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Relativity Records

Relativity Records was an American independent record label founded in 1982 by Barry Kobrin as an in-house imprint of his vinyl distribution company, Important Record Distributors (IRD), based in Jamaica, Queens, New York.^[1] The label initially served as a distributor for various indie imprints, handling releases in genres including alternative rock, progressive rock, punk, and heavy metal, before evolving into a direct signing and releasing entity.^[1]^[2] By the mid-1980s, Relativity had secured key distribution deals, such as with the UK label 4AD (featuring acts like the Cocteau Twins) and later Creation Records (including My Bloody Valentine), alongside American metal and hardcore labels like Combat Records and In-Effect Records.^[2] In the 1990s, the label pivoted toward hip-hop, signing and releasing albums by influential East Coast artists such as Fat Joe, Big Punisher, The Beatnuts, Common, and Chi-Ali, while maintaining a roster in metal with bands like Megadeth and Napalm Death.^[1]^[2] Notable releases included Joe Satriani's breakthrough instrumental rock album Surfing with the Alien (1987) and Big Pun's debut Capital Punishment (1998), which became a landmark in Latino hip-hop.^[2] Relativity also operated sublabels like In-Effect for hardcore punk (releasing works by Agnostic Front and Sick of It All) and expanded through mergers, with Sony Music acquiring a 50% stake in 1990 before fully absorbing the company in 2001, after which it transitioned into RED Distribution and ceased as an active artist label.^[1]^[3]

History

Founding and Early Development

Relativity Records was founded in 1982 by Barry Kobrin as an in-house label of Important Record Distributors, Inc. (IRD), a New York City-based company that operated a vinyl record shop and specialized in importing and distributing independent music.^[4]^[1] Located initially in Jamaica, Queens, the label emerged from IRD's operations, which had begun in 1979 to cater to fans of imported records, providing a platform for domestic releases and broader indie distribution without pursuing major artist signings at the outset.^[4]^[5] In its early years, Relativity focused primarily on indie distribution and limited releases tied to IRD's retail and wholesale activities, emphasizing vinyl formats to support underground scenes in rock, punk, and related genres. The label's first independent releases appeared around 1983–1984, featuring minor rock acts such as The Dark's EP Don't Feed the Fashion Sharks, which exemplified Relativity's initial foray into goth and new wave sounds.^[6]^[7] This period also saw the launch of the sublabel Combat Records in 1982, dedicated to punk and emerging metal acts, laying groundwork for later genre expansion.^[4]^[8] A pivotal early development came in 1985 with a distribution partnership between Relativity and the UK-based 4AD Records, enabling U.S. handling of 4AD imports, including Cocteau Twins' debut American compilation The Pink Opaque.^[2]^[9] This agreement marked Relativity's growing role in international indie distribution while maintaining its roots in IRD's operational model.

