Payday Records
Payday Records is an American independent hip-hop and R&B record label founded in 1992 by Patrick Moxey in New York City, initially emerging from a popular NYC warehouse party scene and becoming a key player in the fertile 1990s New York hip-hop landscape.[1][2] The label quickly established its reputation by signing and launching breakthrough artists, including Jay-Z with his debut single "In My Lifetime" in 1995, Mos Def via his early group U.T.D. on singles released in 1994 and 1995, Jeru the Damaja on his seminal album The Sun Rises in the East in 1994, and Group Home's debut Livin' Proof in the same year.[1][2][3] Additional notable 1990s signings encompassed Showbiz & A.G., Guru, and WC and the Maad Circle, contributing to Payday's role as one of the longest-running independent labels in hip-hop history.[2] Originally distributed by London Records, the label faced challenges from industry mergers involving Polygram/Universal and Warner Music after 1998, leading to dormancy around 2001.[1] In late 2017, Moxey revived Payday Records for its 25th anniversary, partnering with Neale Easterby as UK managing director and shifting focus to global hip-hop talent with studios in Los Angeles, London, and Atlanta. In 2022, Payday entered a global strategic alliance with Warner Recorded Music for enhanced distribution and services.[1][2][4] The relaunch featured high-profile signings such as DJ Premier for a series of singles, including the 2017 collaboration "Our Streets" with A$AP Ferg—which amassed over 2 million Spotify streams and 3 million YouTube views—alongside Pell, OJ Da Juiceman, Yung Fume, Isaiah Dreads, and Gloss Gang, with distribution handled by Ultra Music in the US and Sony in the UK.[1][2] Payday's legacy extends to its influence on music publishing, as Moxey's Ultra International Music Publishing rebranded to Payday Music Publishing in 2025, honoring the label's foundational impact on hip-hop while representing over 70,000 copyrights.[3]History
Founding
Payday Records was established in 1992 by Patrick Moxey in New York City as an independent record label dedicated to hip-hop music.[1] Moxey, drawing from the vibrant New York hip-hop landscape of the early 1990s, aimed to capture and promote emerging talent in the genre.[2] From its inception, the label formed an initial partnership with FFRR, a subsidiary of London Records, to handle distribution in the United States.[5] For international markets, particularly the UK and Europe, Payday relied on London Records and its parent company PolyGram for distribution, enabling broader reach beyond North America.[6] This setup allowed the independent label to leverage established infrastructure while maintaining creative control over its releases.[1] Payday emphasized East Coast hip-hop, particularly the boom bap style characterized by hard-hitting drum patterns and sampled loops, reflecting the raw energy of New York's underground scene.[6] The label quickly associated with influential producers like DJ Premier, whose production approach aligned closely with this sound.[4]Early years
Following its establishment, Payday Records launched its inaugural major projects in 1993 with the release of Jeru the Damaja's debut single "Come Clean," produced by DJ Premier and featuring raw, introspective lyrics emblematic of East Coast hip-hop. This track exemplified the label's early ties to the Gang Starr Foundation, a collective of artists orbiting the duo Gang Starr, whom founder Patrick Moxey had managed since the early 1990s. Building on this momentum, 1994 brought the full-length debut album The Sun Rises in the East by Jeru the Damaja, which received critical acclaim for its conscious themes and DJ Premier's jazz-infused production, establishing Payday as a platform for innovative underground talent.[7] The label's business expansion was bolstered by its distribution partnership with London Records/FFRR under the PolyGram umbrella, which provided robust international reach in the UK and Europe starting in the mid-1990s. This arrangement allowed Payday to efficiently market and distribute its hip-hop releases amid the genre's rising global popularity, leveraging PolyGram's infrastructure for wider accessibility. The 1998 merger of PolyGram with Seagram's Universal Music Group integrated Payday into an even larger distribution network, amplifying its operational scale and supporting sustained growth through the decade's end.[1][8] During the golden age of hip-hop in the 1990s, Payday Records served as a vital conduit for transitioning underground artists to mainstream recognition, emphasizing lyrical depth and high-caliber production over commercial trends. By signing and nurturing talents from New York's vibrant scene, the label contributed to the era's emphasis on authenticity and cultural storytelling, fostering a roster that influenced the genre's evolution. A defining milestone occurred in 1995 with the release of Jay-Z's debut single "In My Lifetime," a polished yet street-rooted track that propelled the artist toward broader acclaim and underscored Payday's foresight in talent development.[2][9][10]Relaunch
