{{Short description|American independent record label}} {{Infobox record label | name = Stones Throw Records | image = Stones Throw logo.svg | founded = {{start date|1996}} | founder = [[Peanut Butter Wolf|Chris Manak]] | parent = | distributor = [[Caroline Distribution|Caroline/Virgin Music]] (former)<br>[[Redeye Distribution]] (current) | genre = {{hlist|[[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]|[[electronic music|electronic]]|[[funk]]|[[soul music|soul]]|[[indie pop]]|[[Rock music|rock]]|[[jazz]]}} | country = United States | location = Los Angeles, California | website = {{URL|StonesThrow.com}} }}

'''Stones Throw Records''' is an American [[independent record label]] based in Los Angeles, California. Under the direction of founder [[Peanut Butter Wolf]], Stones Throw has released music ranging from hip hop to experimental psychedelic rock. ''[[LA Weekly]]'' deemed the label an "eternally evolving experiment" in celebration of its 20th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/stones-throws-20-greatest-releases-in-honor-of-their-20th-anniversary-7538098|title=Stones Throw's 20 Greatest Releases, in Honor of Their 20th Anniversary|date=26 October 2016|website=www.laweekly.com|publisher=LA Weekly|last1=Weiss|first1=Jeff|access-date=10 January 2017}}</ref>

==History== ===1990s=== Chris Manak, known professionally as [[Peanut Butter Wolf]], founded Stones Throw in 1996 as a means of releasing music he had recorded previously with the subsequently deceased rapper Charles Edward Hicks Jr., known professionally as [[Charizma]].<ref name="la times interview">{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/12/peanut-butter-wolf-talks-15-th-anniversary-of-stones-throw-records.html|title=Peanut Butter Wolf talks 15th anniversary of Stones Throw Records|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|author=Nate Jackson|date=December 22, 2011|access-date=2 Feb 2013|archive-date=28 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028012602/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/12/peanut-butter-wolf-talks-15-th-anniversary-of-stones-throw-records.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Hicks and Manak met in 1989 at 16 and 19, respectively, and began collaborating as Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.imposemagazine.com/features/charizma-peanut-butter-wolf|title=The Story of Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf|last=Gillespe|first=Blake|date=19 June 2014|website=www.imposemagazine.com|publisher=Impose Magazine|access-date=15 January 2017|archive-date=31 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131184408/http://www.imposemagazine.com/features/charizma-peanut-butter-wolf|url-status=live}}</ref> The duo released one promo cassette of "Red Light Green Light" through Hollywood Basic—the now-defunct hip-hop subsidiary of [[Hollywood Records]]—before leaving the label.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stonesthrow.com/charizma|title=Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf {{!}} Stones Throw Records|website=www.stonesthrow.com|access-date=2017-01-18|archive-date=2017-04-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410211857/http://www.stonesthrow.com/charizma|url-status=live}}</ref> Their collaboration was cut short in 1993, when Hicks was fatally shot in a carjacking at the age of 20.<ref name=":0" /> Stones Throw's first release, "My World Premiere" by Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf, arrived three years later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stonesthrow.com/company/history|title=Our History {{!}} Stones Throw Records|website=www.stonesthrow.com|date=25 January 2009 |access-date=2017-01-18|archive-date=2017-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129034602/http://www.stonesthrow.com/company/history|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2004–2014=== The label has released hip hop records including ''[[Madvillainy]]'', the acclaimed<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/madvillainy/madvillain|title=Reviews for Madvillainy by Madvillain|website=Metacritic|access-date=8 October 2014|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112152920/http://www.metacritic.com/music/madvillainy/madvillain|url-status=live}}</ref> debut from [[Madvillain]] (a collaboration between producer [[Madlib]] and rapper [[MF Doom]]) in 2004, and [[J Dilla]]'s ''[[Donuts (album)|Donuts]]'' in 2006. Other notable hip-hop artists on Stones Throw's roster include Madlib, [[Jaylib]] and [[Quasimoto]]. In addition to hip-hop, artists on Stones Throw's roster work in genres including funk and soul, electronic, indie pop, psychedelic rock, jazz, and more. Stones Throw releases the majority of their artists' albums on vinyl in addition to digital formats.

