The 19th most important hip-hop record label of all time is…

#19 Loud Records

Steve Rifkin may not be a household name like Suge Knight, Sean “Puffy” Combs or Baby aka The Birdman, but his impact on hip-hop is enduring just the same. In the 90’s, his Loud Records put out some of the grimiest hip-hop that had ever been heard. Additionally, his then new guerilla marketing techniques of bombing the streets with stickers, flyers and posters on any space that wasn’t already covered (now known as street marketing) completely changed the game for how record companies (and eventually most other companies…) made people aware of upcoming product. As impactful as street marketing was, the Loud musical legacy continues to influence hip-hop to this day. Key artists included Wu-Tang Clan, Big Pun, Mobb Deep, Dead Prez, Tha Alkaholiks and Xzibit. Here are of some of the labels key releases (all embeds because Sony, who now owns Loud’s catalog, restricts playlists…):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP0wsET8__Y

Previously: #20 Rakwus Records