Status Active Genre Hip Hop Official website profile-records.com | Distributor(s) Legacy Recordings Country of origin United States Founded 1981 | |
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Parent company Sony Music Entertainment Founders Cory Robbins, Steve Plotnicki Artists Run‑DMC, DJ Quik, Jam Master Jay, Poor Righteous Teachers, Rob Base and DJ E‑Z Rock Albums Raising Hell, Quik Is the Name, Tougher Than Leather, Run–DMC, Safe + Sound | ||
Profile Records is a record label that specialized in urban-oriented music such as hip hop.
Contents
History
In 1980, Cory Robbins, who was 23 at the time and had working briefly for MCA, wanted to start a record label. He invited his songwriter friend Steve Plotnicki to be a partner. They each borrowed $17,000 from their parents and Profile Records was born. Their tiny office opened at 250 West 57th street in NYC on May 1, 1981. Contrary to the Urban myth that has existed for decades, Robbins and Plotnicki did not buy Profile Records from MCA Records, nor was it the child of any other label. The label started as and remained an independent company created by Robbins and Plotnicki.
With the success of “Genius Rap” by Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde, they escaped financial ruin by a mere $2,000. From there it was Gidea Park's “Seasons of Gold” that brought more commercial and financial success, becoming Profile Records’ first hit to make the Billboard Hot 100. In 1982 the fledgling label gained international recognition with the club hit I Specialize in Love, recorded by Sharon Brown (singer), licensed to Virgin Records in the U.K. The label continued its commercial success, with gold and platinum sales with artists such as Dana Dane, Twin Hype, Run DMC, Poor Righteous Teachers, Nemesis, and Paul Hardcastle to name a few.
In 1985, the label moved to a headquarters at 740 Broadway in New York. The label had numerous sub-labels such as Smile Communications (which later became independent and continued to be controlled by Plotnicki after Profile was acquired), Sea Bright Records, and Robert Hill's Zakia Records, the label that launched the career of King Sun and hip hop legends Eric B. & Rakim.
Profile's biggest act was Run-D.M.C., which was introduced to Robbins when manager Russell Simmons sent him a demo cassette of It's Like That. Robbins signed the group soon after.
The partners' less than amicable split severed not only all business ties but all personal ones too. Robbins, in 2008, said he had no regrets “except for an occasional loss, it was a good experience, a positive experience but I would not change a thing.”
Sony Music Entertainment manages some (but not all) of Profile's back catalog and master recordings.