First Word Publishing
First Word Records was born in 2003 as a collaboration between promoter Aly Gillani and deejay Andy H. Frustrated by not seeing the music they love get the exposure it deserved, the duo decided that there was a gap that needed filling. As the year came to an end a group of musicians, deejays, designers, emcees and producers had come together to cook up the fresh new sound of “Two Syllables”, our debut compilation that was released in April 2004.
Since then, the label has grown to house numerous artists, including kidkanevil, 6ix Toys, Amenta, Yosi Horikawa, French production duo Souleance, Debian Blak, Frameworks, Riot Jazz Band, Tall Black Guy, Teotima Ensemble, Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra and the funkiest horn section in the UK, The Haggis Horns. The sound of our output has developed as we have as individuals – the foundation is still the jazzy hip hop of our first releases, but encompasses everything we love in music. This is music that’s equally at home in the clubs as it is leaking out of your late-night headphones. Like Duke Ellington said – “If it sounds good, it is good”.
We’re proud to administer First Word Publishing’s catalogue worldwide.