Following the 1998 merger of PolyGram and Universal Music Group, Payday Records, which had been distributed through London Records under PolyGram, effectively entered dormancy as London Records was divested to Warner Music Group in 2000 and operations were restructured amid broader industry consolidation, leading to dormancy around 2001.[11] This period of inactivity lasted nearly two decades, influenced by the seismic shifts in the music business, including the rise of digital distribution and changing dynamics for independent hip-hop labels.[11] Payday Records was relaunched on November 2, 2017, by founder Patrick Moxey, who integrated it under his Ultra Music banner to revive its hip-hop legacy on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.[12] Moxey assumed the role of president of Payday Records worldwide, leveraging Ultra's infrastructure for initial operations, with distribution handled by Ultra in the US and Sony Music in the UK, following Sony's 2013 strategic partnership with and investment in Ultra.[13] In 2022, the label shifted its global distribution to Warner Music Group's ADA Worldwide as part of a broader partnership that included Moxey's new Helix Records imprint, marking a strategic pivot to enhance reach in hip-hop and R&B.[14] In April 2025, the related publishing division—previously known as Ultra International Music Publishing—rebranded to Payday Music Publishing following a trademark dispute resolution with Sony Music Entertainment, though this change pertains solely to publishing operations and does not affect the record label's activities.[15]Roster
Current artists
Payday Records' current roster, revitalized since its 2017 relaunch, emphasizes a mix of established hip-hop figures and rising talents in trap, UK drill, and contemporary rap, aiming to bridge golden-era production with modern street sounds.[16] The label has strategically signed artists who contribute to its output through singles, EPs, and albums distributed via Warner Music Group partnerships, fostering collaborations that highlight innovative beats and lyrical depth.[4] Key active artists include:- DJ Premier, the acclaimed producer known for his boom bap foundations and scratches, serves as a cornerstone of the relaunched Payday, debuting with the 2017 single "Our Streets" featuring A$AP Ferg to mark the label's return.[9] His work emphasizes classic hip-hop instrumentation blended with contemporary features.
- Pell, a soul-infused rapper from New Orleans, gained prominence via Payday with his 2017 EP girasoul, which showcases introspective tracks like "Chirpin'" exploring personal growth and digital escapism.[17] His style merges jazzy samples with laid-back flows, aligning with the label's eclectic hip-hop vision.
- AntsLive, an emerging UK hip-hop artist blending melodic hooks with gritty narratives, has delivered Payday-backed summer anthems such as the 2024 single "Sex On The Beach," which highlights his playful yet streetwise delivery in the drill-adjacent scene.[18]
- BBY GOYARD, a Maryland-based trap innovator recognized for his eccentric, high-energy persona and auto-tuned flows, joined Payday in 2018 and released projects like the Depth Perception EP, featuring tracks such as "Wild Thing" that fuse psychedelic elements with rapid-fire bars.[19] His contributions underscore the label's push into experimental trap sounds.
- BIGBABYGUCCI, a Charlotte trap rapper noted for his wavy, synth-driven production and boastful lyricism, debuted on Payday with the 2018 EP 10 Minutes To Live alongside producer Bobby Johnson, including hits like "Hypnotized" that capture his hypnotic, party-ready vibe.[20]
- Yung Fume, a UK drill pioneer with raw, confrontational bars over ominous 808s, signed to Payday in 2017 as one of its first international acts, releasing tracks that amplify the label's global hip-hop reach.[2]
- Barney Bones, a versatile rapper blending trap aggression with melodic introspection, maintains an active presence on Payday, supporting the label's strategy for developing multifaceted urban artists.[21]
- Saigon, the veteran New York lyricist known for his politically charged, storytelling-driven rhymes, returned to prominence with Payday via the 2024 album The Jordan Era in collaboration with Fredro Starr, featuring guests like Big Daddy Kane and produced entirely in-house to honor hip-hop's roots.[22]
- Dorrough Music, a Dallas trap veteran with catchy, club-oriented hooks, continues to release through Payday, exemplified by his signature style in post-relaunch projects.[21]
- Davy One, a rising UK rapper incorporating drill rhythms and vivid street tales, bolsters Payday's European expansion with recent singles.[21]
- OJ Da Juiceman, the Atlanta trap legend renowned for his ad-lib mastery and booming basslines, signed in 2017 and has sustained output, reinforcing Payday's Southern connections.[2]