Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Ex-Employer Uptown Records Is Relaunching

Uptown Records, the legendary hip-hop and R&B record label, announced a relaunch on Tuesday, June 16, under the umbrella of REPUBLIC Collective and spearheaded by Danielle Price Sanders, according to Billboard. 

A division of Universal Music Group, REPUBLIC Collective is home to wildly successful artists such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, Drake, and The Weeknd.

As president of Uptown and executive vice president of REPUBLIC, Sanders is expected to make a worthy resurrection of one of the most influential music brands.

In a statement given to Billboard, Sanders said the revamp is “especially meaningful, given its entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to artist development.” Sanders previously worked at 10K Projects record label, in addition to her experience in entertainment law.

Uptown Records was launched forty years ago in 1986 by Andre O’Neal Harrell, and it was backed as a joint venture by Music Corporation of America.

Its compilation album, “Uptown is Kickin’ It,” jump-started the label’s success. Signees included Heavy D & The Boyz, Jodeci, Father M.C., Al B. Sure!, Marley Marl, and Guy. In 1989, Uptown discovered Mary J. Blige, who was their youngest and first female artist. Uptown is often credited for pioneering the subgenre of “new jack swing”.

Sean “P. Diddy” Combs got his start as an intern at Uptown in 1990. Harrell fired Combs after a conflict in 1993, which caused Combs to start his own label, Bad Boy Records. Combs took The Notorious B.I.G. with him, and Uptown lost several other major artists before Harrell left to join Motown Records in 1995. Uptown ultimately shut down in 1999.

In the early 1980s, Harrell was part of a hip-hop duo under the stage name “Dr. Jeckyll,” with Alonzo “Mr. Hyde” Brown. In the music scene of New York City, “Genius Rap” became one of their most impactful songs. Their only album, “Champagne of Rap,” shaped their sleek, suit-and-tie persona.

Harrell’s vision for Uptown centered around Black excellence. It also helped popularize “ghetto fabulous,” which is a blending of luxury fashion with street culture. Even down to its iconic logo of an anthropomorphic cat, the brand communicated empowerment.

Now four decades later, Uptown has signed several artists such as G Herbo, Yung Miami, and Trap Dickey. ATL Jacob, a renowned producer, will also be joining the team. Natina Nimene will serve as executive vice president of urban audience and artist relations at REPUBLIC.

The revival of Uptown Records hopes to honor the legacy of Harrell, who passed away from heart failure in May 2020 at the age of 59.

Fans everywhere eagerly await what fresh talent the label will discover this time around.