Die Jim Crow Records

"The beauty of Die Jim Crow is that people behind bars are making music to educate and liberate. I’m thrilled that my work has helped to inspire this effort…”
Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow

“Death to Jim Crow means a death to stereotypes, to misconceptions of the ‘Other.’ There is no Other. The term Jim Crow comes from a song which satirizes a slave. I see much parallel to the way our society views those incarcerated: that they are lesser than, merely criminals. DJC Records aims to change this narrative through music.”
Fury Young, Executive Director

Our six-song Die Jim Crow EP was released in May 2016 and saw its first music video premiere on RollingStone.com. The EP was recorded at Warren Correctional Institution, a close-security state prison in Lebanon, Ohio, and with formerly incarcerated musicians in Brooklyn, NY and Philly, PA.

Since 2016, we have recorded dozens of songs in prisons in Colorado, Mississippi, and South Carolina.

In March 2019 we began our transition from concept album project, “Die Jim Crow,” to Die Jim Crow Records, the label. In November 2019 we completed a successful 50K Kickstarter campaign with social media support from Roxane Gay, Gloria Steinem, Marky Ramone, Styles P, Erica Jong, Jadakiss and Harvard scholar Elizabeth Hinton.

Beginning in June 2020, we will launch our Single of the Month initiative and solo artist BL Shirelle’s debut record ASSATA TROI (6/19/20).

ASSATA TROI is a sonic exploration of Hip Hop, Rock, Blues, and R&B. Through BL’s music, poetic lyricism and identity as an LGBTQ woman of color, she shares her youth, addiction, experiences in prison, musical journey and her unstoppable social activism.