News

Sole Leaves anticon. Records

9:34 a.m. · February 9, 2010 · by Andrew Martin

Less than a week after El-P announced he was leaving the helm of Definitive Jux to focus on his music, we get similar news from one of his former rivals. Tim "Sole" Holland, who was essentially the bearded face of anticon. Records, has left the label after more than 11 years. For some this may come as a shock, but those following Sole's career have noticed that his recent releases with the Skyrider Band have come out via his own label, Black Canyon Records.

Sole issued a statement, which you can read in full by clicking that link, this morning outlining why he has chosen now to call it quits with anticon. Within the statement, he recalls his great memories with the company and releasing his first vinyl at the age of 16. While he cherishes those memories and will forever be proud of them, Sole said those times are gone and it's time to focus on the present.

Leaving the company was not an easy decision, but it was made necessary by a number of factors. Upon returning to the states from a 2-year exile in Spain, I found myself increasingly at odds with the business end of anticon and began doing more DIY work via soleone.org.

 

Running my own website and taking a more hands on approach with my art has always brought me great satisfaction and it is what I am choosing to return to. There are no ill feelings between myself and members of anticon. I will continue to work with many of the artists and will always love them as brothers and consider them allies. This is a decision to change the way my music will be exploited and adapt to shifting paradigms.

We created anticon as a response to what was going on at the time in the music industry - the indy boom of the late 90’s. There were still a viable music industry then and people bought records. That’s how we built up our empire. The music industry isn’t just dying, but what it means to be a recording artist is changing.

 

Technology is making everything cheap, and cheapening everything it touches. Soon the old ways of selling records will be a distant memory, along with magazines, working musicians and employed blue-collar dads. It’s not a time to cry about the recession, or urge people to go to their local mom and pops and pick up the new Sole & skyrider LP. Technology is working its magic, and instead of being a passenger on its ship, I have decided to plot a new course for myself.

The 32-year-old MC, who spent the past two years in exile in Spain, said his future releases will come out via his new label Black Canyon Records and Web site SoleOne.org.