Michael ‘House Shoes’ Buchanan is one of the most respected men in hip-hop. Although intrinsically tied to the music of his native Detroit, and the legacy of J Dilla, he’s been living in Los Angeles for the last decade, and here tells us about how his record label, Street Corner Music, has a vision that goes way beyond just local talent. Brutally honest as always, House Shoes also shares his thoughts on the shady side of Record Store Day.
Street Corner Music (SCM) is known for shining light on new and upcoming artists from Detroit. It is easy to find local talent, or is there a lot of filtering before you find someone with potential?
Street Corner Music has nothing to do with Detroit, or any specific region. It has to do with talent. I’m good at finding talent. My ears have no competition. The ones with potential are easy to find. It’s just a question of who gets the opportunities I am willing to provide.
With your status as an ambassador for Detroit hip-hop, is the preference for SCM to always choose a local artist who has potential but needs more development, over an artist not from Detroit who is already developed and ready to go?
Once again, this is not grounded in any specific region. I left Detroit 10 years ago. My perspective is that of the whole. I don’t care where you’re from. All I want is the heat. Definitely not here to groom someone who ain’t all the way there yet. I need the best. Period.
Would you say that helping local artists is altruistic, and therefore that SCM is more like a community project rather than a business?
Slightly. The mission of SCM is to give great records to those who actually deserve them. On both sides of the fence. The artists and the fans. I want to give the artists and the fans the best work possible.
You’ve been influential in the careers of many who moved in Dilla’s circle, like Phat Kat, Elzhi, Frank N Dank. Has there ever been talk of these guys releasing music through SCM?
No. I’m building my own thing.
The label is committed to releasing music on vinyl, CDs and tapes. Tell us more about your passion for these formats, and why they are important to keep alive.
I don’t do CDs for the most part. I may press some to give to the artist to do hand to hand at shows. The main focus is vinyl. Always has been. But in 2016 it takes a long fucking time to get records pressed. So the tapes come into play since they are so cheap and the turnaround is so quick.
Is it cost effective to press vinyl in today’s climate, or is there a risk of losing a lot of money if units don’t sell?
Takes money to make money. As long as you present quality time and time again, you should be straight. Records are definitely not cheap, but I keep quantities collectable low. The majority of my releases have grown in value.
Could a label like SCM survive without Fat Beats, Traffic and other companies willing to distribute independent hip-hop?
Definitely. It would be a lotta damn work though. I’m built for it though. Knock on wood Fat Beats ain’t going anywhere.
Despite the recent resurgence, new vinyl releases still feel mainly for us older heads, who have a historical appreciation, but also the tangible income to actually buy records. Is there a risk therefore of turning off the younger generation, who just want everything digitally, and immediately?
I sell my records to old and young cats. I’m not concerned with what people want or how they want it. I’m only concerned with what I do and what my squad does. Kids are buying records too. Shit’s cool again. You want digital? You go to iTunes and cop SCM digitally. I’m definitely not concerned with cats being turned off by any decisions I make regarding SCM. They can spend their money elsewhere. I do what I do.
As someone passionate about vinyl, and also having worked in a lot of record shops, what are your thoughts on Record Store Day being accused of taking all the capacity of pressing plants, making it hard for small labels to get their vinyl manufactured on time?
Record Store Day is trash. On so many levels. Initiated to expose indie labels and stores, now the majors are pressing up ridiculous amounts of records you can find in every dollar section or thrift store in the world. We don’t need 10,000 ‘Limited Edition’ copies of Whipped Cream and Other Delights.
So now it takes us seven months to get a record pressed and a lotta indie labels just can’t get shit pressed in time for Record Store Day. We do Record Store Night in LA once a month – SCM and the New Los Angeles label along with Novation. We pretty much take a piss on RSD every month.
Is Record Store Day something Street Corner Music has, or would take part in?
Nope.
Father. Label boss. DJ. Producer. Businessman. Which title do you feel most comfortable with?
Father. Being a father is a blessing. Fuck rap. Buy my records though.
See here for more on House Shoes and Street Corner Music. Follow on Twitter @HouseShoes. Illustration by Gleenhouse.