The History so far...

‘I honestly think that today’s dance music is about the beat primarily and everything else is secondary’ says DJ Spen, the founder of the label. “I do believe in good solid songs as well, the song, the word, the feeling, that’s also what is important, Code Red will marry the two together”.

This Baltimore label is already taking up space in the majority of DJ’s CD wallets. Originally created in Jan 2004, The Code Red imprint has to date unleashed some hefty releases on the dance floor and the 2006 sampler literally saturated Miami. The label is now receiving a big push through a partnership with Defected Records.

Ex basement boy Spen and his crew join the Defected team as things get taken to the next level. The imprint will remain with its original identity but the pace will be upped and there will be measures to make sure the music hits all the rights hands.

Code Red was named after the recording studio that his partner Gary Deane owned will predominantly represent soulful house music with a definite edge. The philosophy is to provide great songs with an underlying rhythm that is going to kick butt.

The main artists for 2006/7 include the new production outfit The Muthafunkaz which consists of Gary Hudgins, Irving Madden, Gary Deane, and DJ Spen.

This imprint has already released possibly one of the best records of the year so far with the 80’s and 90’s vocalist Sybil who returned to form with ‘Don’t Give Up’, the track is as classic as the chanteuse herself. With the second release there were no half measures with the essential addition of the former Sound of Blackness singer Ann Nesby who brought us ‘So Much Joy’ – literally! The big favorite from Miami was Thommy Davis ‘Night Train’ which was played by Tony Humphries,  who incidentally rocked the floor at The Miami Magic Session with this up-tempo floor filler.

Other key artists to release on this label shortly include, Marc Evans, Karizma, Ultra Nate and Jada.