Stones Throw released singer-songwriter [[Aloe Blacc]]'s debut album, ''[[Shine Through]]'', in 2006. ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' wrote that Shine Through signaled "some sort of greatness."<ref name="Pitchfork Shine Through Review">{{cite web |last1=Fennessey |first1=Sean |title=Shine Through Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9713-shine-through/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=18 January 2024 |archive-date=30 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030082846/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9713-shine-through/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Blacc's second album [[Good Things (Aloe Blacc album)|''Good Things'']] came out on Stones Throw in 2010. ''Good Things'' was certified gold in the UK, France, Germany and Australia, among other countries, and ultimately went double platinum. The single "[[I Need a Dollar|I Need A Dollar]]", which was used as the theme song to the HBO series [[How to Make It in America|''How To Make It in America'']],<ref name=EW>{{cite web|last=Vozick-Levinson|first=Simon|title=Aloe Blacc's 'I Need a Dollar' (the awesome 'How to Make It in America' theme song) gets a music video|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/04/05/aloe-blacc-need-dollar-video/|work=April 5, 2010|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=October 26, 2013|archive-date=October 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201301/http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/04/05/aloe-blacc-need-dollar-video/|url-status=live}}</ref> reached 1 million in sales in 2013; two additional singles, "Loving You Is Killing Me" and "Green Lights" became European hits as well.<ref>{{cite web|title=Archival Charts (Soundscan)|url=http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/nielsen-solutions/audience-measurement.html|work=2013|publisher=Neilson Soundscan (by subscription only)|access-date=October 26, 2013}}</ref>

Also in 2013, Stones Throw released [[7 Days of Funk (album)|''7 Days of Funk'']], the eponymous debut studio album by California-based funk duo [[7 Days of Funk (group)|7 Days of Funk]], consisting of rapper [[Snoop Dogg]] —performing under his funk persona Snoopzilla — and modern-funk musician [[Dam-Funk|Dâm-Funk]]. The album was Snoop's first project with a single producer since his landmark 1993 debut album, ''[[Doggystyle]]''.

R&B singer [[Mayer Hawthorne]] debuted on Stones Throw in 2008 with the single "Just Ain't Gonna Work Out" / "When I Said Goodbye", which was released on a red heart-shaped [[7" record]].<ref name="Introducing Mayer Hawthorne">{{cite web |title=Introducing: Mayer Hawthorne and The County |url=https://www.stonesthrow.com/news/introducing-mayer-hawthorne-and-the-county/ |website=Stones Throw |date=4 November 2008 |access-date=18 January 2024 |archive-date=18 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118222258/https://www.stonesthrow.com/news/introducing-mayer-hawthorne-and-the-county/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Hawthorne's debut album ''[[A Strange Arrangement]]'' was released on Stones Throw Records in 2009. Hawthorne is also one half of the funk duo Tuxedo, with producer [[Jake One]]; their debut self-titled album was released on Stones Throw in 2015 and ''Tuxedo II'' in 2017.

In 2014, the documentary ''Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton: This is Stones Throw Records'' was released. The feature-length film, directed by Jeff Broadway, depicts the label's evolution from the initial collaboration between Hicks and Manak to Stones Throw's influence on mainstream hip hop. Artists such as [[Kanye West]], [[Tyler, the Creator|Tyler, The Creator]], and [[Questlove]] appear in the documentary and offer testimonials.

===2015–present=== [[Mild High Club]], the psychedelic pop project helmed by musician Alex Brettin, released their debut album [[Timeline (Mild High Club album)|''Timeline'']] in 2015. In 2016, Mild High Club released their second album, ''[[Skiptracing (album)|Skiptracing]]'', on Stones Throw, which included the RIAA-certified gold single, "Homage".

Hip-hop producer [[Knxwledge]]'s Stones Throw debut was ''Hud Dreems'', released in 2015. Knxwledge also produced the track "Momma" on [[Kendrick Lamar]]'s album ''[[To Pimp a Butterfly]]'' released the same year. In 2016, Stones Throw announced the signing of [[NxWorries]], the duo consisting of singer [[Anderson .Paak]] and Knxwledge, with the viral single "[[Suede (song)|Suede]]". NxWorries' debut album [[Yes Lawd!]] was released in the same year. In 2022, NxWorries released the first single "Where I Go" featuring [[H.E.R.|H.E.R]] from their upcoming second album, and in 2023 they released the second single "Daydreaming". In 2019, Stones Throw released "Someone to Spend Time With", the debut viral single from Oxnard-based band [[Los Retros]]. The band followed their release with the ''Retrospect'' EP the same year, the ''Everlasting'' EP in 2020, and the ''Looking Back'' EP in 2021.

