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Celluloid Records returns to the fray with a stunning re-issue of arguably the most sampled record of our time: Fab 5 Freddy - 'Change The Beat.'

Graffiti Artist, Hiphop pioneer and now a Hiphop historian. Fab 5 Freddy's contributions to hip-hop culture have been numerous (he's even name-checked in Blondie hit 'Rapture') . In the late 1970s and early 1980s he became an unofficial bridge between the uptown graffiti and early rap scenes, and the downtown art and punk music scenes, bringing the whole 'music, hip-hop, art, break dancing and urban cultural thing to the downtown table.' ...more

You can now listen to the 2 hour Celluloid Records and Jean Karakos special on Ross Allens Meltdown radio show from the Ministry Of Sound. Jean presents some of his favourite tracks and plenty of stories on the Celluloid years. Click here to listen

New York City, 1984; Jean Karkakos and In-house producer Bill Laswell have moulded Celluloid records into an independent-label tour de force, an genre-less and boundless melting pot of No-wave, Hip-Hop, Rock, World and more. New York is much wilder place than today, Ed Koch is in control and the streets are mean. Powered by the forces of the street Art and Music are combining in ways they never have done before. Futura 2000 (aka Leonard McGurr) has been painting illegally on the New York Subway since the early 70's. His abstract approach to Grafitti is unique and soon he rises to the top. Along with the cream of New York new art wave of Keith Haring, Richard Hambleton and Futura 2000s best friend Jean-Michel Basquiat their work is shown in Patti Astors Fun Gallery. In 1981 legitimacy beckons and Futura joins the Clash on their "Combat Rock" tour and features on the track "Overpowered By Funk" .

Mick Jones and Futura 2000 team up to record the "Escapades Of Futura 2000". As an visual artist Futura is unparalleled, but it turns out he is a pretty good rapper as well. Name checking his friends, old haunts and scenes the rap enfolds. Mick Jones takes care of beats and bass guitar. It's a record of its time that still sounds fresh today. A record that could probably only have come out on the unique set of people, circumstances and timing that surrounded Celluloid Records.

To celebrate and support Record Store Day 2011, we are releasing a limited repress of the classic "Doriella Du Fontaine". The project began in late 1969 with famed producer Alan Douglas recording the unmistakable Jimi Hendrix and legendary Buddy Miles in rolling and groove-laden musical backdrop. Fast forward 4 years and Lightnin' Rod (aka Jalaluddin Mansur Nuriddin) adds in his distinctive vocal soundtrack. Rod calls it "spoagraphics" (spoken pictures) but to most listeners hear it as the roots of an early form of rap. Rhythm, spoken-word and the art of the storyteller all wrapped up into one. The two meld together to create something new and unheard in 1973 and something still sounding fresh in 2011.