Clappers is New York label that is primarily known for its reggae releases. But it has also attracted listeners due to some of their groundbreaking and controversial hiphop releases. The label is run by the Dub Organizer (b. Lister Hewan-Lowe 1952, Halfway Tree, Jamaica) a Jamaican who relocated to New York in 1972.
The first release on the label was the New York group Jah Mallas album Alive & Well. But also albums by General Plough, Jack Ruby, Aston »Familyman« Barrett, Jr. Dan, Nicodemus and others have been released. Yabby You's album on the label was supposedly a bootleg. Many of the labels releases are now sought after collectors albums.
The Clappers label is regarded to have released the first ever political hiphop song with Brother D's »How We Gonna Make The Black Nation Rise«. They also stirred up some controversy with the release of 2 Black 2 Strong/MMG's release of the EP Burn Baby Burn that depicted an American flag burning on the cover art work and also had the lyrics »Fuck the red, white and blue« in it. Record stores refused to carry the EP.
Discography
Albums
| Artist | Title | Year | Matrix/Cat No | Comment |
| Jah Malla | Alive and Well | 1980 | CLPS1980 | |
| Jack Ruby | Jack Ruby Hi-Fi | 1981 | CLPS1981 | |
| Various Artists | Black Slavery Days | 1981 | CLPS1982 | |
| Various Artists | Juvenile Delinquent | 1981 | CLPS1983 | Produced by Familyman Barrett |
| Jr. Dan | KTW Dub | 1982 | CLPS1984 | |
| David Moran | David Moran | 1982 | CLPS1985 | Alternative rock, not reggae |
| Yabby You | African Queen | 1982 | CLPS1986 | |
| Nicodemus | A Nice Up The Dance | 1983 | LLPS0001 | |
| General Plough | Midnight Rock | 1983 | BDLP0001 | |
| Iheka-Chama | Mandingo Tribe | | CSLP1987 | Was this ever released? |
| Brother D & Silver Fox | Up Against The Beast | 1984 | ROIR A 130 | Hiphop/reggae. Only released on cassette. Co-released by ROIR. |
| 2 Black 2 Strong/MMG | Burn Baby Burn EP | 1990 | CL12-0009 | Hiphop. Produced by Lister Hewan-Lowe & Kurt Norval. 10 track EP. Was banned in the US due to the cover artwork that depicts a burning American flag in the background. |
| 2 Black 2 Strong/MMG | Doing Hard Time On Planet Earth | 1991 | CLPS1991 | Hiphop |
| Jack Ruby | "Hi-Power" (Kingsturi-Grav Hi-Fi) | 19xx | CCTT | Cassette only. |
12 inch singles
| Artist A | Side 1 | Artist B | Side 2 | Year | Matrix/Cat. # | Producer | Country of issue | Comment (including rhythm) |
| Brother D | Dib-Be-Dib-Be-Dize | Brother D | How we Gonna Make the Black Nation Rise | 1980 | CL12-0001 | Locksley Grant, Pierre Brook | US | Hiphop. Credited as the first political hiphop song. |
| She | Ms. D.J. Rap It UP | Clappers Revue | Rap It Up Dubwise | 1980 | CL12-0002 | Dennis Weeden, Mike Theodore | US | Rap/Hip-Hop |
| N. Tate | Change Your Character | Bird All-Stars | Characteristics | 1980 | CL12-0003 | Bird | US | |
| Buckers | Violent Times | Music Masters | Violent Rock | 1980 | CL12-0004 | Bird | US | Mix by Bovell |
| Sons of Creation | Feeling Down A Yard | Sons of Creation | Revival | 1980 | CL12-0005 | The New Sons of Creation | US | Feeling Down A Yard features a rap verse and possibly the first reggae/hiphop track. |
| Bobby Gilliom | Gimme A Break | Clappa Club | A Dub Break | 1983 | CL12-0006 | Lister Hewan-Lowe, Bobby Gilliom | US | Rap/Hip-Hop |
| Raymond Levy | Radiate Love | Dub Club | Love Club Mix (Dubwise) | 1983 | CL12-0007 | Rupert Graham, Raymond Levy | US | |
| Brother D | Clappers Power (Club Dub Mix), Clappers Power (Radio Dub Mix) | Brother D | Mao Dub Red, Tampa Riot, S.O.B.'s, Shot Like Dis Could - A Never Mis...! | 1987 | CL12-0008 | Produced by Dub Organizer (Hewan-Lowe), Pierre Brock for Lister Hewan-Lowe Productions | US | Rap/Hip-Hop |
| 2 Black 2 Strong/MMG | Across the 110 (+3 mixes) | 2 Black 2 Strong/MMG | Only The Strong Survive (+2 mixes) | 1991 | CL12-00010 | Chill Will | US | Rap/Hip-Hop |
| 2 Black 2 Strong/MMG | Up In the Mountains (+3 mixes) | 2 Black 2 Strong/MMG | Ghetto Blaster (+3 mixes) | 1991 | CL12-00011 | Chill Will | US | Rap/Hip-Hop |
7 inch singles
| Artist | Side 1 | Side 2(including artist details if different) | Year | Matrix/Cat No | Comment (incl producer, rhythm) |
| Raymond Levy | A Girl For Me | | 19xx | CL45-83 | |
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