Flip Records (1994)
Californian label that launched nu metal giants.
Flip Records was launched in April 1994 by Jordan Schur, who left his family’s import-export business to start the label. He initially put up $2 million in capital, aiming to sign acts that played hard rock with pop appeal. The label first set up shop on West Broadway in New York.
Its debut release was Big Hate’s self-titled album in January 1996, distributed by Ichiban Records until that distributor went bankrupt in 1998. Flip’s first major-label release came through Interscope: Jane Jensen’s *Comic Book Whore*, originally out in October 1996 and re-released by Interscope in 1997. Jensen left both labels in 1998 over creative differences.
In 1997, Limp Bizkit signed with Flip after passing on Mojo Records. Schur financed their debut, *Three Dollar Bill, Y’all*, which came out as a joint release with Interscope. It sold over 1.8 million copies in the U.S. by 1999, making it Flip’s first hit. That success let Schur strike distribution deals with other majors, including Epic for Dope and A&M for Big Hate. Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst also brought in Cold (via A&M) and Staind (via Elektra) in 1997 and 1998.
After the UMG-PolyGram merger in October 1999, Schur became president of Geffen Records. He stepped down as head of Flip but kept ownership and continued working with its artists. As part of the deal, new Flip signings were mostly distributed through Interscope-Geffen-A&M. In October 2000, Flip became the first label to sell over one million copies of a rock album in its first week, with Limp Bizkit’s *Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water*.
When Schur was ousted from Geffen in 2006, Flip went inactive as he moved on to Suretone Records. The Flip name still appeared on later releases by Staind (*The Illusion of Progress* and *Staind*) and Limp Bizkit (*Gold Cobra*) through 2011. Since then, the label has put out no new material.
- founded
- April 1994
- founder
- Jordan Schur
- headquarters
- Originally West Broadway, New York
- field
- Record label (hard rock with pop sensibilities)
- known_for
- Signing nu metal bands; first label to sell over one million rock albums in its first week (October 2000)
Lore & Background
Flip Records was founded by Jordan Schur in April 1994, who left his family's import-export business to start the label with US$2 million in financial capital. The label's first release was the self-titled debut album by Big Hate in January 1996, initially distributed by Ichiban Records before that label went bankrupt in 1998. Flip's first major label-distributed release was Comic Book Whore by Jane Jensen, picked up by Interscope Records in 1997.
In 1997, Limp Bizkit signed to Flip after deciding against Mojo Records. Their debut album, Three Dollar Bill, Y'all, was financed by Schur and released with Interscope, selling over 1.8 million copies in the United States by 1999. Fred Durst helped sign Cold (with A&M) and Staind (with Elektra) to Flip in 1997 and 1998. In October 1999, Schur became president of Geffen Records but retained ownership of Flip. The label became the first to sell over one million rock albums in its first week with Limp Bizkit's Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water in October 2000.
After Schur was ejected from Geffen in 2006, Flip became inactive as he moved to Suretone Records. The Flip name was used on releases by Staind and Limp Bizkit up to 2011, but no new material has been released since.
Reader's Guide
Flip Records played a pivotal role in the rise of nu metal in the late 1990s and early 2000s. By signing Limp Bizkit, Cold, Dope, and Staind, the label became a key force in bringing hard rock with pop sensibilities to mainstream audiences. Its partnership with Interscope Records allowed for wide distribution, and the label achieved a historic milestone in October 2000 when Limp Bizkit's Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water became the first rock album to sell over one million copies in its first week. Despite founder Jordan Schur's departure from Geffen in 2006 and the label's subsequent inactivity, Flip's legacy endures through its 70 million album sales and its influence on the nu metal genre. The label's alumni include a range of acts from Big Hate to Staind, and its discography reflects a focused but impactful catalog.
Did You Know?
- Flip Records was founded by Jordan Schur in April 1994 with US$2 million from his family's import-export business.
- Limp Bizkit's debut album, Three Dollar Bill, Y'all, sold over 1.8 million copies in the United States by 1999.
- Flip Records became the first label to sell over one million rock albums in its first week, with Limp Bizkit's Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water in October 2000.
- Fred Durst was responsible for signing Cold and Staind to Flip Records in 1997 and 1998, respectively.
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