Barely Breaking Even

Lore & Background

BBE was started by two DJs, Peter Adarkwah and Ben Jolly, who named the label after The Universal Robot Band's 1981 track 'Barely Breaking Even'. The label has two sublabels: Deep Funk and Urban Theory. BBE released the Beat Generation series of LPs, a notable series of albums by various artists.

Reader's Guide

Barely Breaking Even (BBE) is a British record label that has released a wide range of albums since 1999, including works by Keb Darge, Pete Rock, The Foreign Exchange, and Shawn Lee. The label's Beat Generation series, launched in 2001, features albums by J Dilla, Pete Rock, will.i.am, Marley Marl, DJ Jazzy Jeff, King Britt, Larry Gold, DJ Spinna, Madlib, and others. BBE's catalog spans hip hop, funk, soul, and electronic music, with releases continuing into 2024. The label's significance lies in its curation of underground and classic sounds, particularly through the Beat Generation series, which highlighted producers and DJs. BBE's sublabels, Deep Funk and Urban Theory, further specialize in niche genres. The label's longevity and diverse artist roster have made it a respected name in independent music.

Did You Know?

• The label's name comes from The Universal Robot Band's 1981 track 'Barely Breaking Even'.
• The Beat Generation series includes albums by Pete Rock, will.i.am, and Madlib.
• BBE released albums by artists such as Keb Darge, The Foreign Exchange, and Shawn Lee.