1980s Focus on Rock and Metal

In the mid-1980s, Relativity Records expanded its roster by emphasizing rock, punk, and heavy metal genres, leveraging its distribution network under Important Record Distributors to support emerging underground acts. This period marked a strategic pivot toward alternative and extreme music scenes, with the label signing influential artists and establishing sublabels to target specific subgenres. By focusing on high-energy, genre-defining releases, Relativity positioned itself as a vital indie force in the U.S. music landscape, bridging punk's raw aggression with metal's technical intensity.^[2] A key development was the 1982 launch of Combat Records as a sublabel dedicated to thrash metal and punk, with its first major releases appearing in 1985 and quickly becoming a cornerstone of Relativity's metal output. Combat signed pivotal acts like Megadeth, whose debut album Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! was released in 1985, showcasing blistering speed and aggression that helped define thrash metal's evolution. Similarly, Exodus's Bonded by Blood arrived the same year via Combat, solidifying the label's role in amplifying Bay Area thrash pioneers and contributing to the genre's underground momentum. Complementing this, the In-Effect Records sublabel, established around 1988 but building on earlier hardcore efforts through Combat Core, focused on New York hardcore punk. It released works from bands like Agnostic Front, including reissues and live recordings tied to their seminal Victim in Pain (originally 1984), emphasizing themes of street justice and social unrest that resonated in the NYHC scene.^[2]^[10]^[3] On the main Relativity label, signings highlighted rock's diverse edges, including The Brandos's debut Honor Among Thieves in 1987, a roots-rock effort blending melody with gritty storytelling that charted modestly and garnered critical praise. Scruffy the Cat's Tiny Days followed in 1987, delivering jangly alternative rock with Boston roots, while guitarist Joe Satriani's instrumental breakthrough Surfing with the Alien—also 1987—showcased virtuosic shredding and became a cornerstone for progressive rock fusion, influencing countless players. Relativity further broadened its reach by distributing international labels, handling U.S. releases for the UK's 4AD (e.g., Pixies' Come on Pilgrim EP in 1987, introducing their surreal indie rock) and Earache Records (e.g., Napalm Death's Scum U.S. edition in 1987, a grindcore landmark). These partnerships exposed American audiences to global alternative and extreme sounds.^[2] By 1989, Relativity's aggressive expansion had resulted in over 100 releases, cementing its status as a premier indie outlet for underground metal and alternative rock, with sublabels like Combat and In-Effect driving much of the catalog's diversity and impact. This growth reflected savvy business moves amid the era's indie boom, prioritizing artistic innovation over mainstream polish.^[2]

1990s Shift to Hip Hop

In the early 1990s, Relativity Records continued its association with metal acts through licensing and distribution partnerships, such as with Earache Records, which facilitated the U.S. release of Carcass's album Heartwork in 1993. However, the label began to gradually reduce its emphasis on rock and metal following the signing of Canadian alternative rock band Our Lady Peace for their U.S. debut album Naveed in 1995.^[11] The shift toward hip hop accelerated with Relativity's entry into urban music distribution. In 1993, the label entered a marketing and distribution agreement with Ruthless Records, valued at an estimated $35 million for the first year, handling releases from artists like Eazy-E following the end of Ruthless's prior pact with Priority Records.^[12] This deal enabled Relativity to distribute key Ruthless projects, including Eazy-E's solo output and the label's ongoing roster. Relativity also pursued direct signings of hip hop talent, marking a departure from its rock-heavy past. Notable early additions included Chi-Ali, whose debut album The Fabulous Chi-Ali arrived in 1992 via Relativity and Violator Records, showcasing the label's investment in Native Tongues-affiliated artists.^[13] Fat Joe followed with his breakthrough Represent in 1993, establishing Relativity as a platform for East Coast street rap.^[14] By 1994, Chicago rapper Common (then Common Sense) released Resurrection, a critically acclaimed sophomore effort that highlighted the label's growing focus on conscious hip hop.^[15] The mid-1990s saw further expansion through strategic partnerships with regional imprints, including a 1994 distribution deal with Suave House Records, which brought Southern acts into Relativity's fold.^[16] Sony Music's 50% acquisition of Relativity in 1990 had positioned the label for larger-scale urban pushes, exemplified by the 1995 Ruthless/Relativity release of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's E. 1999 Eternal, which blended melodic flows with gangsta themes and achieved multi-platinum success.^[1]^[17] These moves solidified Relativity's transition to hip hop dominance by the decade's midpoint.

Decline and Dissolution

Following the mid-1990s industry shift toward hip hop dominance, Relativity Records dropped most of its alternative rock acts by 1993, narrowing its focus exclusively to the genre by 1995.^[2] This included releasing bands like Frogpond and Gov't Mule elsewhere after their initial albums on the label, as Relativity prioritized urban music amid declining rock sales and changing market dynamics.^[2] Sony Music, which had acquired a 50% stake in 1990 before fully absorbing the company in 2001, further integrated the label into its operations, with RED Distribution serving as the distributor arm.^[18] By 1997, Relativity's roster and resources were effectively folded under Sony's umbrella, with the label merging into Steve Rifkind's Loud Records in 1999 as part of broader restructuring.^[2] The last major releases under Relativity branding included Big Pun's debut album Capital Punishment in 1998, distributed via Loud/Relativity, and Krayzie Bone's Thug Mentality 1999 in April 1999 on Ruthless/Relativity/Mo Thugs.^[19]^[20] Label operations officially ceased that year, with its catalog absorbed into Sony Music; RED Distribution continued handling physical and marketing duties until Sony shuttered the unit in 2002 following Loud's downsizing and closure.^[2]^[21] The turmoil led to scrapped projects, such as Das EFX's planned final album, which remained unreleased due to internal disruptions and the label's collapse.^[2] Relativity's branding effectively ended in 2017 when Sony merged RED Music into The Orchard, consolidating independent distribution and phasing out legacy imprints like Relativity.^[22]

