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 Many
people ask what was Cue's Records all about. Well Cue's was
a record store we put together to just be a chilled out spot to
buy records and network into the music scene. Not some major
record store that was changing the scene and doing big things.
But..
we did do some stuff like that. When we opened in 1994 we
never thought that we would be featured in magazines all over the
world. 
Source,
Rappages, Urb, Blaze, as well as some international magazines and
movies by independent film makers.
I
mean we did so much stuff that it seemed like the store was more
of a tourist attraction
than
a store. Some days people would come in and take a bunch
of pictures and then smile and leave. I could go on forever
about the store but I'll just mention some great moments from the
good ole days.
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In 1989 as a teenager stock clerk in a trendy mall shoe store (The Athlete's Foot), Frank Cuevas aka DJ Cue had a vision, not of shoes but of records. He wanted to open a record store one day and sell all types of good music and reach customers from all walks of life. He told his boss then that he would open a record store someday and that his boss then could now go work for him. Well his boss never got to go work for him but 4 years later after releasing his first record with group members Eddie Def & Quest, (Hamster Breaks Vol. 1) he knew then he could do it. Learning the ropes by selling his groups records to stores, he knew he could do the same, but with his own style. In 1994 that dream became a reality. March of 1994 the San Francisco Bay Area saw a new force in the dj scene. A new player was now to join the ranks of classic well know record stores like Soul Disco (Bobby G's), Star Alley, Amoeba, Rasputins, Streetlight, and a few others. Cue's Records opened up to a new emerging dj scene that would soon take the world by storm. With dj battles, a well know work staff, exclusive records not sold anywhere else, and a following of loyal customers, Cue's Records quickly was recognized by customers worldwide. Distributing its products worldwide, the revolution was on. The only store to keep the "Keep Vinyl Alive" movement going was now part of the revolution of the international dj scene. With support of friends who also happened to be top world dj's (Quest, Eddie Def, Disk, Apollo, Mix Master Mike, Flare, Q-Bert, & Shortkut) the store put a spot on the map for Daly City, California. These forces and the new indie hip-hop movement produced a strong player of pushing records and getting new music to the customers. Record labels were now bringing in big and small artists alike to visit the store and its large customer base. With that recognition alone the store was well excepted in the music scene, but then another strike of luck hit Cue's Records with the massive push of local Bay Area artists. Now artists such as JT the Bigga Figga, San Quinn, GLP, Dre Dogg, C-Bo, Young Celski, IMP, RBL, 11-5, all from the local area, started to release new albums on a consistent basis with powerful sales now becoming 75% of the total sales of Cue's Records. Bay Area Rap was now the new force to keep Cue's Records popular amongst the loyal customers. Selling the "West Coast" sound to customers in Japan, Australia, and even Europe. The "W" was out to take on the world. Cue's Records was right there pushing it along. With the best of both worlds Cue's Records was there with it all, meeting people from every walk of life possible, from drunk folk singers off the street, to local law enforcement, to major radio dj's, to even major music stars, Cue's Records served them all. If we could find a bank to give us enough money we could make a movie about the things that happened here. Probably just as funny as watching "Friday". It's all happened here. Days were all we did was play video games and sell nothing. For the first 2 years it seems like all we did was eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or Top Ramen soup. We survived the techno days and kicked ass with indie hip-hop. We helped bring vinyl back to the eyes and ears of the new generation of fans. Cue's put it down sticking to what we enjoyed. Cue's Records was definitely a great place to be and even greater to be a part of its history. But not leaving the music scene forever, Cue's Records vision was now taking a new transformation and studying the music scene for a better way to keep its goals of keeping the best music available to all. We will be doing our best to keep the vision going to keep you spinning forever. More to continue...... |
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Mobb
Deep
MC
Ren