10 Black Owned Dance Music Labels You Should Know

This Is Green Velvet

—aka Curtis Jones—is an undisputed house music icon. His music and tongue-in-cheek vocals have dominated dance floors for over three decades. From his earliest hits, "Brighter Days" and "Percolator" as Cajmere to "Deceiver" with Chris Lake and "Jolean" with Claude Von Stroke, he's consistently crafted records that are more than hits; they're classics. 

In 1992, just a year after stepping into dance music as Cajual, he started Cajual Records as an outlet for his music. What followed was a series of Billboard Dance chart-topping hits that forever forged his name in dance music history. Ever the entrepreneur and champion of house music, he started Relief Records in 1993. Since then, the label has been a platform for the finest house music artists from Paul Johnson, Gene Farris, and Dj Sneak to Eli Brown, Eskuche, 

His La La Land event brand is named for the eponymous 2001 record with the infectious vocal we all know and love. It's a rare opportunity for the eclectic artist to create a world around his quirky genre-defining records. Be prepared for an immersive dive into the mind of one of dance music's most prolific artists. A journey that will be guided by Green Velvet and an all-star cast of friends, collaborators, and one very special secret b2b2b performance.

Chicago-born Gene Farris is one of the few in dance music with the creative clout and history to be called a legend. He's been a pivotal part of the scene since the early '90s when he DJed the storied underground warehouse parties that laid the groundwork for the scene today. He is frequently called upon to lend his eclectic vibes in the studio to industry greats like Sonny Fodera, Green Velvet, Danny Howard, CID, Wheats, and John Summit. However, his solo career is just as celebrated with releases on Toolroom, Defected, and his own tastemaking Farris Wheel Recordings making the rounds in sets worldwide.

Body Shake - VIP Mix

Dirtybird co-founder Justin Martin is responsible for helping re-envision the sound of West Coast house music. In the process, he landed on a uniquely curated sonic footprint of his own, melding a refined sense of melodic understanding with weighty low-end funk and chunky booty-shakin' beats. His two artist albums 

, have become classics. And his newly formed What To Do imprint has become the de facto home for his unique brand of synthy bass-forward club thumpers.

Tears

Candian-born Miami-based DJ, producer, and broadcaster Katrella ascended to the top of the Candian dance scene, winning Top DJ in Ottawa. She caught the ear of industry figures and toured all over Canada but soon found that she wanted to put herself in the heart of the house music scene. She moved to Miami, quickly secured a residency with Revolution 93.5, and founded Industry³, one of Magic City's leading entertainment brands. In her short time in the industry, she's scored a litany of releases on Spinnin Records sublabel Sirup Music.

As one of Relief Records' most exciting resident producers, 

 invigorated the label with his penchant for jackin' drums and dirty slumpin' basslines. A frequent collaborator with Green Velvet, he's also released on lauded labels like Jamie Jones' Hot Creations and Moon Harbour. The Ibiza DJ Award-winning artist skills as a DJ are sought-after with appearances everywhere from London to Ibiza, Barcelona to Milan, and Miami to Amsterdam.

Journey

Moon Boots peddles in spacey disco-tinged tinged inspired by the French house of Daft Punk, the cosmic jazz of Herbie Hancock, and the Chicago-bred house of Frankie Knuckles and Dereck Carter. The genre-defying artist joyous music is the perfect sonic backdrop for a pool-side party. Before signing to the iconic Anjunadeep imprint, Moon Boots toured with hip-hop's Lupe Fiasco and worked with French House legend Perseus on his French Express label.

I Want Your Attention

Nasser Baker was discovered initially by Dennis Ferrer, who mentored him and released his first records on his Objektivity imprint. He then linked up with Green Velvet and released the pumping "Bodytude" on Relief. Its infectious vocal and unforgettable synth line are the perfect example of Baker's unique style. He brilliantly fuses off-kilter vocals, dark and ravey synths, and shuffle-worthy drums. A strong advocate of inclusion in house music, Nasser Baker, is a beacon of light for the dance community.

Bodytude

A champion of blistering funky techno, Irish-born Rebūke's musical background is just as noteworthy as his releases on Adam Beyer's Drumcode, Patrick Topping's Trick, and Relief. A second-generation DJ, young Rebūke was mentored by the legendary Fergie, even before legally entering a club. In just over three years, he's released an avalanche of dance-floor destroying gems. Tracks like "Along Came Polly," "Ultimate Distortion" with Allan Fitzpatrick, and "The Future" with CamelPhat are indicative of his wide-ranging style. He confidently creeps from buzzing warehouse techno to triumphant disco, all with his trademark driving drumlines. 

The Future

Not many people can say that they've produced tracks that permeate the connective tissue of dance music, and have evolved to be classics. Shiba San's "Okay" released on Dirtybird in 2014 was a genre-defining moment. Yet there's much more to the Parisian producer. He's since continued to wallop the world with bass-forward club heaters. The prolific producer seems to have more music than he knows what to do with releasing a blinding clip with everyone from Defected to Sola, and of course his own expertly curated Basement Leak imprint. 

Green Velvet Presents: La La Land Miami Music Week Pool Party

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