Artists and Discography

Rock and Metal Roster

Relativity Records established a formidable presence in the rock and metal scenes during the 1980s, signing and distributing acts that helped define underground thrash, hardcore punk, extreme metal, and alternative rock. Through its own imprints and distribution deals, the label nurtured emerging talent from the U.S. and U.K., releasing influential albums that captured the raw energy of these genres and contributed to their mainstream breakthrough.^[2] In thrash metal, Relativity played a key role via its Combat Records sublabel, which issued Megadeth's debut album Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! in 1985, marking the band's explosive entry into the genre with aggressive riffs and Dave Mustaine's intricate songwriting. The label also released Megadeth's follow-up So Far, So Good... So What! in 1988, further solidifying the band's status amid lineup changes and production challenges. Similarly, Exodus's seminal Bonded by Blood, originally recorded in 1984 and released through Combat in 1985, became a cornerstone of Bay Area thrash, celebrated for its speed and Paul Baloff's ferocious vocals, with later reissues under Relativity in 1989.^[23]^[24]^[25] The hardcore punk roster, primarily handled through the In-Effect imprint from 1984 to 1988, spotlighted New York City's vibrant scene. Agnostic Front's Live at CBGB (1989), capturing a raw 1988 performance, exemplified the label's commitment to live energy and mosh-pit anthems, blending punk fury with metal edges. Murphy's Law's The Best of Times (1991), shifting toward crossover sounds, rounded out the imprint's output on Relativity proper, showcasing Jimmy Gestapo's irreverent lyrics against a backdrop of social commentary.^[26]^[3]^[27] Extreme metal acts arrived through Relativity's U.S. distribution of Earache Records from 1987 to 1993, introducing grindcore and death metal to American audiences. Napalm Death's From Enslavement to Obliteration (1988 U.K. release, 1991 U.S. via Relativity) pushed boundaries with blistering speed and political bite, influencing a generation of heaviness. Carcass followed suit with Tools of the Trade EP (1992), distributed on Relativity, featuring gore-obsessed lyrics and technical brutality that bridged grind and melodic death metal.^[28]^[29] Alternative rock signings diversified the roster, with instrumental virtuoso Joe Satriani releasing multiple albums from 1987 through the 1990s, including Surfing with the Alien (1987) and The Extremist (1992), which highlighted his innovative shredding and melodic phrasing to critical acclaim. The Brandos' debut Honor Among Thieves (1987) brought rootsy, anthemic rock with Ed Brenner's soulful vocals and historical nods. Scruffy the Cat's Tiny Days (1987) and Moons of Jupiter (1988) infused cowpunk twang and jangle pop, drawing from Boston's indie circuit. Robyn Hitchcock, via his Egyptians backing band, delivered quirky psychedelia on Gotta Let This Hen Out! (1985) and Element of Light (1986), blending surreal lyrics with Byrds-like harmonies. By 1990, Relativity's rock and metal lineup encompassed dozens of acts from these underground and indie spheres, prioritizing raw authenticity over commercial polish.^[30]^[31]

