Rap, R&B And Hip Hop Record Labels
These are the most prominent labels for urban music. Click on the name to view their profile, social media, contact and community info.
| Record Label | Year Founded | Still Active | Founded By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Def Jam Recordings | 1984 | Yes | Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons |
| Roc Nation | 2008 | Yes | Jay-Z, Jay Brown, Tyran Smith |
| Cash Money Records | 1991 | Yes | Bryan "Birdman" Williams, Ronald "Slim" Williams |
| Bad Boy Records | 1993 | Yes | Sean Combs |
| Aftermath Entertainment | 1996 | Yes | Dr. Dre |
| Atlantic Records | 1947 | Yes | Ahmet Ertegun, Herb Abramson |
| Interscope Records | 1990 | Yes | Jimmy Iovine, Ted Field |
| Universal Music Group | 1934 | Yes | Decca Records |
| Columbia Records | 1889 | Yes | Edward D. Easton |
| Republic Records | 1995 | Yes | Avery Lipman, Monte Lipman |
| Quality Control Music | 2013 | Yes | Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Pierre "Pee" Thomas |
| Young Money Entertainment | 2005 | Yes | Lil Wayne |
| Maybach Music Group | 2009 | Yes | Rick Ross |
| Top Dawg Entertainment | 2004 | Yes | Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith |
| Dreamville Records | 2007 | Yes | J. Cole, Ibrahim Hamad |
| G.O.O.D. Music | 2004 | Yes | Kanye West |
| Shady Records | 1999 | Yes | Eminem, Paul Rosenberg |
| Death Row Records | 1991 | No | Suge Knight, Dr. Dre, The D.O.C. |
| No Limit Records | 1990 | No | Master P |
| Strange Music | 1999 | Yes | Tech N9ne, Travis O'Guin |
| Rhymesayers Entertainment | 1995 | Yes | Sean Daley, Brent Sayers, Musab Saad |
| 300 Entertainment | 2012 | Yes | Lyor Cohen, Roger Gold, Kevin Liles, Todd Moscowitz |
| Blackground Records | 1993 | No | Barry Hankerson, Jomo Hankerson |
| Grand Hustle Records | 2003 | Yes | T.I., Jason Geter |
| So So Def Recordings | 1993 | Yes | Jermaine Dupri |
| OVO Sound | 2012 | Yes | Drake, Oliver El-Khatib, Noah "40" Shebib |
| Slip-N-Slide Records | 1994 | Yes | Ted Lucas |
| Duck Down Music | 1995 | Yes | Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman, Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake |
| Cash Money West | 2018 | Yes | Bryan "Birdman" Williams, Wack 100 |
| Bad Boy South | 2003 | Yes | Sean Combs |
| Taylor Gang Entertainment | 2008 | Yes | Wiz Khalifa |
| Dungeon Family | 1992 | Yes | Organized Noize, Rico Wade, Ray Murray, Sleepy Brown |
| Ruff Ryders Entertainment | 1988 | Yes | Joaquin Dean, Darin Dean, Chivon Dean |
| 4AD | 1980 | Yes | Ivo Watts-Russell, Peter Kent |
| Jamla Records | 2010 | Yes | 9th Wonder |
| Motown Records | 1959 | Yes | Berry Gordy Jr. |
| Roc-A-Fella Records | 1995 | No | Damon Dash, Jay-Z, Kareem Burke |
| Roca Beats | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Jive Records | 1981 | No | Clive Calder, Ralph Simon |
| Loud Records | 1991 | No | Steve Rifkind, Rich Isaacson |
| Uptown Records | 1986 | No | Andre Harrell |
| Duck Tape Entertainment | Unknown | Yes | Alley Boy |
| Swishahouse | 1997 | Yes | Michael "5000" Watts, OG Ron C |
| Hypnotize Minds | 1997 | No | DJ Paul, Juicy J |
| Strange Famous Records | 1996 | Yes | Sage Francis |
| Madlib Invazion | 2010 | Yes | Madlib |
| Stones Throw Records | 1996 | Yes | Peanut Butter Wolf |
| RBC Records | 2002 | Yes | Brian Shafton, Bob Grossi |
| Quality Records | 1955 | No | George Cloutier, Harold Moon |
| Duck Down Records | 1995 | Yes | Buckshot, Dru Ha |
| Doggystyle Records | 1995 | Yes | Snoop Dogg |
| OPM | 1999 | Yes | Young Nation |
| Reach Records | 2004 | Yes | Ben Washer, Lecrae |
| Arista Records | 1974 | No | Clive Davis |
| Rough Trade Records | 1978 | Yes | Geoff Travis |
| Empire Distribution | 2010 | Yes | Ghazi Shami |
| Sub Pop | 1986 | Yes | Bruce Pavitt, Jonathan Poneman |
| Rhyme Sayers | 1995 | Yes | Sean Daley, Brent Sayers, Musab Saad |
| Fool's Gold Records | 2007 | Yes | A-Trak, Nick Catchdubs |
| Rap-A-Lot Records | 1986 | Yes | James Prince |
| Murder Inc. Records | 1997 | Yes | Irv Gotti, Chris Gotti |
| Ruthless Records | 1986 | No | Eazy-E, Jerry Heller |
| Grand Royal | 1992 | No | Beastie Boys |
| Solesides | 1991 | No | DJ Shadow, Lyrics Born, Lateef the Truthspeaker, Gift of Gab, Chief Xcel |
| Delicious Vinyl | 1987 | Yes | Matt Dike, Michael Ross |
| Big Beat Records | 1987 | Yes | Craig Kallman |
| Cash Money Classics | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| G-Unit Records | 2003 | Yes | 50 Cent |
| Suave House Records | 1990 | Yes | Tony Draper |
| Babygrande Records | 2001 | Yes | Chuck Wilson |
| Blacksmith Records | 2005 | Yes | Talib Kweli, Corey Smyth |
| Noontime Records | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Rhyme Syndicate Records | 1988 | No | Ice-T |
| Tommy Boy Records | 1981 | Yes | Tom Silverman |
| The New No Limit Records | 2001 | No | Master P |
| Rawkus Records | 1996 | No | Brian Brater, Jarret Myer |
| Roc-La-Familia | 2005 | No | Jay-Z, Damon Dash, Kareem "Biggs" Burke |
| Street Dreams Records | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Gotee Records | 1994 | Yes | Toby McKeehan, Joey Elwood, Todd Collins |
| Hoo-Bangin' Records | 1998 | Yes | Mack 10 |