Stones Throw Records is one of my favorite record labels. The independent record label was started in 1996 in Los Angeles, California by Peanut Butter Wolf and has gone on to release close to 1,000 records (LP’s, EP’s, 45’s), CD’s, MP3’s, and cassette tapes since its inception. My numbers could be off but I pulled them from Discogs so I figure I can’t be too far off! Stones Throw was one of the few labels that I could rely on for good new independent hip hop music. And their releases weren’t your everyday type of music you were hearing on the radio. Stones Throw took chances on artists who were pushing boundaries within their genres and while some might consider the music to be kind of weird, it was right in my lane. To be creative you have to take chances. Everybody won’t be a fan with your music when you’re trying something innovative but those that love the music will be diehard fans. Over the years, Stones Throw has released albums from the likes of Peanut Butter Wolf & Charizma, Lootpack, Quasimoto, Jaylib (J Dilla & Madlib), Madvillain (MF Doom & Madlib), Madlib, J Dilla, Aloe Blacc, Karreim Riggins, Samiyam, Jonwayne and NxWorries (Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge). Even with that long list, I’ve left out a lot of others who deserve a mention but this could turn into a 5,000 word essay that nobody wants to read. In short, Stones Throw was the record label that I could count on for some off-the-wall type hip hop music.
In 2009, I spent Sunday afternoon at my parents house where I would hang on their couch and then use their computer as I didn’t have a reliable one at the time. This would all culminate in a feast that my mom would cook up in the kitchen and my dad would grill something out on the patio. Before dinner, I would go off in the computer room which was really my childhood room that they eventually turned into the computer room. I would hop online and visit my music blogs to find out what all of the new music releases. I’d watch videos, read blogs, buy some CD’s, and even download some MP3’s so I could make mix CD’s on their computer. Remember, no streaming services then. Also, not everybody had a computer so you were limited to your physical music collections. One Sunday afternoon at my parents, I saw a new release from Stones Throw. I always gave their releases a spin as they were tried and true. This was a video and what I saw blew my mind. Here was this white guy by the name of Mayor Hawthorne making R&B and Soul music that sounded like it was from the 60’s and 70’s. I watched this video over and over again. I even brought my dad into the room and told him to close his eyes and listen because I thought that the music was this special. I had never heard an artist with this type of style so I was hooked on Mayer Hawthorne immediately. From there I started listening to other songs and watching over videos. Then I started to research about him to find out that he was from Michigan from the group hip hop group Athletic Mic League that I had heard of through my constant dorking out on the blogs. Mayer had moved out to LA in 2005 and Peanut Butter Wolf heard his singing that was made for sampling purposes. Peanut Butter Wolf saw something immediately and pushed Mayer Hawthorne for more crooning. Mayer was signed and the rest is history.
“Maybe So, Maybe No” isn’t the first song I heard from Mayer as that goes to “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out”. I heard both of these songs at my parents’ house so when I hear these songs, I think of my mom making some baked beans and my dad on the grill grilling some steaks to perfection. Mayer Hawthorne music is the type of music you can listen to with family. Mayer Hawthorne is a legend and he wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Peanut Butter Wolf’s record label, Stones Throw Records. Props to both Mayer and Peanut Butter Wolf. You guys have made a positive impact in my life through your work!