Obese Records - History

History

Obese Records started in 1995 as a small record store, called OB's by Ollie Bobbitt, in Prahran specialising in hip hop music. The store changed its name to 'Obese Records' after Bobbitt sold the business to Shazlek One. In mid-2002 the store was bought by Tirren Staaf (a.k.a. Pegz) who transformed into a record label.

Starting the label is where I saw the future, there wasn't anyone specialised doing just Aussie hip-hop. There were a few labels like Nuff Said but nobody was putting good marketing money into it. I saw the opening and went for it. It was about giving the people around me the opportunity they deserved. —Tirren Staaf

Pegz, a Melbourne-based artist, used the label to create a distribution network. Pegz also purchased the Zenith Records vinyl pressing plant, one of only two companies that still press vinyl records in Australia. The pressing plant was subsequnetly sold in November 2007 The first artist released on the label was MC Reason's EP, Solid in 2000, produced by Jolz with appearances from Brad Strut, Bias B and Pac D.

A few labels were doing things with hip-hop, but people really weren’t investing the capital into it. Obese was born out of necessity – there was nobody touching Aussie hip-hop. Maybe the majors didn’t know how to market it, or the independent labels didn’t have any faith? —Tirren Staaf

Other early releases included compilation albums, Culture of Kings (which included songs by Koolism, Hilltop Hoods, Hunter, Terra Firma, Lyrical Commission and Downsyde) and Obesecity, which Pegz describes as 'key networking tools' for the growing Australian hip hop scene, as well as formative releases from Bliss n Eso, Bias B, DJ Bonez, Downsyde, Brad Strut and Layla.

The two-disc Culture of Kings Volume Two included tracks by Hilltop Hoods, Delta, Layla, TZU, Hospice, Clandestien, Brothers Stoney, Bliss N Eso and Funkoars. It was the first Australian hip hop album to score the coveted Triple J feature album spot.

In 2003, Obese released the Hilltop Hoods album The Calling, which became the first Australian hip hop album to go gold. Mark Pollard, founder of Stealth Magazine, commented during an interview with Tony Mitchell in 2004 that,

Hilltop Hoods’ success can be seen as being set up by Obese, in a way. The Hoods have been doing the same thing for ten years, in an evolving way, but Obese were really critical in setting up the crews around the country who helped do the shows, getting the respect for Obese to be aspirational, and getting the Hoods to fit into that puzzle.

In 2006 the Hilltops Hoods were nominated and won awards for 'Best Performing Independent Album' (The Hard Road) and 'Best Independent Artist' at that year's Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) Chart Awards.

Two artists associated with the label were nominated for four AIR Chart Awards in 2007 (three for Hilltop Hoods and one for Muph & Plutonic).

At the 2007 ARIA Awards, the Hilltop Hoods won 'Best Urban Release' for their album The Hard Road: Restrung. The Hilltop Hoods DVD, The City of Light, released by Obese Records in 2007, has also been classified gold.

In 2008 two artists on the Obese label, Muph & Plutonic and Spit Syndicate, received nominations for 'Best Urban Album' at the ARIA Awards.

Following Hilltops Hoods departure to start their own label Obese Records focus is now on the next generation of local artists.

It's an exciting time for us. Guys like Skyptcha, Spit Syndicate, Illy and Dialectrix have a tonne of potential. Half the guys on our label are about 23. I just love being surrounded by these guys. They've got so much enthusiasm and energy. They're trying totally different things. I'm enjoying what they're bringing to the table. —Tirren Staaf

In 2010 M-Phazes' album, Good Gracious, was nominated for 'Best Urban Album' at the ARIA Awards.