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Relativity Records, often branded just Relativity, is an American record label founded by Barry Kobrin at the site of his company, Important Record Distribution (IRD) in metro New York. Early on, as an indie label, Relativity released music in a variety of styles, including dance, jazz, punk, and progressive rock. As it grew and became associated with Sony Music Entertainment, it became more known for its popular metal and hip-hop releases.

Company history[link]

Beginnings[link]

Although it was reportedly established in 1985, there is evidence that the brand actually began c. 1982 as an in-house IRD label.^[1]

In the 1980s, Relativity was mostly focused on rock music, including heavy metal. Releases in this genre were split among Relativity and its sister label Combat Records, which folded back into the main Relativity label in 1990. Artists signed during this period include Death, Exodus, Megadeth, Napalm Death, Impelliteri, Corrosion of Conformity, Circle Jerks, Murphy's Law, Jet Red, Joe Satriani, Shotgun Messiah, Scatterbrain, Scott Henderson, Sick of it All, Steve Vai, Stuart Hamm, Tigertailz, Dark Angel, Lucy's Fur Coat and Forbidden.

Hip Hop Power[link]

In 1990, new management took over the label and it began to sign more hip-hop acts. 50% of the company was also acquired by Sony Music Entertainment.

After making the decision to tap into the urban market, the company discovered and signed Chicago rapper, Common (then known as Common Sense) and quickly released his debut album in 1992. Later on in 1992, the company struck a deal with then-fledgling member of the Diggin' In The Crates (DITC) crew, Fat Joe, as well as Chi-Ali.

Toward the mid-1990s, Relativity added Three 6 Mafia, Hussein Fatal, M.O.P., The Beatnuts and even rapper Mac Mall from Vallejo, California to their growing hip hop roster. From this the company also became a distributing label to Eazy-E's Ruthless Records, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's Mo Thugs Family and many rock labels.

RED[link]

IRD became Relativity Entertainment Distribution at some point. This company was renamed RED Distribution when acquired by Sony in 2007.

References[link]

• Bessman, Jim (Aug. 15, 1992). "Relativity goes after higher profile". Billboard: 38. http://books.google.com/books?id=HhIEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA38&dq=Relativity%20Records%20Inc&pg=PA38#v=onepage&q&f=false. 

See also[link]

• List of record labels

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Shotgun Messiah were a glam metal band originally from Sweden; they crossed over to industrial rock music during the early 1990s.

Biography[link]

First Era, 1985-1991[link]

The band originally went under the name "Kingpin" while in Sweden, recording the album Welcome To Bop City; the line-up featured Zinny J. Zan (vocals), Tim Skold (going by "Tim Tim") (bass), Harry K. Cody (guitar) and Pekka "Stixx" Ollinen (drums). This would become the original line-up of Shotgun Messiah as the band changed their name and relocated to Hollywood, California. The album they released under the "Cools" name was re-recorded and released as Shotgun Messiah's self-titled debut album, Shotgun Messiah. The style of this album was glam metal typical of early 1980s American bands such as Mötley Crüe and Ratt.

Second Era, 1991-1993[link]

Frontman Zinny J. Zan departed the band in 1990 leaving Tim Skold to take over vocal duties; Shotgun Messiah drafted in American bassist, Bobby Lycon, to fill Skold's former position. In 1991, the band's follow up album Second Coming was released, spawning their most famous hit "Heartbreak Blvd". Stylistically, due to Skold's less conventional singing style, this era saw the band playing sleaze glam-styled hard rock, closer to Guns N' Roses and Faster Pussycat than their previous effort.

A punk rock influence is also notable during this period. The band released I Want More, an EP featuring cover versions of songs by the Ramones, The Stooges and the New York Dolls; they were also known to cover the Sex Pistols live.^{[citation needed]}

Third Era, 1993[link]

1993 was the final year for the band; Harry K. Cody and Tim Skold were left as the only members of Shotgun Messiah and created what would be the last Shotgun Messiah album Violent New Breed. This album is significantly different from the previous efforts as it focused heavily on industrial rock stylings, bringing in live players for the "Violent New Breed" tour. Soon after the tour, the band split permanently citing artistic differences as the reason.

Post-Messiah[link]

After Shotgun Messiah, Tim Skold's acitivies have been the most notable. Building on the industrial rock of the band's last album, Violent New Breed, he released a solo album entitled Skold; this was followed by joining bands such as KMFDM, MDFMK and The Newlydeads. From 2002 to 2008, Skold joined the band Marilyn Manson creating two albums; he also replaced Twiggy Ramirez as the tour bassist and later became the tour guitarist. His latest release is a collaboration with KMFDM entitled Skold vs. KMFDM.

Zinny J. Zan has released a solo album and two albums with his new band "Zan Clan".

