4th & B'way Records

Lore & Background

4th & B'way Records was established in 1984 as the flagship label of the Island Trading Company, which handled independent distribution for Island's US labels. It was not distributed through major-label channels—the flagship Island label was distributed by Atlantic Records at that time—until the label and distribution company were acquired by PolyGram Records in 1989, when Island Trading became a unit of PolyGram Group Distribution and was renamed Independent Label Sales (ILS). The label was one of several US-based Island labels named after nearby New York City streets, as Island's US headquarters were located at 14 East 4th Street in Manhattan, the same building that held the legendary East Village branch of Tower Records, and also nearby at 400 Lafayette Street. When Island moved its headquarters to the Worldwide Plaza Building at 825 8th Avenue in 1995, the empty 4th Street offices became the headquarters of V2 Records.

In the UK, Fourth and Broadway was established in 1992, with a roster different from its American version, although it did release titles from its American cousin and vice versa. 4th & B'way was effectively closed in 1989 after PolyGram's acquisition of Island, with its hip-hop roster moved to Island's main label or other imprints. Its remaining hip hop artists were transferred to Def Jam Recordings. Notable artists included Eric B and Rakim and Noel, and the label distributed 'Pump Up the Volume' by MARRS in the US.

On April 12, 2013, The Island Def Jam Music Group reactivated the label as a dance-oriented imprint with Cazzette as its first artist, later signing Route 94, Kiesza, and Loote. On November 17, 2020, Island Records relaunched the label again, naming LaTrice Burnette as president of 4th and Broadway, while she continued her role as executive vice president of Island. After being previously distributed by Island and strategically aligned with Republic Records in 2020, it was announced in February 2022 that 4th and B'way switched distribution to former sister label Def Jam Recordings.

Reader's Guide

4th & B'way Records holds significance as a specialized imprint of Island Records that focused on street-oriented music, particularly hip hop, during a formative era for the genre. Its establishment in 1984 placed it at the intersection of independent distribution and major-label backing, as it operated under the Island Trading Company until PolyGram's acquisition in 1989. The label's identity was tied to its New York City location, with its name derived from the street address of Island's US headquarters. Its legacy includes distributing the influential track 'Pump Up the Volume' by MARRS in the US and featuring artists such as Eric B and Rakim. After its 1998 closure, the label was revived twice: first in 2013 as a dance-oriented imprint under The Island Def Jam Music Group, and again in 2020 under Island Records with LaTrice Burnette as president. These revivals demonstrate the label's enduring brand recognition and adaptability to changing musical trends, from hip hop to dance music, while maintaining connections to the Island and Def Jam label families.

Origins & Street-Level Identity

4th & B'way Records was founded in 1984 as a US-based subsidiary of Island Records, with a clear mission: to serve as a home for street-oriented music, particularly hip hop. It held the prestigious position of flagship label within the Island Trading Company, the independent-distribution parent that oversaw Island's other US-based imprints. What made the label's identity particularly distinctive was its naming convention—several of Island's US labels took their names from nearby New York City streets. This was because Island's American headquarters were situated at 14 East 4th Street in Manhattan, a building that also housed the legendary East Village branch of Tower Records, with another Island presence nearby at 400 Lafayette Street. The label's very name, spelled out fully as "Fourth and Broadway Records" in the UK, evoked that gritty, creative corner of the city where underground music culture thrived. This street-level identity was not merely cosmetic; it reflected the label's genuine commitment to the hip hop and urban music scenes that defined late-1980s New York.

Independent Distribution & Corporate Upheaval

One of the most defining characteristics of 4th & B'way's early years was its distribution model. Unlike the flagship Island label, which was distributed through Atlantic Records' major-label channels, 4th & B'way operated through the independent-distribution apparatus of the Island Trading Company. This meant the label maintained a degree of operational independence even while sitting under the Island umbrella. That independence came to an end in 1989, when PolyGram Records acquired both the label and its parent distribution company. At that point, the Island Trading Company became a unit of PolyGram Group Distribution and was rebranded as Independent Label Sales, or ILS. The corporate landscape continued to shift in the mid-1990s. In 1995, Island relocated its US headquarters from the East 4th Street building to the Worldwide Plaza Building at 825 8th Avenue, where PolyGram's own US headquarters were also based. The vacated 4th Street offices subsequently became the home of V2 Records, marking the end of an era for that particular Manhattan address.

Artists & Transatlantic Reach

Although 4th & B'way existed for a relatively brief span, its roster included artists who left a lasting mark on popular music. Perhaps the most globally recognized release distributed by the label in the US was "Pump Up the Volume" by MARRS, a track that became an international dance and hip hop crossover hit. The label also championed Eric B & Rakim, whose work is widely regarded as foundational to the evolution of hip hop lyricism and production. Another notable name on the roster was Noel. The label's reach extended beyond the United States as well. In 1992, a UK version of Fourth and Broadway was established, operating with a distinct roster of artists while still cross-releasing titles with its American counterpart and vice versa. This transatlantic structure allowed the label to cultivate different musical communities on each side of the Atlantic while maintaining a shared brand identity. The street-naming tradition and the focus on urban, hip hop-oriented music gave the label a cohesive cultural identity that resonated with audiences in both New York and London.

Closure & Multiple Resurrections

The original incarnation of 4th & B'way came to a close in 1998, shortly after Chris Blackwell departed Island Records. This shutdown occurred just before the landmark merger of the PolyGram and MCA label families that would ultimately create Universal Music Group. When the label folded, its remaining hip hop artists were transferred to Def Jam Recordings, ensuring their careers could continue under a new but related banner. The label's story, however, did not end there. On April 12, 2013, The Island Def Jam Music Group reactivated the 4th & B'way name, repositioning it as a dance-oriented imprint. Cazzette became the first artist signed to the reactivated label, followed by Route 94, Kiesza, and Loote. A second relaunch came on November 17, 2020, when Island Records brought the label back under new leadership, naming LaTrice Burnette as president of 4th and Broadway while she simultaneously continued serving as executive vice president of Island. After a period of distribution through Island and strategic alignment with Republic Records in 2020, the label announced in February 2022 that it had switched distribution to its former sister label, Def Jam Recordings.