Company Flow

Now with an even stronger buzz, Company Flow was courted by several labels, but held out for an extremely artist-friendly deal that would allow them to maintain ownership of their masters and publishing rights, receive 50 percent of the net profits from their recordings, and not commit them to multiple album releases. The only label to accept their terms was Rawkus Records, a financially struggling indie with no clear musical identity at the time. Company Flow's signing gave them instant street credibility and paved the way for the label to spearhead the resurgence of underground hip-hop with a roster including Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, and others. Company Flow, meanwhile, added a spate of new tracks to Funcrusher to create their debut full-length, Funcrusher Plus. Acclaimed by many and misunderstood by some, Funcrusher Plus is considered a landmark. Heavy touring and promotion ensued, after which Bigg Jus struck out on his own (as the group had planned for some time). El-P and Mr. Len followed up with Little Johnny from the Hospitul: Breaks and Instrumentals, Vol. 1, an album of dark instrumental hip-hop that disappointed some fans but pleased others. Also that year, they contributed the topical "Patriotism" to Rawkus' Soundbombing, Vol. 2 compilation (which was titled after a phrase they'd coined in the early days).