Pendulum Records

{{short description|Record label}}

Pendulum Records is a hip hop-oriented record label originally founded in 1991 by Ruben Rodriguez, who was then working as a senior vice president for urban music at Elektra Records.{{Cite web |url=http://www.pendulumrecords.biz/about-pendulum-records/ |title=About Pendulum Records |website=Pendulum Records |language=en-US |access-date=2018-07-25}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-28-ca-973-story.html |title=Black Executives Quietly Rising in Music Industry |last=Shiver |first=Jube Jr. |date=1991-12-28 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=2018-07-25 |language=en-US |issn=0458-3035}} In 1992, Rodriguez resigned his position at Elektra to devote more time to his position as president of Pendulum. At the time, Pendulum was an imprint label being distributed by Elektra.{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/1992/scene/people-news/rodriguez-ankles-elektra-urban-post-100663/ |title=Rodriguez ankles Elektra urban post |author=Variety Staff |date=1992-11-04 |work=Variety |access-date=2018-07-25 |language=en-US| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725063704/https://variety.com/1992/scene/people-news/rodriguez-ankles-elektra-urban-post-100663/| archive-date=July 25, 2018}} In 1993, it switched distribution partners from Elektra to EMI Records.{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-09-12-ca-34192-story.html |title=Pop Eye |date=1993-09-12 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=2018-07-25 |language=en}} One of the label's most prominent and profitable signatories was the hip hop group Digable Planets. Digable Planets member Craig "Doodlebug" Irving blames the switch from Elektra to EMI for leading to their second album, Blowout Comb, not being very well-publicized.{{Cite news |url=https://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/cee-knowledge-catches-a-cosmic-ride-away-from-digable-planets/Content?oid=4904054 |title=Cee Knowledge catches a cosmic ride away from Digable Planets |last=Parker |first=Chris |date=2014-04-16 |work=Charleston City Paper |access-date=2018-07-25 |language=en}}

In October 2021, Pendulum Records founder Ruben Rodriguez died at 68 years old.{{cite web |title=R.I.P. RUBEN RODRIGUEZ |url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=328854 |website=hitsdailydouble.com |publisher=HITS Digital Ventures |access-date=2024-08-04}}{{cite web |title=Obituary of Ruben Rodriguez |url=https://claytonfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/4317/Ruben-Rodriguez/obituary.html |website=claytonfuneralhome.com |publisher=Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home |access-date=2024-08-04}}