Fat Beats Closes Last Remaining Retail Locations
Early this September, hip hop label Fat Beats will be closing its two remaining iconic retail locations in New York and Los Angeles. The label will be throwing a series of blow-out sales and tribute parties, open to the public, to celebrate the 16 years that the stores were in operation.
To Fat Beats, their ability to maintain two stores well into 2010 is a great achievement and a testament to the importance of music, given the turmoil that undertook HMV and Tower Records in years prior. However, the future for the label is not all doom and gloom as they are currently operating a “profitable and growing online retail store.” Though the executives note that this will not be their last venture into the retail world; they plan to re-open a new store in the future.
If you know anything about underground hip hop, this is MAJOR! Pretty much anyone that you can think of has done an in-store at either or both stores. Numerous videos have also been shot in both locations as well. A sad day!