has its own direct deal with iTunes. Duck Down produces, manufactures and markets its products independently.
In 2005, Duck Down released Monkey Barz (Sean Price's solo debut), Chemistry (a collaborative album between Buckshot & producer 9th Wonder) and Smif 'n' Wessun: Reloaded. Collectively, the three albums cover Artwork was created by clothing designer Marc Ecko and marketed under the campaign: "Triple Threat".
In 2007, Duck Down switched distribution to Koch Records (now E1 Music) and began expanding its roster as they released albums from Special Teamz's 2007 Stereotypez, Kidz in the Hall's 2008 The In Crowd and 2010 Land of Make Believe, as well as Cypress Hill's front man B-Real's 2009 solo LP Smoke N Mirrors and KRS-One & Buckshot's 2009 Survival Skills - represented a few examples of albums showing the labels growing diversity.
In 2011, in addition to releasing Pharoahe Monch's W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) album, Duck Down Music formed 3D, a music-marketing and consulting firm with its own distribution network that's experienced in navigating the indie landscape. Executing a strategy where 3D provides General Management for Artist-owned indie sub-labels such as Talib Kweli's Javotti Media (Gutter Rainbows) and Blue Scholars. This allowed artists to tap into 3D's expertise, relationships, and networks, while retaining control of their projects and ownerships of their masters. Expanded services from 3D are a Music Supervision Department that places clients songs in film, TV, and video games and creation and sales of Artist Merchandising.
2012, saw the releases of Sean Price’s highly anticipated Mic Tyson album, Skyzoo’s A Dream Deferred,’ 9th Wonder & Buckshot's 3rd collaborative album and releases from acts Murs & Fashawn and De La Soul’s Plug 1 & Plug 2. 2012 also saw the launch of Duck Down Visuals, a production division dedicated to documenting various artists and the lifestyle of their music through self-produced visual shorts. This included several viral Sean Price skits, profiles on up and coming acts; Freddie Gibbs, Ab-Soul etc., and special series like Verse Unheard.
In 2013, Duck Down Music was retained as project management for Talib Kweli's latest album, Prisoner of Conscious, distributed by EMI Label Services. Overseeing album deliverables, allocation of budget, co-op approvals, international distribution & overall marketing. Duck Down Music's 3D Division was also retained to consult for Cinematic Music Group assisting with Joey Bada$$ project management services with their distributor RED Distribution.
Music licensing
As of 2011, Duck Down has placed its artists' songs and original compositions on several notable TV shows (ESPN's Men's College Basketball programming, ESPN's SportsCenter, HBO's Hard Knocks & Entourage, MTV's Jersey Shore & Station Zero, CSI, The History Channel's Gangland, VH1's Basketball Wives, and more).
Other promotions include video Game placements (Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Tony Hawk: Ride, Madden NFL 09, NBA 2K11, Rockstar Games' Midnight Club: Los Angeles and more), movie placement (Limitless), and national brand campaigns (Smirnoff, Belvédère).
Notable marketing campaigns
Duck Down's artists have previously aligned with several notable brands for their lifestyle and grassroots marketing campaigns such as Scion,
Rockstar Games, Coca-Cola, Microsoft Zune, Pepsi Max, VTech, Reebok, and more.
In 2010 and 2011, Duck Down partnered with 2K Sports to present a unique opportunity for aspiring producers and MCs. This involved an open call for submissions for original sample-free compositions for a chance to receive placement in the NBA 2K's game soundtrack (NBA 2K11 and NBA 2K12) and a trip to NYC to perform at Duck Down's CMJ Showcase.
For NBA 2K12, the winners were the music producer/composer Alex Kresovich for his instrumental "The Return" (Ithaca, NY) and the rap group D.J.I.G. (Glassboro, New Jersey) for their song "Now's My Time" recorded over Alex's instrumental. Alex Kresovich's instrumental "The Return" was also used for the music in the debut commercial for NBA 2K12 which aired on May 31, 2011, during Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks.
Boot Camp Clik (Buckshot, Smif-N-Wessun, Heltah Skeltah, O.G.C.)
B-Real
Black Moon
Black Rob
Blue Scholars
Bodega Bamz
9th Wonder
Chelsea Reject
Dope D.O.D. (Skits Vicious (MC), Dopey Rotten (MC), Jay Reaper (MC), Dr. Diggles (DJ), Peter Songolo (Record producer))
Kidz in the Hall
KRS-One
Marco Polo
Pharoahe Monch
Representativz
Statik Selektah
Team Facelift
The Away Team
De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2 Present First Serve
Discography
1996
Heltah Skeltah - Nocturnal
O.G.C. - Da Storm
1997
Boot Camp Clik - For the People
1998
Cocoa Brovaz - The Rude Awakening
Heltah Skeltah - Magnum Force
1999
Black Moon - War Zone
O.G.C. - The M-Pire Shrikez Back
Various Artists - Duck Down Presents: The Album
Buckshot- The BDI Thug
Representativz - Angels of Death
2000
Boot Camp Clik - Basic Training: Boot Camp Clik's Greatest Hits
2002
Boot Camp Clik - The Chosen Few
Various Artists - Collect Dis Edition
2003
Buckshot - The BDI Thug (expanded re-released version)
Black Moon - Total Eclipse
2005
Sean Price- Monkey Barz
Buckshot & 9th Wonder - Chemistry
Smif-N-Wessun - Smif 'N' Wessun: Reloaded
Black Moon - War Zone Revisited (expanded re-released version)
2006
Boot Camp Clik - The Last Stand
2007
Sean Price - Jesus Price Supastar
Boot Camp Clik - Still For the People (For the People re-release)
Boot Camp Clik -Casualties of War
Special Teamz - Stereotypez
Smif-N-Wessun - Smif-n-Wessun: The Album
2008
Buckshot & 9th Wonder - The Formula
Kidz in the Hall - The In Crowd
Heltah Skeltah - D.I.R.T.
