Label of the Year and Compilation of the Year

Just like last year, the award for best label goes to the same label that released the compilation of the year. It was a close call this year between last years winner Fake Four Inc. and a label I discovered this year, namely Milled Pavement. Fake Four Inc. have continued to drop bombs all through 2010 and could easily have taken the trophy this year too. But they didn't. Milled Pavement stands as the winner and here's some reasons why. First off, they have released some awesome albums throughout the year. Little Eskimo Jesus, zoën and MC Homeless amongst others have all released great albums. But I think that the main reason that I give the award to Milled Pavement is their heart. They release exactly what they want without giving too much thought to if it will work commercially or not. And I totally dig that! Who else would release a compilation album spanning over 4 CD's and that consists of 66 tracks from 96 artists? Talk about a beautiful way of giving the greedy, celebrity obsessed music industry the middle finger. And to also have the heart to release music from a lot of different countries in a lot of different languages. I thank them for serving up a whole new smorgasbord of artists to bless my everyday existence. And for releasing Goosebumps 4.0 that will continue to be a compilation which I will find new favourites on for quite a long time ahead.

I asked label owner and artist Moshe and his labelmate BRZOWSKI about their favourite label and highlight of the year.

"BRZOWSKI:

Insofar as label of the year, and I hate to be redundant,but I have to say Fake Four Inc. They are impossible to miss, as there are so few progressive hiphop (or whatever you want to box-it-as) labels doing it. They didn't release a ton of stuff, but the quality of records and the push behind each was quite apparent. Common Grackle, Ceschi, and Factor albums all completely floored me this year, coupled with great releases from cars & trains, Dark Time Sunshine, Mike King and Moka Only (oh sorry- "Ron Contour"). Ceschi has also been a pleasure to rock shows+hang out with when we are in the same zip-code. Not to mention he wants to build with people that are building. Refreshing. We come from similar heavy-music backgrounds, so I think that laid its own unspoken groundwork. My homies k-the-i???, Noah 23, Awol One+Factor and sole & the skyrider band are all up to bat in 2011, so watch for those releases to clean your helmet.

MOSHE + BRZOWSKI:

Musical highlight of the year would be difficult to pinpoint, but we will go with the 2am slot at the Electric Avenue Festival this past October in Central Maine. Over 1000 fairly-wasted young folks in a muddy field with glowsticks and bonfires, despite a raging rain storm. We hit the stage with a fairly improvised "dubstep-and-rapping/singing/growling" set, decked-out full rain-gear, and people went totally apeshit for the next 70 minutes. Horns up. \m/"