Stones Throw signed singer, songwriter, and violinist [[Sudan Archives]] in 2016 and released her debut album, ''[[Athena (album)|Athena]]'', in 2019. In 2022, she released her follow-up album ''[[Natural Brown Prom Queen]]'', which received "universal acclaim" according to ''Metacritic'',<ref name="Natural Brown Prom Queen Metacritic">{{cite web |title=Natural Brown Prom Queen |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/natural-brown-prom-queen/sudan-archives |website=Metacritic |access-date=18 January 2024}}</ref> and performed at festivals including Glastonbury, Coachella, Fujirock and Bonnaroo. At the [[2023 Libera Awards]], organized by the [[American Association of Independent Music|American Association of Independent Music (A2IM)]], Sudan Archives received awards for Best R&B Record and Best Breakthrough Artist/Release.

In 2018 Stones Throw opened Gold Line, a cocktail bar featuring a collection of 7,500 vinyl records and hosting all-vinyl DJ sets.<ref name="LA Mag Goldline">{{cite web |last1=Martin |first1=Brittany |title=Gold Line In Highland Park is an L.A. Take on Japanese Vinyl Bars |url=https://lamag.com/music/vinyl-bars-gold-line |website=LA Mag |date=7 September 2018 |publisher=Los Angeles Magazine |access-date=18 January 2024 |archive-date=18 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118214859/https://lamag.com/music/vinyl-bars-gold-line |url-status=live }}</ref> Gold Line is located beneath Stones Throw headquarters in the [[Highland Park, Los Angeles|Highland Park]] neighborhood of Los Angeles.

