life is too short to listen to old music
Mello Music Group
ello Music Group is an internationally renowned record label based in the Sonoran desert of Tucson, Arizona that specializes in Hip-hop, Funk, Jazz, and Soul. Founded in 2007, they have released over 200 projects, moving steadfastly from fledgling indie label to established paragon. Mello artists perennially raise the bar for contemporary hip-hop, honoring tradition while broadening the world’s conception of the ever-expanding art-form.
MMG’s success stems in part from the breadth of its roster. The label’s range of talent is unparalleled, running from flagship artists Apollo Brown, Oddisee, Quelle Chris, Open Mike Eagle and L’Orange to mainstay classics like Pete Rock, Joell Ortiz, and Ghostface Killah. Whether it’s boom-bap, avant-garde art rap, psych rock-infused sojourns, jazz-leaning instrumentals, or soul filled production, MMG bridges every sonic, geographic, and generational gap.
Fans of MMG artists include some of the world’s most well-known creatives and brands. Chance The Rapper was so inspired by Apollo Brown that he used multiple beats from Apollo’s catalog on his “10 Day” debut. Lizzo was so moved by Quelle Chris & Chris Key’s song “Sudden Death” that she worked with the pair to re-create the song on her newest album under the title “Coldplay.” Apple head Tim Cook walked out for their annual convention with Oddisee as his soundtrack. From Gatorade to 7-Eleven, Coach to Supreme, synch licensors have been lining up for an authentic soundtrack to back their products. Forbes called Mello “The Most Successful Indie HipHop Label of the Decade.” Even the Library of Congress has included multiple Mello titles in their permanent collection for posterity. Still, the label continually looks ahead, reimagining the role and scope of modern indie labels.
Mello Music Group provides music for the soul, from the heart of American culture, opening the realm of the intelligent Hiphop experience through melodic evocations, beats that corroborate the truth, and voices that roar above the rising void and impose order on the terrible & triumphant moments of everyday life. This is the compelling sound of Mello Music Group.
