Authority control databases
| International | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
| Gee Street Records | |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Entertainment One Music |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Jon Baker |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Status | Defunct |
| Distributor(s) | Island Records (1990-1996) V2 Records (1996-2001) |
| Genre | Hip hop |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Gee Street Records was a British hip hop record label started by Jon Baker in 1985.[1] The label's name came from its original location, a converted warehouse on Gee Street (off Old Street) in London.[2]
Between 1980 and 1984, label head Baker lived in New York City.[1] After returning to London in 1984, he became a hip-hop promoter, and in 1985 opened Gee Street Records and began releasing white-label dance and hip-hop records.[1] Many of these broke new ground. The label developed a roster of prominent domestic UK acts, including DJ Richie Rich, Outlaw Posse, and Stereo MC's, and US acts, including P.M. Dawn, Doug E. Fresh, Gravediggaz, and New Kingdom.[1]
In 1990, Gee Street was acquired by Chris Blackwell's Island Records.[1] After Blackwell left Island and the PolyGram group in 1998, Baker bought back Gee Street[citation needed] and sold it to Richard Branson's fledgling V2 Records. The label was shuttered in 2001.
In 2006, V2 sold its American catalogue, including Gee Street, to Sheridan Square Entertainment, home of Artemis Records. In 2010, Artemis was sold to Entertainment One Music.[3]
