Noo Trybe Records was an American hip hop record label established in 1994 by Eric L. Brooks and operated as a sublabel of Virgin Records. It worked with several independent hip hop labels including Rap-A-Lot Records and AWOL.
History
The label was founded in 1994 by Eric L. Brooks with a manufacturing, funding and distribution deal from Virgin Records under EMI.
A portion of Noo Trybe's roster came from several artists who were absorbed from EMI when it was disbanded, which included Gang Starr and AZ. Other Virgin acts such as Shyheim, who signed with the label in 1993, were transferred to the new label.
By 1995, Noo Trybe signed Oakland, California based duo Luniz. Noo Trybe released the duo's debut studio album, Operation Stackola, on July 4, 1995. With the success of the single Playa Hata, the album debuted and peaked in the top 20 on the Billboard 200, and ultimately achieved Platinum status in America.
Rap-A-Lot's distribution was absorbed by Virgin proper in 1998, and in 1999, the label was absorbed by its parent. In 2013, the trademark was acquired by Universal Music as a result of its purchase of EMI's recorded-music business.
