Kevin Johnson, owner and President of B-Side Records, has been shaping the underground hip-hop scene since founding his label in Waterbury, Connecticut in the 1990s. In this conversation, he shares the origins of the label’s name, the records that first inspired him, and how the local Waterbury scene influenced his path into music. Kevin reflects on launching B-Side Records, his collaborations with artists like Tay Watts, and the story behind Mad Vibes’ hit track Riches to Rags.

Listen to Riches to Rags: https://youtu.be/8Sfgm1MxqT0?si=7p71-CG7jK3IsLTa

Buy the Mad Vibes EP: https://www.discogs.com/sell/release/3954260

Hip Hop Era Blog Post: https://hiphop-thegoldenera.blogspot.com/2020/10/mad-vibes-check-your-team-members.html

Along the way, he revisits other projects from the label, updates us on where his collaborators are today, and weighs in on the current music landscape, including the role of social media and the revival of vinyl. He even shares an exclusive unreleased track and offers advice to new artists, before closing with his thoughts on his favorite contemporary talent. This is not just an interview—it’s a journey through hip-hop history, told by one of its dedicated stewards.

Timestamps:

(0:18) – The name B-Side Records

(1:26) – Favorite Records

(2:31) – Waterbury Connecticut Scene

(5:23) – Starting B-Side Records

(7:25) – Starting a Record Label

(8:41) – Tay Woss

(9:14) – The Story Behind Mad Vibes

(13:14) – Other Work with B-Side

(17:02) – Where is Everyone Today

(17:42) – Current Music Scene

(20:40) – Social Media’s Impact on Music

(22:52) – Exclusive Play of Unreleased Song

(24:04) – Advice for New Artists

(27:33) – Return of Vinyl

(28:36) – Favorite New Artists

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