Tardy to the party, but one of my once-favorite record labels, Definitive Jux, is shutting its doors. From artist/label-head El-P:

In 2000 starting a traditional record label made a lot of sense. But now, in 2010, less so and I find myself yearning for something else to put my energy into. I also see newer, smarter, more interesting things on the horizon for the way art and commerce intersect, and as an artist and an entrepreneur, I’m eager to see them unfold. The evolution of this industry is, in my opinion, exciting, inevitable and it would be nice to see the DEFINITIVE JUX brand be a part of it. In other words, maybe we can turn this hoopty in to a hovercraft.
[...]
I think I speak for all of us Jukies when I say I love making music for you and can’t wait to make more.

Until then, on behalf of everyone here at JUX and from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Although El-P’s I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead is the only Jux LP I’ve heard in years, this is sad news, in a nostalgic/”I’m getting old” kind of way. Aesop Rock, RJD2, El-P, Cannibal Ox, and Mr. Lif were major parts of my high school and college soundtrack, and there was a period of several years where anything with the Jux name was gold–even minor artists like Murs, Camu Tao, and Cage were putting out solid work.

HT: Neil Drumming, guest-blogging for TNC.

More potentially-related posts:

1. “The King stay the King.”
2. Thievery Tuesday.
3. “I didn’t have many job options.”*