Join us for a labels we love listening session at In Sheep’s Clothing NYC dedicated to Now-Again Records.

Now-Again Records is a Los Angles based imprint that specializes in reissues and archival compilations of global funk and psychedelic grooves, both new and old. Founded in 2002 by revered record collector and ex-Stones Throw GM Eothen “Egon” Alapatt, the label has since its inception operated as a vehicle for lost music to not only be rediscovered, but also sampled and licensed for use in film and television. Music from the Now-Again catalog can be heard on American Gangster, The Shield, Life On Mars, True Blood, CSI, and on tracks by Jay Z, Janet Jackson, Nas, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, and Madlib (who works closely with Now-Again on his own label Madlib Invazion).

Aside from archival work, the label also runs the incredible Rappcats record shop in Highland Park that hosts pop-up events from some of the best collectors / record sellers in the world like DJ Shadow, Mr. Bongo, Groove Merchant, and others. Now-Again Records has also focused on artist development with new releases coming from Seu Jorge and Almaz, Malcolm Catto’s Heliocentrics, the Whitefield Brothers, Karl Hector and The Malcouns, and Fabiano Do Nascimento.

Today, we’ll be playing some of our favorite releases on the label including Tribe Records jazz from Doug Hammond, Zamrock from Witch, psych-folk from Mark Fry, and various rare soul/funk from 2-5pm during our weekly dedicated listening hours at In Sheep’s Clothing. As usual, “to hear more, say less.”

In anticipation of the listening session, we caught up with label founder Egon over email to learn more about the label’s beginnings, standout digging experiences, favorite sample flips, and more.

What is your earliest memory of music?

To be honest, I don’t recall in the least. Music has been a part of my life since in utero – my family are all musical, in one way or another, and it’s just always been there.

How did the label first get started?

I was in college, and this fella named Bob Perry and his partner Joe Mansfield at a company called Landspeed Records knew I was tracking down musicians in the South and Midwest. They told me they wanted me to assemble a box set of soul and funk 7” singles for them. I wanted to establish an ethical licensing protocol for the musicians I was meeting. It all came together, and that ended up turning into “The Funky 16 Corners” anthology on Stones Throw Records, which was the company I moved to LA to run after college. That anthology came out in 2001. That turned to Now-Again in short order, starting in 2002. I distributed through Stones Throw during my tenure there, until 2011. Then, at the same time Madlib and I started Madlib Invazion, I set up Now-Again as a wholly separate enterprise and really ramped up my catalog management business, alongside the reissues, alongside putting together the albums that Madlib and I would issue, such as “Pinata,” an album that turned our label around for us in 2014.

Can you describe the ethos/approach behind the label?

It’s a catholic approach to collecting and sharing special music, and it’s all done ethically. The artists or their families are always involved – and in many cases, my stewardship of a catalog transcends generations. I believe in the power of music, and the power of stories, and I understand the human need to create and foster myths. I try my best to keep the magic of wonderful music and a historical accuracy that also allows for fantasy and dream building, as I want the music that passes through my stewardship to last far beyond when I’m gone.

“I try my best to keep the magic of wonderful music and a historical accuracy that also allows for fantasy and dream building…”

You’ve uncovered some amazing records over the years all around the world. Can you share some recent standout digging experiences?

Brasil in 2002, with B+, Eric Colemen, Madlib, Cut Chemist, J.Rocc, Babu, Mamao, James Gadson, Paul Humphey and others stands out. That was marvelous. That was all captured in B+’s documentary “Keepintime,”which I haven’t seen in years, but recall really loving.

Now Again has also worked directly with artists to provide samples for their productions. What are some of your favorite sample flips from those projects?

I really enjoyed the way Madlib made “Rappcats” from the Roe O Tation’s “Special Category.” That was on his second Quasimoto album. I remember bringing a recording of that and some other records ,including Creations Unlimited, to his studio in Echo Park in 2004 or so.

I also liked the way J.Dilla flipped Chocolate Star for the intro and outro of “Donuts.” I remember recording that onto CD for him while he was hospitalized in LA, alongside other records I just wanted him to hear, which were unhearable unless you had the original LP back then – like Minoru Muraoka’s “Bamboo” and The Feedback album on the Italian RCA.

As a label owner, what are your personal favorite labels?

I’ve many new favorites, and they include Jazzman, Lion Productions, PPU, Sonor Music Editions, Funkadelphia/Philadelphia Archives, Numero Group, Fortuna, Permanent Records, Mr. Bongo, Habibi Funk and Universounds. I have many old favorites, and they include Horo, Impulse, PM, Sermi, Amha, Kaifa, EMI Nigeria, Cold Chillin’, Strata East, Tribe, Lightin’,  Rebita, Blue Note and LAMP.

What is coming up next for the label?

That’s an interesting question. I love producing new albums, and have produced, overseen or A&R’ed hundreds – at least – over the past 25 years or so. And I love hip hop. Hip hop was my first, real musical love and hip hop is the reason I’m here talking to you now. But I’m less involved with hip hop, and less desirous of producing new albums now. So I think that what’s coming up next is a bit of wandering, figuring out what I want my next phase in music to be. I’m not going anywhere, and I am inspired by my journey in music, the big records and small ones, the great people and the insane ones, the ups and the downs. Now-Again has always been with me and always will be. It’s a life long commitment.