17 Independent Labels That Prove It's Always Better To Do It Yourself

July 04, 2017

A rundown of the most influential independent labels in music

As music fans, all of us have grown up seeing the iconic logos of record labels like Def Jam, Warner Bros., Motown, and others. But for every major label powerhouse, there’s an indie label that’s working three times as hard to support musicians just as talented as their big league counterparts.

And while they may not always have the recognition and the budgets of majors, the best of them have an eye for talent, an understanding of how to connect with listeners and, more often than not, the innovations, both in the studio and the boardroom, that embolden those bonds and build new ones routinely. If you're looking for the pulse in a morbidly commercial industry, the necks of Brainfeeder, Jakarta, Sub Pop and Stones Throw, perhaps hip-hop's crown indie institution, are all coursing with eccentricity and consistently potent output.

In celebration of Independence Day, we’ve ranked all of the best indie labels in the music business and compiled catalog cuts from each camp and more into an extensive 30-track playlist that proves it's always better to do it your damn self.

17. Ropeadope

With records like Terrace Martin’s Velvet Portraits and Sidewalk Chalk’s Shoulder Season, Ropeadope is the future of soulful jazz. The Philly-based label only releases between one and three drops per year, but their quality over quantity approach seems to be working just fine.

Photo courtesy of Jakarta Records.

16. Jakarta Records

There’s something to be said for getting the jump on everyone else, and Jakarta Records has consistently done exactly that. The Berlin/Cologne-based record label gave early support to the likes of producers like Kaytranada, Tall Black Guy, Knxwledge, and L’Orange, before they would end up breaking into the indie powerhouses they are today. They’re currently releasing music from the likes of Ta-ku, Illa J, and others.

Photo courtesy of Empire Distribution.

15. EMPIRE

Empire Distribution has been home to some of the best albums of the past seven years: Kendrick Lamar’s Section.80, Foreign Exchange’s Authenticity, Phonte’s Charity Starts At Home, Terrace Martin’s 3ChordFold, and a couple others. It doesn’t garner the respect of the other companies on this list, because it’s a distribution company - not a label that signs and develops talent. But it’s more than a coincidence that the company has released so many dope records: they get the job done.

Photo courtesy of Strange Music.

14. Strange Music

Tech N9ne is the most successful independent rapper alive, repeatedly landing on the Forbes Cash Kings list - and his company Strange Music does its best to duplicate the formula with signees like Rittz, Krizz Kaliko, and former signee Jay Rock, while also taking on already-established acts like Murs and Brotha Lynch Hung. With a grueling tour schedule, self-made merchandise, and a huge base of worshipping fans willing to eat it up, Strange Music is one of the biggest success stories that independent music has to offer.

Photo courtesy of Glassnote Records.

13. Glassnote Records

Glassnote Records is having a hell of a year, with the label being the home to Childish Gambino’s breakout album "Awaken, My Love!" But the label’s success doesn’t begin and end with Gambino’s releases: it has also been the home to chart-soaring, Grammy Award-winning releases by Mumford and Sons and Phoenix. No wonder Rolling Stone named it the Indie Label of the Year in 2011.

Photo courtesy of Downtown Records.

12. Downtown Records

New York-based indie label Downtown Records may not have the reputation of the other labels on this list, but they still have released dope records like Gnarls Barkley’s St. Elsewhere, Santigold’s self-titled debut, and Mos Def’s The Ecstatic. This year they’ve continued to prosper with the budding success of Smino, a talented rapper/singer/songwriter from St. Louis.

Photo courtesy of Mad Decent.

11. Mad Decent

Diplo started Mad Decent in 2005 to showcase the wide assortment of music he would encounter while touring around the world - and in the decade-plus since, it’s become one of the biggest, most reputable indies around. Along with serving as a hub for Diplo’s own work as an individual and as a member of Major Lazer, the company has also released music by Baauer, Riff Raff, Dillon Francis, and dozens of other artists. But perhaps even more important than its signees, the company also hosts the traveling Mad Decent Block Party festival every year, building the perfect environment for hordes of fans to enjoy Mad Decent’s music in.

Photo courtesy of Mass Appeal

10. Mass Appeal Records

Mass Appeal Records doesn’t have history on its side, with less than four years to its name. But the label, which is headed by Nas, still has done a good amount of work in a small amount of time. Run The Jewels is arguably the biggest independent act in hip-hop right now, earning loads of critical acclaim, sold-out tours, and licensing opportunities since Killer Mike and El-P united to form a group. Dave East is also one of the most prosperous rappers from New York City, with his success under Mass Appeal earning him a record deal with Def Jam. The label also brought a formal release to The Diary, J Dilla’s lost solo album from his deal with MCA. Other albums like Fashawn’s The Ecology and DJ Shadow’s The Mountain Will Fall round out the roster. There are only two real powerhouse acts on the label, but they’re off to a good start — and it’ll be even bigger if Nas ends up releasing his next album through his own imprint.

Photo courtesy of Duck Down Records.

9. Duck Down Music

Out of all of the labels in this list, Duck Down may have had the biggest impact on hip-hop from a cultural perspective. With Black Moon, Smif-N-Wessun, Sean Price, Heltah Skeltah and more, the squad was home to some of the most important underground hip-hop from the '90s — albums like Enta Da Stage and Dah Shinin’ live on as rap classics. They continued their reign into the 2000s, releasing gems like Skyzoo’s first few albums and Pharoahe Monch’s W.A.R. (We Are Renegades). Duck Down isn’t as powerful now as it was in its heyday, which is why it isn’t ranked higher, but its historical impact is undeniable.

