I’ve never been one for chronological order. So let’s start this from the present and work our way back. I really missed doing a blog series. Of course I love throwing around my opinions on my page, but I want to have something more concrete attached to my name. This is the beginning of a month long series on independent labels. Of course I have to show love to my city and write about a rather “polished” small label. Enjoy!
My belief is that if you love music, I mean really love music; you have to appreciate more than just good bars, hooks, and baselines. I also believe that if you want your voice to carry weight on any particular subject, you should be well versed before you go shooting off the handle. With that said, for the past four months I’ve been doing my homework and researching independent labels that have shaped our musical perspective for the past fifty years. I felt it most fitting to look at a new label right here in Memphis, that’s not only challenging but changing the way we view underground music, Westham Records. With the pairing of a seemingly unlikely duo, Morris “Empee” Perry and Josh “DJ Homework” Metzger, Westham is in the business of not making just underground hip hop, but is expanding to incorporate other genres of music to revive a rather mundane scene.
It was refreshing to first know that these two individuals, from completely different points in music, could come together and form this creative union. This label seems to have started under the most random of circumstances. Empee decided that it was time for him to start a label and decided to hit up Josh for pointers to get up off the ground floor. Josh, just hitting the ground floor himself, suggested that they join up and create a label together, thus the partnership began. Josh wanted something simple, but polished. So he researched old English townships and Westham became the name. With the way the Memphis market is shaped, Westham doesn’t seem to be having any problems with the array of talent they have on board, including the co-owners themselves. What makes Westham not your ordinary is not just the talent, but the drive of the both men.
“We want to be known for quality…and that we worked hard at what we do.” -Homework
What makes Westham work is not just the musicians and the drive. There’s also got to be an unyielding sense of business. Everyone wants to start a label, but there’s more to a label than voicing the desire. Josh & Morris take a hand on approach to their label with not just crafting their vision, but the artists, and even right down to the name of the label itself. As for selecting talent, they’re not ones to be completely selective. They are willing to work with anyone who’s willing to put the time and effort into making quality music. With their focus set beyond Memphis, Josh & Empee rely heavily on media influence to get their sound and name out across the different markets. One thing both guys agreed on was that Westham was not to be your typical Memphis underground label. Their sound cannot be categorized into a genre and that’s just how they like it.
“We don’t like boxes…well I know I don’t like boxes period.” –Empee
