From July 1994 to September 2010, Fat Beats NY held it down as the mecca of independent hip-hop in NYC. On its final week at the 506 6th Avenue location, numerous artists and DJs came through to show love to an institution in NY that helped birth countless careers. Artists like the Arsonists, Juggaknots, Masta Ace, Pace Won, J-Live, Sadat X, A.G., The Artifacts, Ras Kass, Eternia, Skyzoo, BBAS, Immortal Technique and more, all represented. On the DJ side, Statik Selektah, Neil Armstrong, Da Beatminerz, DJ Soul, Rob Swift, Sucio Smash, DJ Eclipse, Tony Touch, and a final day that included sets by A-Trak, DJ Premier, Cipha Sounds, DJ Skratch, Pete Rock, Just Blaze and among others, Fat Beats' president, DJ Jab. My memories of Fat Beats are some of the best and I'm eternally grateful for the relationships I built and to be a part of the final shows through my work with Eternia, who performed on Tuesday alongside Ras Kass and others. The audio below represents some of the DJ sets from Fat Beats' grand closing. It's still bittersweet for me, but listen below! Today marks Fat Beats 26th Anniversary, you can still visit them online for all your music needs and at the physical location they opened in 2018 at 916 S. San Pedro St. in Los Angeles, CA. For more backstory: Fat Beats began as a small basement shop located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. It quickly became an integral hub for artists, both aspiring and established, to convene and collaborate. Their retail stores spread from NY to LA, Atlanta, Amsterdam, and Tokyo and alongside retail expansion they developed into a wholesale distribution company and record label. They remain steadfast in their commitment to the timeless vinyl format and the loyal community who keeps it spinning. Dig in the archives for more, including the original invitation to the store's opening in 1994!