Comments on: Music Factory, NYC: A Retrospective

By: Forrest Getemgump

Forrest Getemgump — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:21:58 +0000

Shouting out some of the other spots I used to hit. Music Factory, Downstairs Records, Downtown Records,and S.O.S. in the Boogie Down Bronx. Also shout out to my people in Syracuse, NY Ron (wherever you are_ from Soundshack record store and Cole’s Music world. The Record Theatre in Syracuse was cool also. They had the one stop warehouse in the back. The Whole Darn Family!!!!

By: Forrest Getemgump

Forrest Getemgump — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:13:03 +0000

I remember Fat Stan. I was a teenager and would go shopping at the music factory. Me and my homeboy George would stop into the music factory everytime we were in Mid-town. I’d pick Stan’s brain a little here and there but knowing what I know now I would have dug into his brain with a shovel back then. He is definitely a cornerstone in NY hip-hop history and someone who is seldom talked about. After reading this I had no idea he influened the west coast sound but it makes sense because NWA’s first album was all break beats. I remember alot of heads on the east coast were feeling it at first but they did use the grails on the production.

By: DJ Fuze

DJ Fuze — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:26:59 +0000

I used to pay £3.99 for a uk 12″ and £5.99 for an album and $4.99 for an import(usa) 12″ and $7.99 for an album from selectadisc or arcade records in nottingham(uk) back in the day.

By: Gina

Gina — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:46:40 +0000

Does anyone remember John Thibeaux, a black guy who used to work in Music Factory during the eighties. He was also DJ some nights a week at Club Midtown 43. John, like Stanley, was very knowledgeable on all types of music. He used to play mostly house music when heDJ in the club. We remained friends for a while but after 1990 I lost touch. I wish I could find him again-I hope he sees this one day!!Does anyone have any informationon him?

By: Dan Large

Dan Large — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:52:43 +0000

Thanks for the informative comment Raul – peace….the fat lace crew

By: DJ Raous AKA Raul

DJ Raous AKA Raul — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:04:22 +0000

Shouts ! to Jamaica Avenue ( Big Jamaica Queens) it’s funny I bumped into this page, because I worked and managed the store that became Music Dynasty Records(1991 to 1998) after Music Factory closed back in 1991. before I worked there ,I was a customer as well , and My boy Tank ( Mike) always knew his shit
you could even hum something to him and he would say hold on I got it and before u knew it ,he would slap that record in your hands they always had the joints ! when Maya the owner of Music Factory, Tank and (Walter which was the producer for Da Beatminerz) ( Black Moon) closed the store yes another part off Hip Hop also Died in Jamaica Queens, When My boy Freddy , Fabian , James , and Myself took over , we really did not do much in changing the format of the inside of the store , the only thing that changed was the name to Music Dynasty Records Corp , we kept the same format as the original because we knew about the rep that Music Factory had and when customes that once shopped Music Factory when they came into the store they saw that it was kind of the same even thou the name changed they gave us props as well,we also managed Dynasty Records in the Colosseum (1987 to 2000) Im glad I bumped into this page when I managed the store we did alot of in store signings with Hip Hop artists, I met alot of famous rappers and DJ the list goes like this: Mic geronimo , Irv gotti, Jay Z ,The Whole Wu Tang Clan, Fat Joe , Beatnuts Shouts to Psycho Les, Prince Paul, Mase from De La Soul, Ultramagnetic Mc’s,Total, Miss Jones,Guru from gang Star, K Solo ,LL cool J was a good customer, Xzibit, Common Sence,Lost Boys,Prodigy from Mobb Deep he was my customer before the hit song hit from the back,Kool G Rap nice guy,Group Home,Cash Money Click shouts to Ron Gutta and his cusin mike,Lords of the undergound,Onyx,Run Dmc RIP Jam Master J I had conversation with him a year before passing very nice dude,Organized Konfusion shouts to Prince Po my mix tape customer,Robin S Dance Music artist,Digital Undergound, 50 Cent before he blow up dropped us his first promo rec straight form Jam Masters Jays studio around the block,Ajatolah hip hop music producer came to store all the time,Salt and Pepe,Heltah Skeltah(Ruck and Rock),The Whole Boot Camp Click. Yes I met everybody

and for the DJ’s : Dj Clue (ernesto) we started this guys career,he owes us big time when everybody was hating on him we took him in, Whoo Kid from shadyville where I grow up, Sha moneyxl, Kool Kid, Mister Cee (big daddy kane’s dj , biggie samlls discovery),absolut,I got no luv for DJ envy , because he shows no respect to his humble beginings clues cousin started his career with us,Ike Love, J love,Spin Bad ..was my customer before blowing up good for him,Irv Gotti was a nice dj dont get it twisted, Boo The Barber, my boy DJ Xtreme AKA DJ ALLDAY the original dj for Dj Clue!, DJ Rello and Jadel , The Twins from queens, DJ Sage, if I forgot u sorry to much to remeber,Peace

By: Classic MC

Classic MC — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:02:24 +0000

This was my spot. One of the few record spots that you know you could find that rare, underground, random type rap record. Let’s not forget Mike who worked there behind the counter, he hooked me up many times. When this store closed down, a part of rap music died. The other Music Factory’s were great too, like the one in Jamaica Queens, which later became “Music Dynasty”, but no record store was ever as dope as the Times Square Music Factory. Alot of people who knew of it back in the day dubbed it “The Hip Hop Mecca”. R-I-P

By: brettfromboundless

brettfromboundless — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 04:39:58 +0000

the music factory on forty-deuce wasn’t the only one in NYC. for all the queens head, there was a music factory off of jamaica avenue. right by the coliseum(yeah the one LL talks about.) i started DJing in 10th grade (1988) and music factory(queens) was where ALL of my allowance money went. of course it was a compendium of all the hottest stuff out. 12″s, albums, breakbeats, an occasionally import 12 even. i recall when the real estate value of ‘the wall’(ceiling to floor, with a ledge for overflow) becoming split between hip-hop and the up&coming new jack swing/R&B 12″s into the 90’s. of course there were some releases that you could only get if you knew who to ask. the cat you wanted to respect was Tank. short, stocky cats who was well connected and well-respected. every saturday morning around 12pm i’d ride the Q5 bus from LA Laurelton, Queens to the Ave. to cop Prism, Cold Chillin’ & Tommy Boy joints. and enjoy a beef patty and coco bread on the way back!!

By: Old

Old — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:02:58 +0000

Back in the dayo I used to get my vinyl from Boots the chemist. I shit thee not………

By: ghost

ghost — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:56:56 +0000

montclair (a suburb of ny in jersey) had a spot called “crazy rhythms” back in the day. vinyl for days. tapes for days. cds of course. now the space is a sushi spot. oh the agony.

98.to/grime