Indie Labels ft Awon and The Other Guys
6/25/202657 min
On this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Awon, and Joe Miles of The Other Guys for a conversation about independent hip-hop, running record labels, vinyl culture, and the realities of building sustainable careers outside the major label system.
Awon is the founder of Don't Sleep Records, while Joe Miles runs HipNott Records, home to artists including Skyzoo, Tanya Morgan, and Shay Noir. Together, they discuss their new collaborative project Solidified, the years-long friendship that led to the album, and what it takes to balance artistry with entrepreneurship. Awon and Joe break down:
The challenges of operating independent labels in today's music landscape from pressing vinyl and managing distribution to navigating shipping costs, manufacturing delays, and maintaining direct relationships with fans.
Lessons learned from years of self-releasing music, retaining ownership of their catalogs, and building businesses rooted in community rather than competition.
Mentorship, family life, touring, jazz influences in hip-hop, and why ownership remains one of the most important principles for artists seeking longevity.
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Follow: The Other Guys
Instagram: @otherguysmusic
Website: HipNott Records
Follow: Awon
Instagram: @awon1988
Website: Dontsleeprecords.com
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
[somber music] I'm not giving up.
Speaker 20:03
I am selling the building.
Speaker 30:04
Only love The final season of FX's The Bear Will bring the rain The restaurant is flooded. That falls like tears Everything's either gonna be okay [phone ringing] No.
Speaker 10:15
Stop.
Speaker 50:15
[glass shatters] Or not.
Speaker 10:17
We are outgunned, and we are outmanned, but we have each other.
Speaker 40:22
[screams] FX's The Bear, the final season. All episodes now streaming on Disney+.
Speaker 50:28
So you're saying with Hilton Honors, I can use points for a free night's stay anywhere? Anywhere. [trumpet music] What about fancy places like the Canopy in Paris? Yeah. Hilton Honors, baby. Or relaxing sanctuaries like the Conrad in Tulum? Hilton Honors, baby. Ooh, what about the five-star Waldorf Astoria in the Maldives? Are you gonna do this for all 9,000 properties? When you want points that can take you anywhere, anytime, it matters where you stay. Hilton. For the stay.
Speaker 20:57
[upbeat music] Hey, y'all. Each week on the Sam Sanders show from KCRW, we ask big questions and share hot takes about the pop culture we love.
Speaker 51:06
Now that we have YouTube, we don't need anymore bio pics.
Speaker 21:09
Woo.
Speaker 51:09
If they've been alive such that I can watch them on YouTube, I don't need it.
Awon· Guest1:12
I don't think that music is getting worse. I think y'all just don't listen to artists who aren't in the mainstream.
Speaker 51:18
Taylor Swift, retire. It's time to retire.
Speaker 21:20
[laughs] The Sam Sanders Show from KCRW, wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube.
Speaker 11:25
Like, I've been making beats for,