Hip Hop and R&B Roster

In the 1990s, Relativity Records shifted its focus toward hip hop and R&B, building a diverse urban roster that emphasized East Coast, Midwest, Southern, and West Coast influences. This transition marked a departure from its earlier rock and metal emphasis, allowing the label to capitalize on the genre's rising commercial dominance. Key signings included pioneering acts that contributed to the label's reputation for raw, street-oriented sounds.^[6] East Coast rap formed the backbone of Relativity's hip hop offerings, with artists like Fat Joe emerging as early flag-bearers. Fat Joe's debut album Represent (1993), released under the moniker Fat Joe da Gangsta, showcased Bronx hardcore rap produced by Diamond D and others, establishing him as a key figure before expanding into the Terror Squad collective.^[14] The Beatnuts, a production-savvy duo, debuted with the EP Intoxicated Demons (1993) and followed with full-lengths like Street Level (1994) and Stone Crazy (1997), blending boom bap beats with humorous, sample-heavy tracks. M.O.P. (Mash Out Posse) brought aggressive energy with their second album Firing Squad (1996), largely produced by DJ Premier, solidifying their status as hardcore rap staples from Brooklyn. Chi-Ali, a young Native Tongues affiliate, released his debut single "Funky Lemonade" (1992), highlighting youthful, jazz-infused flows before his album The Fabulous Chi-Ali appeared in 1992.^[32] Midwest and West Coast ties expanded Relativity's reach, incorporating introspective and regional flavors. Common, then known as Common Sense, signed early and released Can I Borrow a Dollar? (1992) and the critically acclaimed Resurrection (1994), both rooted in Chicago's conscious rap scene with production from No I.D.^[33] Southern hip hop gained prominence through Relativity's distribution deals, particularly with Ruthless Records starting in 1993, which brought in Memphis and Cleveland acts.^[12] Three 6 Mafia's Chapter 2: World Domination (1997), distributed via Hypnotize Minds and Relativity, marked their major-label breakthrough with horrorcore crunk anthems like "Late Nite Tip." Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, via the Ruthless partnership, delivered multiple albums including Creepin' on ah Come Up (1994) and E. 1999 Eternal (1995), fusing melodic flows with Midwestern harmony over dark beats produced by DJ U-Neek. R&B crossovers were limited but notable, often blending with hip hop through solo ventures and group extensions. Big Pun's debut Capital Punishment (1998), under Terror Squad, integrated R&B hooks into dense lyricism, becoming a landmark for Latino representation in rap. Krayzie Bone's solo debut Thug Mentality 1999 (1999), released on Ruthless/Relativity/Mo Thugs, featured R&B-inflected tracks amid Bone Thugs-style harmonies and guest spots from Snoop Dogg and Thug Life. The roster's growth accelerated through the Ruthless partnership, which integrated Eazy-E's imprint and acts like N.W.A. affiliates, expanding from a small core of urban signings around 1990 to over 30 acts by 1998, including Hussein Fatal and Mac Mall for West Coast flavor.^[34] This expansion diversified Relativity's output, positioning it as a key player in 1990s hip hop distribution.^[2]

Notable Releases and Milestones

Relativity Records played a pivotal role in the thrash metal genre through its subsidiary Combat Records, with Megadeth's debut album Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) marking an early landmark release that helped establish the label's reputation in heavy metal.^[23] The album's raw energy and technical prowess influenced subsequent thrash acts, solidifying Relativity's distribution network for extreme metal.^[35] In the grindcore subgenre, Napalm Death's From Enslavement to Obliteration (1988, U.S. release 1991) represented a key milestone, licensed to Relativity for American distribution and showcasing the band's evolution toward more structured yet intense compositions that pushed grindcore boundaries.^[36] Shifting to rock, Joe Satriani's instrumental album Surfing with the Alien (1987) became a commercial breakthrough for Relativity, achieving gold certification by the RIAA and earning three Grammy nominations for Best Rock Instrumental Performance across different versions of the title track between 1989 and 1997.^[37] The album's innovative guitar work and fusion elements sold over 500,000 copies, highlighting Relativity's ability to support virtuoso-led projects.^[38] In hip hop, Relativity's distribution partnership with Ruthless Records facilitated major successes, including Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's E. 1999 Eternal (1995), which earned a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for the single "Tha Crossroads" and achieved 5× platinum certification from the RIAA for sales exceeding 5 million units.^[39] The album's melodic flow and street narratives dominated late-1990s charts, exemplifying Relativity's growing influence in the genre through such collaborations.^[17] Overall, Relativity amassed multiple RIAA gold and platinum certifications across its catalog, particularly in hip hop during the late 1990s via partnerships like those with Ruthless and Hypnotize Minds, where Three 6 Mafia's Chapter 2: World Domination (1997) reached gold status.^[40] A notable post-closure effort included the 2014 digital reissue of Scruffy the Cat's catalog, including previously unreleased material in The Good Goodbye, preserving the label's roots rock contributions.^[41]

