Daptone Records

Daptone Records is a Brooklyn, New York independent label built around hard funk, soul and Afrobeat performed by contemporary artists. Its roots lie with musicians and producers connected to Desco Records, the 1990s funk revival label that later folded. Daptone is run by Gabriel Roth and Neal Sugarman, with Roth also working under the name Bosco Mann in the studio. The label operates its own recording space, Daptone’s House of Soul.

The label is best known for its work with Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and Charles Bradley, two singers closely associated with its raw, band-led soul sound. Its wider roster has included the Menahan Street Band, The Budos Band, The Sugarman 3, Antibalas and The Mighty Imperials, connecting deep funk and soul arrangements with Afrobeat’s rhythmic drive. Antibalas in particular reflects the label’s sustained relationship with Afrobeat, while groups such as Menahan Street Band and The Budos Band foreground instrumental writing and ensemble playing.

Daptone’s more recent artist community includes Thee Sacred Souls, Jalen Ngonda, Orquesta Akokán, The Womack Sisters, Cochemea, The Altons and The Olympians. Together with its established acts, they place the label’s work in a continuum of soul, funk, Latin music and Afrobeat rather than as a revival exercise detached from present-day performers. The music is made by active singers, players, arrangers and producers, with the House of Soul serving as a central part of the label’s recording identity.