COALMINE RECORDS
About Us
Since 2005, Coalmine Records has sought to provide the world with that classic hip-hop sound from its humble headquarters in the heart of Brooklyn. Under the direction of label’s founder, Matt Diamond, Coalmine provides fans of Golden Era and True School Rap with often-grimy and soulful soundtracks to bump on any given day. It all started with some rhymes from Saigon, Inspectah Deck, and Bekay, who joined Diamond’s fledgling label on the aptly titled banger, “The Raw.” From there, Coalmine continued moving vinyl singles before branching into longer projects, like Bekay’s acclaimed 2009 release, Hunger Pains, and the well received producer compilation, Phazed Out, from the Grammy Award Winning, M-Phazes. Those efforts, in addition to a bevy of digital singles featuring the likes of Royce Da 5’9”, Pharoahe Monch, Kool G Rap, Large Professor, Rah Digga, Skyzoo, Apathy and more, helped catapult the label’s status, leading to a series of notable collaborative releases from the likes of Blu & Nottz, Sean Price & M-Phazes, Planet Asia & DJ Concept, Guilty Simpson & Small Professor, Saga & Thelonious Martin, as well as the ‘19 posthumously released 86 Witness from the late Sean Price & Small Professor, among others. Coalmine is also responsible for the release of their coveted compilation album, Unearthed, which has been coined by the Village Voice as the label’s “vital Soundbombing moment.” If you’re craving honest, inspired hip-hop from artists who are passionate about their craft, be sure to dig into our ever-expanding catalog.
“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.”