==Artists== {{Columns-list|colwidth=20em| * [[7 Days of Funk (group)|7 Days of Funk]] * [[Aloe Blacc]] * Angela Muñoz * [[Anika (musician)|Anika]] * Apifera<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/Apifera|title = Apifera &#124; Stones Throw Records}}</ref> * [[Arabian Prince]] * [[Automatic (American band)|Automatic]] * Bardo * [[Baron Zen]] * [[Benny Sings]] * [[Blarf]] * [[Boardwalk (band)|Boardwalk]] * [[Breakestra]] * [[Eddie Chacon]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kellman |first=Andy |title=Eddie Chacon - ''Sundown'' |work=[[AllMusic]] |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sundown-mw0003911856 |access-date=April 3, 2023 |archive-date=December 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215155613/https://www.allmusic.com/album/sundown-mw0003911856 |url-status=live }}</ref> * Chrome Canyon<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/chromecanyon|title=Chrome Canyon &#124; Stones Throw Records|access-date=2022-03-16|archive-date=2022-03-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316200304/https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/chromecanyon|url-status=live}}</ref> * [[Michael Cohen (Israeli musician)|CohenBeats]] * [[Dam-Funk]] * [[DJ Harrison]] * [[Dudley Perkins (rapper)|Dudley Perkins]] * Frankie Reyes<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/frankiereyes|title=Frankie Reyes &#124; Stones Throw Records|access-date=2022-03-16|archive-date=2022-02-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205004614/https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/frankiereyes/|url-status=live}}</ref> * [[Franklin Thompson]] * Gabriel da Rosa * [[Gabriel Garzón-Montano]] * [[Gary Wilson (musician)|Gary Wilson]] * [[Georgia Anne Muldrow]] * Gifted & Blessed * [[Guilty Simpson]] * [[Homeboy Sandman]] * [[J Dilla]] * [[J Rocc]] * Jamael Dean<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stonesthrow.com/jamaeldean|title = Jamael Dean &#124; Stones Throw Records}}</ref> * [[James Pants]] * [[Jaylib]] * [[Jerry Paper]] * [[John Carroll Kirby]] * [[Jonti]] * [[Jonwayne]] * [[Karriem Riggins]] * Josh da Costa * [[Kiefer (musician)|Kiefer]] * King Pari * [[Knxwledge]] * [[Koushik]] * [[Kyle Mooney|Kyle M]] * [[Lootpack]] * [[Los Retros]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/losretros|title = Los Retros &#124; Stones Throw Records}}</ref> * [[Madlib]] * [[Madvillain]] * [[Mayer Hawthorne]] * [[Maylee Todd]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/mayleetodd|title=Maylee Todd &#124; Stones Throw Records|access-date=2022-03-16|archive-date=2022-02-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205154906/https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/mayleetodd/|url-status=live}}</ref> * [[M.E.D. (rapper)|M.E.D.]] * [[MF Doom]] * Michi * [[Mild High Club]] * [[Mndsgn]] * Natural Numbers * [[NxWorries]]<ref>{{cite web|title=NxWorries {{!}} Stones Throw Records|url=http://www.stonesthrow.com/nxworries|website=www.stonesthrow.com|access-date=Jan 22, 2016|archive-date=January 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128055139/http://www.stonesthrow.com/nxworries|url-status=live}}</ref> * [[Oh No (musician)|Oh No]] * [[Peanut Butter Wolf]] * [[Pearl & The Oysters]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2022/11/02/pearl-and-the-oysters-sign-with-stones-throw-share-new-song-pacific-ave|title = Pearl & The Oysters announce Stones Throw signing with new song "Pacific Ave"}}</ref> * [[Percee P]] * [[Peyton (singer-songwriter)|Peyton]] * [[Prophet (singer-songwriter)|Prophet]] * [[Pyramid Vritra]] * [[Quakers (band)|Quakers]] * [[Quasimoto]] * [[Rasco]] * Rejoicer <ref name="Rejoicer Stones Throw">{{cite web |title=Rejoicer |url=https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/rejoicer/ |website=Stones Throw Records |access-date=18 January 2024 |archive-date=18 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118225055/https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/rejoicer/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * [[Samiyam]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Samiyam{{!}} Stones Throw Records|url=http://www.stonesthrow.com/samiyam|website=www.stonesthrow.com|access-date=Dec 9, 2017|archive-date=December 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210015751/http://www.stonesthrow.com/samiyam|url-status=live}}</ref> * [[Savath & Savalas]] * [[Scuba Slim]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stonesthrow.com/store/sara/|title=Sara &#124; Stones Throw Records|access-date=2020-09-28|archive-date=2020-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925163058/https://www.stonesthrow.com/store/sara/|url-status=live}}</ref> * Silas Short<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/silasshort|title=Silas Short &#124; Stones Throw Records|access-date=2022-03-16|archive-date=2022-02-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205220307/https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/silasshort/|url-status=live}}</ref> * [[Sofie Royer]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/sofie|title=Sofie &#124; Stones Throw Records|access-date=2022-03-16|archive-date=2022-03-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316200237/https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/sofie|url-status=live}}</ref> * [[Sound Directions]] * [[Steve Arrington]] * [[Stimulator Jones]] * [[Strong Arm Steady]] * [[Sudan Archives]] * Teeth Agency <ref name="Teeth Agency Stones Throw">{{cite web |title=Teeth Agency |url=https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/teethagency/ |website=Stones Throw Records |access-date=18 January 2024 |archive-date=18 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118225056/https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/teethagency/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * [[The Koreatown Oddity]] * [[The Steoples]] * [[The Stepkids]] * [[The Turntablist]] * [[The Twilite Tone]] * Vex Ruffin<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/vex|title=Vex Ruffin &#124; Stones Throw Records|access-date=2020-08-04|archive-date=2020-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804224014/https://www.stonesthrow.com/artist/vex/|url-status=live}}</ref> * [[Washed Out]] * [[Yesterdays New Quintet]] }}

== See also == * [[List of record labels]] * [[Underground hip hop]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{official website|http://www.stonesthrow.com/}} *[http://www.discogs.com/label/Stones%20Throw%20Records Discography]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:American independent record labels]] [[Category:Record labels established in 1996]] [[Category:Hip-hop record labels]] [[Category:Stones Throw Records artists| ]] [[Category:Stones Throw Records albums| ]]