Established by Jeff Antebi in 1997 as a record label for innovative artists in music, the Company broadened to include Artist Management and Music Publishing in 2000.
A decade into its history, Antebi reflects that "especially with the way the music world is today, chaotic and in a bit of a freefall - Waxploitation has been steadily moving upwards over time...a good example of a patient, long tail approach to things. Focus on quality artists. Attempt to do things against the grain. Stay true to important music."
In its early years, Waxploitation broke with the decades-old tradition of managing 'producer/engineers' and began to manage artists as record producers - a not-so-subtle distinction at the time. "When I first started managing producers, the conventional wisdom was that artists should not produce their own albums, let alone other people's albums" says Antebi. "To me, production was always about art, and I felt there was a need to champion great artists who could become great producers."
Waxploitation handled the burgeoning producing careers of artists including Ministry's Al Jourgensen, Butthole Surfers founder (and Sublime producer) Paul Leary, Nine Inch Nails co-founder Chris Vrenna, and Digable Planets' King Britt, to name a few - a roster which ended up working with an array of artists including U2, R.E.M., Beck, Elliot Smith, Depeche Mode, Erykah Badu, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Smashing Pumpkins, Nelly Furtado, and Weezer, among many others.
While managing the career the acclaimed urban producer E-Swift, Waxploitation ended up managing his group Tha Alkaholiks. Waxploitation released Tha Liks' swan song Firewater album, before the band retired as one of hip hop's legendary acts. From there, the Company segued from primarily producer management to primarily artist management.
Waxploitation has always held a standard of working with artists early in their careers. An example would be Antebi's relationship with six-time nominated, two-time Grammy Award winning producer and artist Danger Mouse, which began long before the release of the infamous Grey Album. "I was listening to a CD of his," recalls Antebi, "and maybe 16 bars into it, I instantly knew that Danger Mouse was someone who was going to change everything... just one of those gut reactions that's impossible to explain... but a very inspirational moment."
Waxploitation has been the longtime artist management company for Danger Mouse, as well as managing Cee-Lo Green and Danger Mouse's multi-platinum, two-time Grammy Award winning Gnarls Barkley persona, whose debut album has sold over 3 million albums worldwide.
"Waxploitation is very special. If an artist envisions something, they're able to make it real. That takes imagination. And willpower...the word Jeff uses most often is 'no,'" says Cee-Lo.
Antebi manages Danger Mouse's producing career, which has included the Grammy Award-winning Gorillaz Demon Days album, as well as critically acclaimed releases from Sparklehorse, The Rapture and Martina Topley-Bird, to name a few.
"Jeff has always had a really intuitive sense of subtleties that other people miss," says Danger Mouse. "He's a rare individual who spends as much time on the smallest things as he does on the bigger vision. There's an unceasing passion for the details."
Waxploitation handles publishing catalogs with classics including 'Bust a Move', 'Wild Thing' and 'Funky Cold Medina,' as well as Beastie Boys' seminal album Paul's Boutique and songs by the Pharcyde and Brand New Heavies, among many others.
In addition to Tha Alkaholiks, Waxploitation Records has released notable albums throughout the years, beginning with Strictly Ballroom's Hide Here Forever (1997), the first band for Postal Service's Jimmy Tamborello. Later releases include the Being Black soundtrack (2003) with songs from Will.i.am, Jurassic 5 and Blackalicious, KutMasta Kurt's RNO (2004) featuring the Beastie Boys, Linkin Park and Mos Def, as well as two critically hailed albums by Tweaker (2001's Attraction to All Things Uncertain and 2004's 2am Wake Up Call), the band formed by Nine Inch Nails alumnus Chris Vrenna. These two albums featured guest appearances from Will Oldham, David Sylvian, The Smith's Johnny Marr, The Cure's Robert Smith, and Elysian Fields' Jennifer Charles.
Causes & Activism
Waxploitation Records released an album in 2003 entitled Genocide in Sudan which was the start of what has been a core attribute of the Company's dedication to activism.
Waxploitation holds several charity auctions each year to benefit non-profits including Oxfam, Save Darfur, the UN Refugee Agency and Human Rights Watch. "Waxploitation has been a great supporter of Human Rights Watch in our efforts to end ethnic cleansing in Darfur," says Human Rights Watch's Elizabeth Seuling. "Jeff manages to find creative ways to introduce people to the work we do."
In mid-October, Waxploitation will launch a new charity auction through eBay's non-profit MissionFish partner. Waxploitation is making available a number of prized signed guitars from Avril Lavigne, Common, Flaming Lips, Nickelback, and Deftones, as well as rare items from Coldplay, Bjork, TV on the Radio to name a few.
In mid-November, Waxploitation is releasing an ambitious charity album called Causes 1 which includes exclusive and rare songs from The Black Keys, Bloc Party, Bright Eyes, Cornelius, Death Cab for Cutie, (International) Noise Conspiracy, Spoon, Thievery Corporation and Travis, among many others, with 100% of the proceeds going to Human Rights Watch and Doctors Without Borders.
