| Battle Axe Records | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent company | Regime Music Group |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Shane Bunting |
| Distributors | Nettwerk (CAN, 1999-2005) Caroline (US, 1999-2005) |
| Genre | Hip-hop |
| Country of origin |  Canada |
| Location | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Official website | www |
Battle Axe Records is an independent hip-hop record label based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was founded by Shane Bunting (Madchild of Swollen Members) in 1996. The label also has multiple releases with sub-label Underworld Inc.
The first releases by the label were four 12-inch singles by Swollen Members from 1997 to 1999, leading up to their debut album Balance. The singles were distributed by New York-based Fat Beats and sold approximately 10,000 copies each.
The label released albums for Canadian artists BrassMunk, Moka Only, Oddities and Sweatshop Union; California-based artists Abstract Rude, Buc Fifty, LMNO, DJ Drez, Evidence, Fat Jack, Mr. Brady, P.E.A.C.E, Planet Asia, Son Doobie and Sunspot Jonz; and New York-based artists Freestyle and Shabazz the Disciple.
In addition to albums released for several artists, the label released ten compilation albums, three of which were included as a bonus CD for Mack Dawg Productions snowboarding videos.
The first compilation album titled Defenders of the Underworld was released in 1999. The album featured many artists that primarily worked with other labels including Aceyalone, The Alchemist, Arsonists, Defari, Del the Funky Homosapien, Dilated Peoples, Divine Styler, Everlast, Kool Keith, KutMasta Kurt, Non Phixion, Pep Love, and Psycho Realm; and artists that continued working with Battle Axe Records including Buc Fifty, Evidence, Moka Only, Mr. Brady, Son Doobie, and Swollen Members.
In 2000, the label released their second compilation album titled Battle Axe Warriors, which introduced Abstract Rude and LMNO to the label.
In 2001, the label released their third compilation album titled Lyrics of Fury.
Two more Battle Axe Warriors albums were released in 2002 and 2003, and two more Lyrics of Fury albums were released in 2003 and 2004.
The label was distributed by Nettwerk in Canada and Caroline in the United States from 1999 to 2005. In 2006, the label lost their distribution deal with Nettwerk due to Madchild's affiliation with the Hells Angels.
Following a hiatus in 2007 and 2008, Swollen Members returned in 2009 with the album Armed to the Teeth, released by Battle Axe and Suburban Noize Records. Madchild and Prevail also released solo EPs in the same year.
Swollen Members continued working as the main artist of the label until 2015, when they released an album by Demrick and Cali Cleeve, as well as multiple EPs by Bukshot. In 2019, they released an album by Adlib.
Aside from Swollen Members four wins, other Battle Axe Records albums have received nominations at the Juno Awards for Rap Recording of the Year. In 2004, Dark Sunrise by BrassMunk and Natural Progression by Sweatshop Union each received nominations. In 2006, Sweatshop Union was nominated for the album United We Fall. In 2012, Dagger Mouth by Swollen Members was nominated. In 2013, Dope Sick by Madchild was nominated.
Three of the labels albums were nominated for Outstanding Rap/Hip-Hop Recording at the Western Canadian Music Awards in 2004, Natural Progression by Sweatshop Union, Lowdown Suite by Moka Only, and Heavy by Swollen Members, which won the award.
Released with Underworld Inc.*
Adlib
Bukshot
Chase Phoenix
Code Name: Scorpion
Demrick and Cali Cleve
DJ Murge
Joey Chavez
Perfect Strangers
Compilations
Bonus disc compilations
Swollen Members won the Rap Recording of the Year four times (2001, 2002, 2003, 2007)
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