Photo courtesy of Sub-Pop.

8. Sub-Pop

Not many of these labels can say that music would never be the same without them, but Sub-Pop Records can easily make such a claim. The label, which was founded in the mid-1980s, is credited as the headquarters for the '90s grunge movement with acts like Soundgarden and Nirvana — making it one of the most respected indie labels in music history. The company continues with critically-acclaimed artists like Shabazz Palaces and Father John Misty.

Photo courtesy of Mello Music Group.

7. Mello Music Group

Mello Music Group has established itself as one of the most dependable, self-sufficient indie labels in the industry. Oddisee and Apollo Brown are the pillars with their phenomenal solo and collaborative projects with acts like OC and Guilty Simpson, but the label has also developed and supported other acts like Red Pill, Quelle Chris, and Open Mike Eagle — some of the most talented, distinctive artists in the game. When you see Mello Music Group by the barcode, whether you enjoy it or not, you can almost always expect a quality, individualistic release.

Photo courtesy of Rhymesayers.

6. Rhymesayers Entertainment

With a steady, unbloated roster, a consistent message and sound, and smart usage of their resources, Rhymesayers has become one of the most successful indie hip-hop labels ever. Atmosphere (the duo who co-founded the label with Musaab and Sidiq), Aesop Rock, Brother Ali, Evidence, Grieves: all completely different artists, but acts who bring quality rhymes, esoteric personalities, showmanship on stage, and most importantly, an unstoppable personal connection with their fans. Whenever Rhymesayers signs a new artist, their fans instantly sign up: the label knows exactly what their base want, and they consistently feed them. Along with its incredible discography, Rhymesayers also sponsors Soundest, a festival that attracts tens of thousands of attendees every summer.

Photo courtesy of Soulection.

5. Soulection

The term “movement” is overused in the music industry, but it’s appropriate for Soulection. The Los Angeles-based collective has organically built a base of hundreds of thousands of listeners by expertly curating like-minded producers and DJs, and disseminating their works through albums, mixes, live events, and their Beats 1 Radio show. Not to take away from the skills of each artist, but what makes Soulection brilliant is the sum of its parts: no matter which mix, performer or event you indulge, as soon as you see their distinctive cover art and flyers, you can rely on them to provide the groove. And with less than a decade in, they’ve still got plenty of time to further develop.

Photo courtesy of Brainfeeder.

4. Brainfeeder

When you have one of the most important producers of the past ten years as your founder, things can only go up. Flying Lotus founded Brainfeeder in 2007, and the company has since become the headquarters for much of the most important electronic, hip-hop and jazz music of the the past five years. At one point, the label simply seemed like a hub of FlyLo clones: talented acts, and collectively the leaders of L.A.’s beat scene, but not individual superstars. Flying Lotus arguably carried the label on his back until the early 2010s, when acts like Thundercat and Kamasi Washington began to blossom. Along with their own powerful solo careers, Brainfeeder has made an impact outside of its own roster as well: Thundercat, Kamasi Washington and Flying Lotus were the nucleus of To Pimp A Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar’s genre-shifting album from 2015.

Photo courtesy of XL Recordings.

3. XL Recordings

In many ways, XL Recordings operates exactly how a label should: you don’t necessarily associate their success with a specific brand or sound in the way that you do a Stones Throw or Brainfeeder, but when you see their success it’s undeniable. Adele, M.I.A., Radiohead, Frank Ocean: all cultural icons who have released some of their greatest works with XL Recordings, bringing record sales and awards with them. Then you have Kaytranada, who took over clubs around the world with his remixes before dropping his incredible debut 99.9% in 2016. It may be easy to get lost in the sauce with such a large roster, but if you see XL Recordings by the barcode, you’re usually in good shape.

Photo courtesy of Fool's Gold.

2. Fool's Gold Records

It’s been a decade since DJ A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs founded Fool’s Gold, and in that time they've established themselves as one of the most reputable indie labels in the biz. Fool’s Gold has given a jumpstart to acts like Run The Jewels, Kid Cudi and Danny Brown, giving their star power the boosts necessary to make them some of the most reputable names in music.

Photo courtesy of Stones Throw Records.

1. Stones Throw Records

For two decades, Stones Throw Records has largely been the gold standard for independent music — and they’ve earned their spot. MF DOOM and Madlib’s Madvillainy is arguably the most important indie release of the past 20 years, while The Shining and Donuts solidified J Dilla’s legacy as a musical innovator. And while Madlib and Dilla have largely been the label’s franchise players, the company still has a perfect formula: they can help build up stars like Mayer Hawthorne and Dam-Funk, improve the fan base of previously established staples like Homeboy Sandman, and even bring in icons like Snoop Dogg for opportunities to try brand new things without major label expectations. More than perhaps any company, Stones Throw knows how to bring the right artists together and make the type of supergroup collaborations that seem like message board fodder more than actual possibilities. The company has been at the forefront of Los Angeles’ role as the hub of new innovative music. And with projects like 2016’s NxWorries, they’re still making their mark 21 years later.

William E. Ketchum III covers entertainment, pop culture, race and politics for the likes of The Guardian, NPR, Billboard and more. Follow him (and us!) on Twitter at @WEKetchum.