Lineups[link]

Original[link]

• Zinny J. Zan - Vocals
• Harry K. Cody - Guitar and backing vocals
• Tim Skold - Bass and backing vocals
• Stixx - Drums

Second Coming[link]

• Tim Skold - Vocals
• Harry K. Cody - Guitar
• Bobby Lycon - Bass
• Stixx - Drums

Violent New Breed[link]

• Tim Skold - Vocals and programming
• Harry K. Cody - Guitar and programming
• Ulf "Cybersank" Sandquist - Programming
• Bill Bruce - Live rhythm guitar
• Pat Guyton -Mikee Live bass
• B. J. - Live drums

Discography[link]

Singles[link]

Notes[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Shotgun Messiah

• Interview with Lead Singer Tim Skold
• The Official Unofficial website for Tim Skold (former bassist/singer member)
• The Original Tim Skold: Sycophant Fansite Former Bassist Then Lead Singer For Kingpin/Shotgun Messiah

Bryan Calhoun is vicepresident of New Media and External Affairs at SoundExchange. At SoundExchange Calhoun plays a key role in the connections to performing artist and rights owners, management of new media form, and the advancement of the company's role in music business education and future.

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

Calhoun obtained a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Georgia in 1992. While still in school he was involved in managing acts like Cypress Hill, Tupac Shakur, Digable Planets, and many others before focusing on promotion and marketing.^{[citation needed]}

Calhoun added MSN Entertainment, G.O.O.D. Music, Disturbing Tha Peace, Monster Cable and others to his experience after finding Label Management Systems, LLC in 2003. He created the acclaimed innovative tool for musician and labels, Music Business Toolbox^[1] along with Label Management Systems Financial Management Software.

Career[link]

Recently, Calhoun has turned his focus on issues in new media and high-end management & consulting for acts like Dead Prez, Kanye West, Ludacris, Drake, Lil Wayne, Kid Cudi, and others including a place as lead-consultant for the number one urban music management firm Hip Hop Since 1978 (which houses Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne, Drake and Young Jeezy).

A a frequent speaker and panelist at industry events,^[2] Calhoun was a driving force behind the Performance Rights Act.^{[citation needed]} He plays a key role in innovation and advocacy in music business today and holds a position on the boards of various industry focused organizations and initiatives, e.g. APriceForMusic.com, Future of Music Coalition,^[3] and the University of Georgia Music Business Program.^[4]

Recently Bryan Calhoun was featured as the cover story for University of Georgia's Terry Website and Magazine (Fall 2009).^[5][6]

References[link]

1. ^ http://www.musicbusinesstoolbox.com Music Business Toolbox
2. ^ http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rap/events Harvard Law School RAP Project
3. ^ http://futureofmusic.org/boards
4. ^ http://www.terry.uga.edu/musicbusiness/ UGA Music Business
5. ^ http://www.terry.uga.edu/spotlight/alumni/bryan_calhoun.html Terry College Of Business Alumni Spotlight
6. ^ http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/terryuga/terry_2009fall/index.php?startid=22 Terry Magazine Fall 2009

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (June 2008)

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Jerry Heller (born October 6, 1940) is best known for managing West Coast rap group N.W.A. and rapper Eazy-E. He is co-founder and CEO of Ruthless Records. Heller managed War, Average White Band, Marvin Gaye, Michel'le, A.L.T. and Frost, as well as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Van Morrison, and Otis Redding.

Managing the rise of West Coast rap[link]

In the 1980s, Heller began managing acts on the nascent Los Angeles hip hop scene, many of whom recorded for Macola Records in Hollywood. He managed both C.I.A., which Ice Cube was a member of, and the World Class Wreckin' Cru, which included Dr. Dre and DJ Yella. On March 3, 1987, he met the Compton, California rapper Eazy-E and became general manager of Eazy's label, Ruthless Records.

Heller managed N.W.A.. Under the direction of Heller and Eazy, Ruthless Records had six platinum releases in three years: Supersonic (J. J. Fad), Eazy-Duz-It (Eazy-E), Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A), No One Can Do It Better (The D.O.C.), Michel'le's self-titled debut, and Efil4zaggin (N.W.A.).

Death Row Records and Jewish Defense League[link]

During Dr. Dre’s departure from Ruthless Records, Heller and Ruthless director of business affairs Mike Klein sought assistance from the Jewish Defense League.^[1] Said Klein: "The Defense League offered to provide bodyguards to Eazy-E when [Suge] Knight allegedly threatened him in the early 1990s." This provided Ruthless Records with muscle to enter into negotiations with Knight over Dr. Dre’s departure. The Federal Bureau of Investigation launched a money laundering investigation, assuming that the JDL was extorting money from Ruthless Records. JDL spokesperson Irv Rubin issued a press release stating "There was nothing but a close, tight relationship" between Eazy-E and the League".

