Lowes’ Mill in Southwest Huntsville is a former cotton-textile mill that dates from around the beginning of the 20th Century. After a stint as a Genesco Shoe factory, it closed, and has since been turned into a unique gallery of artists’ studios, galleries and shops. I had driven out there Saturday to visit Vertical House Records, but unfortunately they had closed at 5 PM.
James Music, formerly James Records and Tapes, is a legendary urban music institution on Memorial Parkway in Huntsville, which I honestly thought had closed. Instead, I learned that the building had suffered water damage and thus was closed for awhile, but is back open again. There is an especially good selection of rare vinyl, a section of local Huntsville rap artists, and a good selection of blues and southern soul.
Sound City Music on Marshall, Texas’ West Houston Street is a neighborhood institution whose walls are literally filled with rap, blues and gospel, including a …
M & M Records has been Tyler, Texas’ main spot for Texas rap albums and mixtapes, gospel, blues and T-shirts. It’s off the beaten path, but definitely worth a visit, and you might just find that out-of-print Texas rap CD you’ve been wanting.
Half Price Books and Records in Dallas might be the largest used book store in America, or close to it. Of course there are other locations in Texas, as well as in several other states, but this flagship store on Northwest Highway in Dallas is the original location and company headquarters. The store is filled with used and cut-out books, compact discs and vinyl record albums, all at remarkably low prices. Visit them at http://www.hpb.com/001.html for more info.
Rewind Music and More is one of Dallas’ premiere stores for hip-hop, gospel and blues CD’s and mixtapes. After a number of years in Oak Cliff’s Wynnewood Village, they have relocated to a store front at 3823 Ross Avenue just northeast of downtown Dallas. They’re definitely worth a visit for any fans of Texas rap. And remember, there’s no experience quite like visiting an independent record store.
The Black Republic is a new hip-hop shop in West Charlotte on West Boulevard just east of Remount Road. Besides an impressive selection of hip-hop clothing from Fly Society, Playwear, 10 Deep, Crooks and Castles and more, Black Republic also sells mixtapes by local DJ’s including Carolina legend DJ Chuck T. It’s kind of off the beaten path, but worth a detour.
For 30 years, Next Door Records has been the place for music in Martin, TN, less than a block from the UT-Martin campus, 9/10/12