Business Operations

Distribution Deals and Partnerships

Relativity Records began its operations through Important Record Distributors (IRD), established in 1982 as a New York-based independent distribution company that handled vinyl and other formats for various indie labels.^[1] By the mid-1980s, IRD, under Relativity's umbrella, secured U.S. distribution rights for the British label 4AD, covering releases from artists like Cocteau Twins through the early 1990s until 4AD transitioned to Capitol Records.^[2] In the late 1980s, Relativity also took on U.S. distribution for Creation Records, supporting acts such as The House of Love and My Bloody Valentine before those artists moved to major labels.^[2] These early indie deals positioned Relativity as a key player in alternative and rock distribution, with IRD evolving into Relativity Entertainment Distribution in 1992 and later RED Distribution in 1998.^[1] A pivotal shift occurred in 1990 when Sony Music Entertainment acquired a 50% stake in Important Record Distributors, providing Relativity with enhanced resources and market access.^[42] Sony completed its acquisition of the remaining stake in Relativity Entertainment Distribution in 1994, facilitating Relativity's expansion into hip hop.^[42] This partnership enabled broader reach for Relativity's growing roster, exemplified by successful releases like The Beatnuts' debut album and Big Punisher's early work.^[2] To strengthen its regional presence in rap, Relativity entered targeted distribution agreements in the early 1990s. In 1993, it signed a deal with Ruthless Records, valued at approximately $35 million for the first year, handling marketing and distribution after Ruthless ended its prior arrangement with Priority Records; this included Eazy-E's posthumous album Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkinz in 1996 and lasted until around 1996.^[12]^[43] Similarly, in 1994, Relativity inked a distribution pact with Suave House Records, supporting Southern rap acts like Eightball & MJG and contributing to the label's commercial peak until Suave House switched to Universal in 1997.^[16] The Sony partnership significantly boosted Relativity's sales and genre diversification but introduced operational constraints tied to major-label oversight. Following Relativity's full absorption in 2001, its catalog transitioned to management under Sony's Legacy Recordings division, ensuring continued availability of its releases.^[42]^[44]^[2]

Sublabels and Imprints

Relativity Records operated several sublabels and imprints that specialized in niche genres, particularly within rock, metal, and later hip hop, allowing the parent label to target specific markets while leveraging its distribution network. These imprints handled a significant portion of Relativity's output, focusing on underground and emerging scenes during the label's peak in the 1980s and 1990s.^[2] Combat Records served as one of Relativity's earliest sublabels, established in 1982 as a metal-oriented imprint under Important Record Distributors, which also managed Relativity. Specializing in thrash metal, punk, hardcore, and heavy metal, it released albums by acts drawing from licensed material across labels like Neat and Roadrunner, contributing to the underground metal scene's growth in the U.S. The imprint remained active until 1991, issuing dozens of titles before being shelved and merged back into the main Relativity label following industry shifts and Relativity's evolving priorities.^[45]^[46]^[10] In-Effect Records functioned as a short-lived but influential imprint of Relativity from 1984 to 1990, with operations extending briefly into 1991 before full integration. It concentrated on hardcore punk, crossover thrash, and metal acts from the East Coast, playing a key role in amplifying the New York Hardcore (NYHC) scene through strategic releases and distribution support. The sublabel's focus on raw, energetic sounds helped bridge underground hardcore with wider audiences, though it was discontinued amid Relativity's broader mergers in the early 1990s.^[47]^[3] Earache U.S. operated as a distribution-focused imprint for the British label Earache Records starting in the late 1980s and continuing through the 1990s, managed under Relativity's umbrella to bring extreme metal to American markets. It handled releases emphasizing grindcore, death metal, and industrial styles, facilitating U.S. promotion and sales for international acts in Relativity's catalog. This arrangement bolstered Relativity's metal roster during a period when the parent label was diversifying, though it wound down as Relativity shifted toward hip hop.^[2]^[28] In the late 1990s, as Relativity transitioned to hip hop, its operations were partially integrated into Loud Records in 1999, with Loud acquiring much of Relativity's lineup and serving as a successor imprint for urban music releases. This move allowed Relativity's hip hop assets to continue under Loud's banner, focusing on rap and R&B until Loud's own closure in 2002.^[48]