Heller explained JDL’s involvement with Ruthless for even more reasons than the FBI investigated. Heller claimed Eazy-E received death threats and it was discovered that he was on a Nazi skinhead hit list. Heller speculated that it may have been because of N.W.A.'s song Fuck tha Police. Heller said "It was no secret that in the aftermath of the Suge Knight shake down incident where Eazy was forced to sign over Dr. Dre, Michel'le, and The D.O.C., that Ruthless was protected by Israeli trained/connected security forces."^[2] Heller maintains that Eazy E admired the JDL for their slogan "Never Again" and that he had plans to do a movie about the group.

After N.W.A.[link]

N.W.A. broke up in 1991, with Ice Cube and Dre departing and aiming vicious diss raps at Heller, Ruthless, and Eazy. Ruthless went on to release Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's platinum hits of the mid-1990s. Heller continued to work in rap, prompting the rise in Hispanic hip-hop at Hit-a-Lick Records. Rejected by Ice Cube and Dr. Dre (NWA) was going to do a reunion but Eazy was diagnosed with AIDS.

Heller's memoir, Ruthless, written with Gil Reavill, was published by Simon & Schuster/Simon Spotlight Entertainment in 2006.

Heller is married to former actress Gayle Steiner and lives in Calabasas, California.

Jerry Heller now manages Pittsburgh rock n' Roll band 28 North.

2011, Heller is active as a member of the board of directors for PATH, Inc.(Preserving, Archiving & Teaching Hip-Hop), a Miami-based non-profit hip hop education organization and academy founded by Seth "Brimstone 127" Schere and Natalie Lewis (2008) and chaired by music producer Sahpreem A. King

References[link]

The following two links are dead as of 4/22/10, any updates?

External links[link]

• Ruthless: A Memoir, Jerry Heller and Gil Reavill. ISBN 1-4169-1792-6.
• IMDb entry
• Ruthless A Memoir (Interviews, videos, and resources on Jerry Heller, updated frequently)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2009)

Deep Dish is a duo of DJs and house-music producers consisting of Iranian-American members Ali "Dubfire" Shirazinia and Sharam Tayebi. Based in Washington, D.C., Shirazinia and Tayebi are well known for providing house or dance remixes of tracks of famous stars such as Madonna, Cher and Gabrielle, and for their live DJing sets. They often collaborate with DC artist Richard Morel and produced a dance hit with his song "True (The Faggot is You)". Their remixing abilities first came to attention with their seminal 1995 remix of De'Lacy's "Hideaway," a club classic. Other collaborations include "The Future of the Future (Stay Gold)" with British group Everything but the Girl, which appeared on Deep Dish's artist album Junk Science, which was released in 1998.

History[link]

This section requires expansion with: Critical reception, musical stylings.

In August 2009, Sharam was featured on the Essential Mix and his mix was subsequently voted the best of 2009.^[2]

Discography[link]

Remixes[link]

Chart positions[link]

Awards[link]

Won[link]

• International Dance Music Award 2005 for Best House/Garage Track "Say Hello", Best Progressive/Trance Track "Say Hello" and Ortofon Best American DJ Award
• International Dance Music Awards 2005 for Best Underground Dance Track for "Flashdance"
• DanceStar USA Award 2004 for Best Compilation (US Releases) for Deep Dish - GU 025: Toronto and Best DJ
• Ibiza DJ Award 2004 for Best Set of the Season
• DanceStar USA Award 2002 Best Compilation for Deep Dish - GU 021: Moscow
• Grammy Award 2002 "Best Remixed Recording" for Dido's "Thank You"
• "Hot Duo", Rolling Stone, August 2001
• Muzik Magazine SAS Award 1998 "Best International DJ"

Nominations[link]

• WMC Best American DJ, 2008
• DJ Awards for Best Tech-House / Progressive DJ, 2006
• Grammy Award 2005 "Best Dance Recording" for Deep Dish's "Say Hello"
• DanceStar USA Award 2004 for Best Remix (Worldwide DJ's) for P. Diddy's "Let's Get Ill" (Deep Dish Remix) (Bad Boy)
• DJ Awards for Best House DJ, 2003
• DanceStar USA Award 2003 Party 93.1 FM Award for Best Remix for Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You" (Deep Dish remix) (Jive)
• Grammy Award 2001 "Remixer of The Year" (NonClassical)

Other rankings[link]

• Number 1 in the "Best Progressive DJ" category of BPM magazine's 2006 "America's Favorite DJ's" poll
• Number 2 in the "Best Dance/DJ Artist" category by the critics of Rolling Stone for their music awards of 2001
• Number 10 in DJ Magazine's World's Top 100 DJ's reader's poll for 2006, number 8 for 2005, number 10 for 2004, number 9 for 2003, number 16 in 2002, and number 10 in 2001
• Number 5 out of 50 of America's Favorite DJ's in BPM in 2005, number 12 in 2004 and number 9 in 2003 and 2002

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Profile in Allmusic
• Deep Dish discography at Discogs
• Deep Dish on Myspace
• Deep Dish tracklisting archive