COALMINE RECORDS
About Us
Originally established in the heart of Brooklyn in 2005, Coalmine Records has been dedicated to delivering that classic hip-hop sound for nearly 20 years. Under the direction of label founder Matt Diamond, Coalmine has become a go-to source for fans of Golden Era and True School Rap, offering grimy, soulful soundtracks that resonate on any given day. What began with collaborations from Saigon, Inspectah Deck, and Bekay on the breakout 12” single “The Raw” quickly evolved into a respected force in the underground scene. As the label grew, Coalmine expanded from vinyl singles into full-length albums, including Bekay’s acclaimed Hunger Pains LP, as well as collaborative emcee/producer projects from Blu & Nottz, Sean Price & M-Phazes, Planet Asia & DJ Concept, Ozay Moore & Tall Black Guy, as well as Small Professor’s notable series of albums co-starring Guilty Simpson, the late Sean Price, and Vic Spencer. Coalmine's catalog also includes the highly sought-after compilation Unearthed, which the Village Voice dubbed the label’s “vital Soundbombing moment.” In 2023, Diamond expanded the label’s scope to include Coalmine Reissues, overseeing a series of coveted vinyl reissues, ranging from Wu-affiliated gems like Heist of the Century by LA The Darkman and Killarmy’s Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars to Q-Boro classics like The Natural by Mic Geronimo, Ghetto Millionaire by Royal Flush, Episodes of a Hustla by Big Noyd, and Special Edition by Infamous Mobb. Coalmine Reissues also features West Coast favorites such as Below the Heavens by Blu & Exile, Boy Meets World by Fashawn, and How The West Was One by Cali Agents, along with celebrated reissues from The Juggaknots, CunninLynguists, Heltah Skeltah, Elzhi, Deca, and Ol’ Burger Beats—with many more to come. If you’re craving authentic, thought-provoking hip-hop from passionate artists, dive into Coalmine’s ever-growing catalog of releases.
“Beyond regional pigeonholing, the heart of Coalmine has been about attracting artists with a shared belief that hip-hop beats should have a rugged funk appeal, and that a rapper’s lyrics are always delivered with a razor-sharp precision.”