Founder Tim and Steven Trudeau Official website www.syntaxrecords.com | Location San Diego, CA, US Founded 1997 | |
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Distributor(s) Koch Entertainment, Syntax Creative Albums Pigeon John Is Clueless, Is This Thing On?, Language Arts, The Divine Use of Animosity, Unleashed Profiles | ||
Syntax Records is an American record label most active in the late 1990s and throughout the 2000s, featuring artists of a variety of genres, but focusing primarily on alternative hip hop music. The label was founded by brothers Tim and Steven Trudeau, members of the group Sackcloth Fashion, and is based in San Diego, CA.
Artists on the Syntax roster have included gold-selling artists Ahmad and Tonéx, as well as Braille, LA Symphony, Propaganda, RedCloud, Man of War, Adeem, and Pigeon John. In 2008 Syntax was named a "Pioneer Classic Record Label" by the AEOM Awards, an organization recognizing conscious and gospel hip hop culture. Projects released by Syntax were originally distributed worldwide by Diamante Music Group, and later by Koch Entertainment, allowing for wider distribution in both mainstream and Christian outlets.
Syntax currently is not actively signing artists or releasing music, but its creators have gone one to found Syntax Creative, a company that services record labels and artists with distribution, marketing, and branding. Music is still being released under the Syntax moniker through associated labels such as War Records.
Compilation & collaborative albums
In addition to the projects of its artists, the label also released several compilations and collections of original music:
Fashion Expo - Round One: Tru Hip-Hop, 2000.
Night Owls One: Nocturnal Doctrine, 2001
The Wages of Syntax, 2002
Night Owls Two: Sleep Therapy, 2003
Night Owls Three: Chiropractor's Goldmine, 2007
Night Owls Four: A Shot in the Dark, 2008
The Wages of Syntax vol. 2, 2008
Night Owls Five: Bird Flu, 2010
Is Justified, 2011
Merry Christmas (from Syntax Records), 2013
Night Owls Four reached #4 on the national CMJ hip-hop music charts, while songs from Night Owls One and Fashion Expo - Round One were featured in the 2008 feature film Definitely, Maybe.