Legacy

Genre Influence and Cultural Impact

Relativity Records played a pivotal role in elevating the underground thrash metal scene in the United States during the 1980s by distributing releases from Combat Records, including Megadeth's debut album Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) and Exodus's Bonded by Blood (1985), which helped establish thrash as a viable commercial genre beyond the Bay Area.^[2] Through its sub-label In-Effect Records, launched in 1988, Relativity became a cornerstone of the New York hardcore (NYHC) movement, releasing seminal works such as Agnostic Front's Live at CBGB (1989) and Madball's Ball of Destruction EP (1989), fostering a gritty, aggressive sound that influenced crossover punk-metal hybrids and expanded the scene's reach from local clubs to national audiences.^[3] These efforts not only preserved the raw energy of NYHC but also facilitated its crosspollination with emerging hip-hop elements, as noted in historical accounts of the era's Queens-based music ecosystem.^[3] In the realm of extreme metal, Relativity's distribution agreement with the British label Earache Records in the early 1990s significantly enhanced the accessibility of grindcore and death metal in the U.S. and globally, introducing bands like Napalm Death—whose Scum (1987) and subsequent releases gained wider circulation—and Carcass to American listeners through targeted promotion and retail networks.^[2] This partnership bridged international underground scenes, making European extreme metal more attainable amid the majors' dominance and contributing to the genre's evolution into a worldwide phenomenon by the mid-1990s.^[4] Shifting focus in the 1990s, Relativity bridged independent hip-hop to mainstream success through strategic partnerships, notably with Ruthless Records, which enabled the platinum-selling debut of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Creepin on ah Come Up (1994), blending East Coast lyricism with West Coast melody to influence the fusion of regional styles during a polarized era.^[2] The label's direct signings, such as Common's Resurrection (1994) and Fat Joe's early work, further amplified urban voices from Chicago and the Bronx, providing a platform for introspective and street-oriented narratives that challenged gangsta rap's dominance while achieving commercial viability.^[2] Relativity's distribution of 4AD Records in the late 1980s and early 1990s brought dream pop and ethereal sounds to American shores, with key releases like Cocteau Twins' The Pink Opaque (1986 compilation) introducing Ivo Watts-Russell's roster to U.S. college radio and alternative scenes, thereby diversifying the indie landscape beyond rock and metal.^[2] The label's extensive catalog, encompassing rare punk EPs and metal demos, has preserved vital underground artifacts, ensuring that works from niche acts like Sick of It All remain reference points for subsequent generations of musicians.^[3] By providing robust distribution infrastructure, Relativity empowered smaller indie labels to rival major corporations throughout the 1980s and 1990s, handling logistics for imprints like Combat and In-Effect to reach specialty stores and international markets, which democratized access to non-mainstream music during a period of industry consolidation.^[2] This model influenced the broader indie ecosystem, as evidenced by its role in sustaining punk revival circuits and enabling cross-genre experimentation.^[3] However, Relativity faced criticisms for uneven artist support, particularly in its punk roster; Agnostic Front, for instance, expressed dissatisfaction with the label's decision to release an album only on CD rather than vinyl during their In-Effect tenure, which upset the band and the hardcore scene.^[49]

