Meet Culture Power45 | Record Label

We had the good fortune of connecting with Culture Power45 and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Culture Power45, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
We created Culture Power45 as a way to releases rare Vinyl and Tape Music rarely heard. We wanted to create a platform for for our sounds, our story. Black Culture of Art and Sound. Just create regardless of any obstacle, it no such thing as a financial challenge when you are truly creative. You must work regardless of the circumstances or else its a waste of life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Culturepower45 was formulated; back in the fall of 2015 a few Black men in creative arts and music had a plan to develop a vinyl only label. It was a private donor who gave the initial startup, DJ What, Thaione Davis and Infinito 2017 (ML7102). As a collective who came from the Underground Hip Hop era we were just looking to put out some vinyl through an independent Black owned design, that’s the goal. After some discussions about what and how Thaione came up with the name Culture Power45 based on the history and legacy of knowledge we all developed from our childhood and unity needed in the African global community. We took our education and resources and started getting Cut Vinyl made, pressed vinyl and Shaped vinyl and Tapes etc with the motto “We Don’t Do Digital.” We have worked continuously since the inception of the label to be consistent and respectful towards each other. Our main goal is support and consistency in creating artist projects. In the fall of 2016 we got the first projects made and the dream became fruition. We released CP4501 in December and it sold out immediately in less than 5 days, Next CP4502 came out and sold out in a few days and so on. We prepared the release of CP4506 which featured Fatnice and Iomos Marad on April 7th 2016, that one sold out immediately. But what is really dear to us all is our compilation venture CP4507 “Fruition” which came out June 7th 2017 and this release was on 12 inch pressed vinyl, 18 track, colored vinyl, in full colored jackets painted by artist Marcellous Lovelace, the LP lineup is amazing featuring Fatnice, MaxPtah, Tall Black Guy, Jason Da Hater, Empee, Infinito 2017, 9th Scientist, Kenny Keys, Radius, Rashid Hadee, Fatnice, L.I.F.E. Long, Nekaybaww, Thaione Davis, Masai Bey and more. The CulturePower45 (CP4507) Fruition compilation is really dope and came together similar to how the label did through unity. We also dropped Lost Cargo 1, (CP45010) African of Kenya Ether Part 18 by Infinito 2017. Simplicity (CP45018) is the 12-inch vinyl compilation we came out with in 2018. The CP45 crew came back with the second release in its vinyl compilation series entitled ‘Simplicity’. Dope beats and rhymes, it’s as simple as that with bangers from the likes of Dug infinite, Truth Universal, Kenny Keys, Infinito 2017, Thaione Davis, 84, Mr. Skurge, DJ Spinna, LI.F.E. Long, The Primerdian, Vic Spencer, Cos G, Empee, Buscrates, Brez Evah Flowin and a host of others that will surely keep the record spinning. Proven fact is that betting on Culture Power 45 is a banger! By 2018 Lost Cargo 2-5, Automatic Gain Control 3 and 5 were sure shots along with Live from Memphis, Born We Resist, Mentally Aware Teaching Huemans, Companion Piece and more which have all sold out. These releases are limited edition pressings so when it’s gone it’s gone for good no repressing. Also it’s not any digital release from the label so vinyl and tapes are the only formats you can receive the albums on. All artists should control their publishing and the masters to their music; our labels do not control or dictate rules over people’s creativity as free thinkers. We create Black Art and Exhibit these works on various platforms. Please take the time to go to the website www.culturepower45.com and save our media sites all under @culturepower45.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would always take people to the most soulful, down to earth parts of the City preferably the South Side of Chicago. We would educate, showcase mainly the History of Black Folks all over the City and the rich traditions we have in Chicago! Mostly teaching that Chicago was founded by a black man named Jean Baptiste Point DuSable of Haitian decent. This great Black Man spoke many languages like Spanish, French, English, and various Indigenous Peoples of Amexem dialects, these skills helped him as an entrepreneur and mediator. This brother was born in Haiti in approximately 1745. Traveling in 1770’s he traveled by ship to New Orleans. The brother made a path up the Mississippi River to Peoria, Illinois there he married a Potawatomi Woman named Catherine in a traditional Indigenous ceremony. The couple had two children, Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, Jr. and Suzanne. Jean Point DuSable the original person on record as living at the inner path of what is known as Chicago River in 1790. At this point in time Jean set up large scale and a gainful settlement in what later became the City of Chicago. “Chicagou” which gets its name because large amount of garlic (known also as the Wild Onion) that grows in the areas forests region.

Its useful to teach everyone about all the important Black lineage of the city from Record Row the birth home of Black / Soul Music, Red Summer of 1919 to the cities greatest Mayor Harold Washington. Learn the land and its interesting yet detailed story.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This is dedicated to De La Soul, Fatnice. Infinito 2017, Thaione Davis, Dj Waht (not What), The South Side Chicago and Memphis. We are a collective of sound providers and Artist who not only produce music but we Paint, Draw, Video Art, Editing, Graphics, Collages, Sound art., Djays, Remixes, Photography, Educators, African Art Collectors, Writers, Designers and makers of creative thoughts. Our reason to create Culture Power45 was always about Black empowerment and showcases our work. We are a record label of creative art and music. We create limited edition vinyl, art works and tapes etc. … that inspires the youth and elevates the creative mind. Culture Power 45 is a source grounded in providing culturally based sound to a worldwide audience via the limited vinyl and collectible 45 format. We believe in our mission of empowering the people through music so the people can power the culture! The message is positivity and upliftment to the African Community. We are inspired by our people to be who we are and not fear what we do. Take from it what’s good in the world and know We Don’t Do Digital!

Website: www.culturepower45.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/culturepower45

Linkedin: www.youtube.com/@culturepower45

Twitter: www.twitter.com/culturepower45

Facebook: www.facebook.com/culturepower45

Yelp: www.solarbabiesartinstitute.com

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@culturepower45

Image Credits
All Art work by Culture Power45 (C)Marcellous Lovelace (C)Thaione Davis (C) Nappy9folics