Decon
Decon is a New York–based advertising agency and record label. Decon is known for their "Green Week" initiative for NBC Universal, which involved an installation at the 30 Rockefeller Center. Additionally, Decon has produced documentary-style profiles featuring Nissan Leaf. They were also involved in launch of the Fiat 500 in New York in the year 2011.[1]
History
Originally named Deconstruction Company, it was founded in 2002 by Peter Bittenbender and Jason Goldwatch after the creation of their hip-hop documentary and accompanying soundtrack, One Big Trip.[2] The soundtrack was then released as a double-sided DVD/CD in 2002 with Hieroglyphic Imperium Records.[3]
In 2012, Decon earned a Promax Award for work on NBCUniversal's "Green Week" campaign.[4] That year, Misha Louy and Sacha Jenkins both joined as partners, in the Production and Entertainment divisions.[5][6]
Decon Records
Decon Records is an independent record label functioning as a division of Decon.[7] It was established in 2003, with a focus on underground hip-hop recordings. In 2013, Decon Records was noted as one of Billboard’s 50 Best Independent Labels in America.[8][9] Decon Records began working with the west coast collective Project Blowed to release Love & Hate by Aceyalone, which features production from El-P and RJD2.[10] Decon Records also partnered with The Roots to establish Okayplayer Records.[11] The label also released RJD2's Magnificent City Instrumentals (2006) and Evidence's Red Tape Instrumentals (2007).[12] In 2008, the label released an album from 88-Keys, called The Death of Adam.[13] The album featured Kid Cudi and Redman and was executive produced by Kanye West.[14] The video for the lead single “Stay Up! (Viagra)” was directed by Decon co-founder Jason Goldwatch and premiered on MTV.[15]
The following year, Decon licensed RJD2’s “A Beautiful Mine” as the theme song for the AMC show Mad Men.[16] That year, Decon released Jay Electronica's Just Blaze-produced tracks "Exhibit A" and "Exhibit C".[17][18]
The Alchemist's Russian Roulette, Gangrene's Vodka & Ayahuasca, and Roc Marciano’s Reloaded all made the HipHopDX 2012 records of the year awards list,[19] and were favorably reviewed in Complex Magazine.[20][21] XXL singled out Roc Marciano's Decon Records release, Reloaded, as the “Best Slept-On Album” of that year.[22] In 2011, Decon earned recognition from Billboard as one of the 50 Best Indie Labels in America.[23]
Roster
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Selected discography
2003
- Aceyalone – Moonlit Skies
- Aceyalone – Love & Hate
2004
- Haiku D'Etat – Coup De Theatre
- Haiku D'Etat – Haiku D'Etat
- Aceyalone – All Balls Don't Bounce - Revisited
2005
- Lyrics Born – Big Money Talk
2006
- Aceyalone and Abstract Rude – Who Reframed The A-Team
- RJD2 – Magnificent City Instrumentals
- Aceyalone – Grand Imperial
- Aceyalone– Supahero
- Aceyalone – Magnificent City
2007
- Aceyalone – Lightning Strikes
- Dilated Peoples – The Release Party
- Evidence – Red Tape Instrumentals
- The Alchemist – Rapper's Best Friend
2008
- Jurassic 5 – Jurassic 5 (Deluxe) REISSUE
- 88-Keys – The Death of Adam
- 88-Keys – Stay Up! (Viagra) ft. Kanye West (Single)
2009
- Jay Electronica – Exhibit C
- Nneka – The Uncomfortable Truth
- Chali 2na – Fish Outta Water
- Jay Electronica – Exhibit A
- Aceyalone – Aceyalone and the Lonely Ones
- Evidence – The Layover
2010
- Gangrene – Sawblade EP
- Lyrics Born – As U Were
- Gangrene – Gutter Water
- Freddie Gibbs – Str8 Killa EP
- Rakaa – Crown Of Thorns
- Chali 2na – Fish Market 2
- Aceyalone – Hip Hop And The World We Live In REISSUE
- Aceyalone – Accepted Eclectic REISSUE
- Nneka – Concrete Jungle
2011
- Freestyle Fellowship – The Promise
- Goapele – Break Of Dawn
- Goapele – Play (Single)
- Roc Marciano – Greneberg
- Pusha T – Trouble On My Mind (Single)
- Classified – Handshakes and Middle Fingers
- Pusha T – My God (Single)
- Nneka – Soul Is Heavy
2012
- Goapele – Break Of Dawn (Deluxe)
- Roc Marciano – Reloaded
- The Hood Internet – FEAT
- Lyrics Born – As U Were (Remixes)
- The Alchemist – Russian Roulette
- The Alchemist – Flight Confirmation (Single)
- Roc Marciano – Emeralds (Single)
- The Alchemist – Rapper's Best Friend 2
- Gangrene – Vodka & Ayahuasca
2013
- Evidence – Green Tape Instrumentals
- Aceyalone – Leanin' On Slick
- The Hood Internet – FEAT Remixes
- Aaron Cohen- Potential Fans[24]
See also
References
- ^ Frazer, Bryant (May 30, 2012). "Five Questions: Peter Bittenbender, Co-Founder and CEO, Decon". Studio Daily.
- ^ Soleimanpour, Arthur (March 25, 2010). "Brands Who Became Agencies: Decon Creative Group". PSFK.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Del, Automator, Dilated Take 'Big Trip'". Billboard. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ "2012 Promax BDA design north America awards winners list" (PDF). PromaxBDA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
- ^ Wolfe, Jennifer (March 20, 2012). "Misha Louy Partners with Decon as Executive Producer". AWN.
- ^ "Decon Keeps Rolling with Sacha Jenkins". Newsle. May 2, 2012.
- ^ Ugwu, Reggie (August 10, 2013). "Double Agents: Hybrid label/creative agencies thrive by mixing brands and bands better than the competition". Billboard. p. 7.
- ^ "Billboard Pro's D.I.Y. 50 Indie Labels (Part II)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 30, 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- ^ "BEST SOUNDTRACK: One Big Trip". High Times. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ "Aceyalone - Love & Hate". Splendid. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
- ^ "The Roots Launch Okayplayer Records". Glide Magazine. 23 January 2004. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ "Label - Decon". Discogs. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ "88-Keys - The Death of Adam". The Phoenix. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
- ^ "The Death of Adam - 88-Keys". Allmusic. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem. "Kanye West, 88-Keys Become Dirty Old Men For 'Stay Up (Viagra)' Video". MTV. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ Kujundzic, Petar. "HYPETRAK INSIGHTS with Peter Bittenbender, Co-founder of Decon Records". HYPETRAK. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ "Jay Electronica - Exhibit A". Discogs. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ "Jay Electronica - Exhibit C". Discogs. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ "HipHopDX's Top 25 Albums Of 2012". DX Staff. 26 December 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2012 (So Far)". Complex Magazine. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2012 - Roc Marciano - Reloaded". Complex. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ "First Annual XXL Awards Winners". XXL. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ "Billboard Pro's D.I.Y. 50 Indie Labels (Part II)". Billboard. August 15, 2011.
- ^ "Aaron Cohen – Potential Fans (Mixtape) | Nah Right". nahright.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-11.
External links
- Official website
- Decon discography at Discogs