Post-Closure Revivals and Availability

Following the label's dissolution in the early 2000s, Relativity Records' catalog was absorbed by Sony Music Entertainment, with many of its metal and punk releases falling out of print and becoming scarce in physical formats.^[2] Hip-hop titles from the label, however, have seen broader digital availability through Sony's Legacy Recordings division, appearing on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.^[44] In 2017, Sony merged its RED Distribution arm—which had handled Relativity's post-closure logistics—into The Orchard, enhancing global digital distribution for independent catalogs and making more Relativity-era tracks accessible online, though gaps persist in the punk and metal back-catalog due to incomplete digitization efforts.^[50]^[22] A brief revival of activity occurred around 2010, focused on reissues and soundtrack licensing; for instance, Common's 1994 album Resurrection was remastered and re-released as a deluxe edition by Relativity/Sony, including bonus tracks and memorabilia.^[51] Similar efforts included compilations for artists like Joe Satriani, whose Relativity material has been repurposed for film soundtracks and archival releases.^[52] In the 2020s, fan-driven and label-revived initiatives have bolstered availability, notably through the 2017 reactivation of Relativity's metal sublabel Combat Records under Megadeth bassist David Ellefson (via EMP Label Group), leading to vinyl reissues of select 1980s thrash titles and ongoing releases as of 2025.^[53] Documentaries on New York hardcore (NYHC), such as In Effect '91, have highlighted Relativity's In-Effect imprint, preserving its role in the scene through interviews and archival footage.^[3] Challenges included legal disputes over masters from Relativity-distributed labels like Ruthless Records, stemming from Eazy-E's estate battles (notably a 2017-2018 trademark lawsuit settled in 2018), which delayed comprehensive re-releases and full catalog access.^[12]^[54]^[55]

References

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https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=three+6+mafia#search_section
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Scruffy the Cat to release catalog digitally, issue new collection of ...
two albums and ...
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Why Major Labels Are Snapping Up Stakes In Indies At a Breakneck ...
Feb 12, 2025 · Sony subsequently acquired the rest of that company, which by then had morphed into Relativity Entertainment Distribution (RED), in 1994.
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Ruthless Records Celebrates 20 Years - The Hollywood Reporter
Aug 7, 2008 · Ending its distribution pact with Priority in 1992, Ruthless was later distributed by Relativity Records, which, in turn, was folded into parent ...
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Legacy Recordings: Home
Sony Music Entertainment's Legacy Recordings produces and curates the world's preeminent catalog of historic music reissues and new releases from recordingArtists · Releases · Latest News · PlaylistsMissing: Relativity post- 1999
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https://www.discogs.com/label/33100-Combat
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Combat Records - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives
Dec 26, 2023 · ... Relativity Records. The last titles released under the original incarnation of Combat were made in 1991, after which the imprint was shelved.Missing: history | Show results with:history
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In-Effect Discography | Discogs
**Summary of In-Effect (1984-1990):**
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Wu-Tang, Pete Rock & Others Reunite To Celebrate 25+ Years Of ...
Aug 12, 2019 · At its commercial zenith, the label acquired the Relativity Records' lineup, which led to pinnacle crossover success for M.O.P., The Beatnuts, ...
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Matt Henderson - Blind Approach / AF / Madball - PART IV
Feb 17, 2010 · Relativity Records: It's a known fact that you guys (AF) weren't happy with them later on, but at the moment, how was the relationship with ...
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Sony RED's distribution operation folded into The Orchard in ...
Jun 5, 2017 · The news of a worldwide merge follows last week's news that Sony's Red Essential was being folded into The Orchard in the UK market. The ...Missing: 1996 Relativity
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In Case You Missed It: Common's "Resurrection," Resurrected
Oct 18, 2010 · I'm talking about the newly expanded edition of Resurrection, the seminal breakout record by Common originally released in 1994.
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https://www.discogs.com/release/3775296-Joe-Satriani-The-Essential-Joe-Satriani
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Combat Records (@combatrecs) • Instagram photos and videos
1.5K+ followers · 161 following · 49 posts · @combatrecs: “The official IG of legendary Thrash label Combat Records. Under New Management since 2016.Missing: 2020s fan driven
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Battle over Ruthless Records under way - UPI Archives
Apr 14, 1995 · An intense legal battle is heating up between his family and a business associate over the ownership of Ruthless Records.Missing: masters Relativity