DJ Revolution - Kings of the Decks
Ruste Juxx - Indestructible
2009
B-Real -Smoke N Mirrors
Torae & Marco Polo - Double Barrel
Steele of Smif-N-Wessun - Welcome to Bucktown
Blue Scholars - OOF! EP
Blue Scholars - Bayani Redux
KRS-One & Buckshot - Survival Skills (album)
Skyzoo - The Salvation
2010
Steele of Smif-N-Wessun - AmeriKKKa's Nightmire Part 2: Children of War
Kidz in the Hall - Land of Make Believe
Marco Polo & Ruste Juxx - The eXXecution
Marco Polo - The Stupendous Adventures of Marco Polo
Various Artists - 15 Years Of Duck Down
Skyzoo & Illmind - Live from the Tape Deck
2011
Promise - Awakening
Pharoahe Monch - W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)
Random Axe (Sean Price, Guilty Simpson, and Black Milk) - Random Axe
Pete Rock & Smif-N-Wessun - Monumental
Black Rob - Game Tested, Streets Approved
The Away Team - Scars & Stripes
David Dallas - The Rose Tint
Statik Selektah - Population Control
Kidz in the Hall - Occasion
2012
De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2 - First Serve
Ruste Juxx & The Arcitype - V.I.C. (Victorious Impervious Champions)
Murs & Fashawn - This Generation
Skyzoo - A Dream Deferred
Sean Price - Mic Tyson
Buckshot & 9th Wonder - The Solution
2013
P-Money - Gratitude
Statik Selektah - Extended Play
Smif-N-Wessun - Born and Raised
Dope D.O.D. - Da Roach
2014
Buckshot & P-Money - Backpack Travels
Statik Selektah - What Goes Around...
2015
Bodega Bamz - Sidewalk Exec
Chelsea Reject - CMPLX
Statik Selektah - Lucky 7
2020
Ruste Juxx & Amadeus360theBeatKing - James Brown of the Underground
= Mix CDs
=2002: Boot Camp Clik & DJ Peter Parker Search And Recover Part 1
2004: Smif-N-Wessun & DJ Revolution Still Shinin
2004: Sean Price Donkey Sean Jr
2004: Boot Camp Clik & DJ Evil Dee Search And Recover Part 2
2005: DJ Bucktown Blastin' Off Vol. 1
2005: Boot Camp Clik & DJ Tony Touch Best of BCC Freestyles
2005: DJ Logic (DJ Master Nash) Rap Center
2006: Black Moon - Alter the Chemistry
2006: Smif-N-Wessun X-Files Official Mix
2006: Boot Camp Clik & DJ Sherazta Search And Recover Part 3
2006: Steele America Nightmare
2006: Tek Famlee First Mix CD - Vol. 1
2006: Tek I Got This
2006: DJ Bucktown Blastin' Off Vol.2
2007: Steele Hotstyle Takeover
2007: Sean Price Master P
2007: Ruste Juxx Reign of Destruction
2007: Supreme The Perfect Weapon
2008: Rock Shell Shock
2008: Duck Down Hotline
2008: Ruste Juxx The Prelude Mixtape
2009: Naledge of Kidz in the Hall Chicago Picasso
2009: Steele Welcome To Bucktown
2009: Sean Price Kimbo Price
2010: Tek 24KT Smoke
2010: Rock Rockin Out West
2010: Ruste Juxx Adamantine
2011: David Dallas The Rose Tint
2011: SkyzooThe Great Debater
2011: The Best of Duck Down Music 2011
2012: Skyzoo Theo Vs. J.J."
2020: Ruste Juxx & Amadeus360TheBeatKing James Brown of the Underground
References
External links
Duck Down Website
Duck Down YouTube
Duck Down SoundCloud
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Duck Soup (film 1927)
- One Direction
- Diskografi Mac Miller
- We Faw Down
- Aaliyah
- Willy and the Poor Boys
- Ben Schwartz
- Angger Dimas
- The Music Box
- MTV Video Music Award untuk Video Dansa Terbaik
- Duck Down Music
- Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman
- Land of Make Believe (Kidz in the Hall album)
- Buckshot (rapper)
- David Dallas
- Sean Price
- The Last Stand (Boot Camp Clik album)
- Ruste Juxx
- Down and Dirty Duck
- Chemistry (Buckshot and 9th Wonder album)