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Nia Records

 

One of my favorite labels is NIA records.

Nia is Swahili for "Purpose" and was the name of label owned and run by the Aleem twins.
Aleem are identical twins Taharqa Aleem and Tunde-ra Aleem.
The brothers began their recording career with Jimi Hendrix's Cry Of Love and Rain Bow Bridge, as The Ghetto Fighters.
(They also shared the same apartment with Jimi).

In 1977 they made a album on the Prelude label under the group name: Prana People
They also had a single on warner brothers in that year (the song is also on the prelude album).

 

 

The Aleems lived in the same building as Leroy Burgess so i think thats the reason they start working together.
On the first 12"es Leroy was the lead vocal.

In 1979 they started the Nia label.

Here is the list of 12" that i know that are issued:

Artist Title Year Matrix number Remarks Labelcolour Side A Side B
ALEEM HOOKED ON YOUR LOVE 1979 N 1003 Side A mixed by John Morales RED LABEL 6:32 8:51
ALEEM HOOKED ON YOUR LOVE 1979 C 1003 Featuring Caliber RED LABEL 5:00 8:51
FANTASTIC ALEEMS HOOKED ON YOUR LOVE 1979 N 1003 Side A mixed by John Morales BLUE LABEL 6:32 8:51
FANTASTIC ALEEMS HOOKED ON YOUR LOVE 1979 N 1003 Side A and B mixed by John Morales RED LABEL 6:32 3:35
FREQUENCY SUMMERTIME 1980 N 1004 . RED LABEL 6:33 4:05
FREQUENCY SUMMERTIME 1980 N 1004 Side A Mixed by Rick Gianatos/Side B by Rafael Charres GOLD LABEL 6:33 4:05
ALIAS SHAKE 1980 N 221/222 . YELLOW LABEL 4:33 4:33
LONNIE LOVE YOUNG LADIES 1980 N 223/224 . YELLOW LABEL 5:33 5:33
THE FANTASTIC ALEEMS GET DOWN FRIDAY NIGHT 1981 N 007 featuring Leroy Burgess Side B mixed by John Morales BLUE LABEL 7:25 10:00
ALEEM GET DOWN FRIDAY NIGHT 1982 N 1007 Side B mixed by John Morales GREEN LABEL . 7:07
THE FANTASTIC ALEEMS MOVIN' TO THE BEAT 1981 N 035 Featuring-Corky Hodges YELLOW LABEL 6:35 6:28
THE FANTASTIC ALEEMS MOVIN' TO THE BEAT 1981 N 035 Featuring-Corky Hodges BLUE LABEL 6:35 6:28
ALEEM GET DOWN FRIDAY NIGHT 1982 N 036 featuring Leroy BurgessĀ  BLUE LABEL 7:25 7:15
CAPTAIN ROCK COSMIC GLIDE 1982 NI 1234 . . 6:40/4:30 5:11
CAPTAIN ROCK COSMIC GLIDE 1982 NI 1234 . . 6:40 5:11
. . . NI 1235 . . . .
THE EKO TKO 1983 NI 5075 mixed by John Morales . 6:58 5:23
CAPTAIN ROCK THE RETURN OF CAPT. ROCK 1983 NI 1236 . . 8:23 6:30
THE LAST POET SUPER HORROR SHOW 1984 NI 1237 . . 6:57 7:01
. . . NI 1238 . . . .
TSOB CREW JESSIE,YOU'RE NUMBER ONE 1984 NI 1239-SM . . 5:10 5:45
CAPTAIN ROCK TO THE FUTURE SHOCK 1984 NI 1240 . . 5:47 3:50/5:55
ALEEM RELEASE YOURSELF 1984 NI 1241 Featuring Leroy Burgess . 6:02 6:15
BILLY JONES I CAN'T WAIT TO BREAK 1984 NI 1242 . . 6:00 4:40
ALEEM GET LOOSE 1984 NI 1243 Featuring Leroy Burgess . 6:58 7:26
CAPTAIN ROCK COSMIC BLAST 1984 NI 1244 . . 6:20/3:20 6:18
SPARKY D SPARK'S TURN 1985 NI 1245 . . 4:10 4:10/4:20
SPARKY D VS THE PLAYGIRLS THE BATTLE 1985 NI 1246 . . 5:49 6:08
ALEEM CONFUSION 1985 NI 1247 With Leroy Burgess . 5:35 5:57
MARLEY MARL MARLY MARL SCRATCH 1985 NI 1248 Original with McShan . 4:30 4:45
MARLEY MARL MARLY MARL SCRATCH 1985 NI 1248 Re-issue with DJ Shan . 4:30 4:45
CAPRICE 100 PERCENT 1985 NI 1249 . . 4:26 4:07
SPARKY D SHE'S SO DEF / HE'S MY DJ 1985 NI 1250 Featuring Red Alert Picture Cover 4:13/4:00 4:59/2:02
CAPTAIN ROCK THE HOUSE OF ROCK/ YOU STINK 1984 NI 1251 . Picture Cover 4:16/2:31 3:31/2:40/1:40
SUPER KIDS THE TRAGEDY (DON'T DO IT) 1986 NI 1252 . . 4:24 5:24
. . . NI 1253 . . . .
CAPRICE PERSONAL INJURY 1986 NI 1254 . . 5:36 6:10
. . . NI 1255 . . . .
SUPREME FORCE YOU GOTTA COME OUT FRESH/HANDLING THINGS 1986 NI 1256 . . 5:13/5:13 6:35/6:35
CAPTAIN ROCK BONGO BEAT 1986 NI 1257 . . 4:00 6:26
ALEEM GET DOWN FRIDAY NIGHT-REMIX 1986 NI 1258 Mixed by M&m productions YELLOW LABEL 10:00 7:25
DOUBLE IMAGE THE STORM 1987 NI 1259 . . 4:52/4:52 4:52
 
Labelscans of some 12 inches:
 

Left:The original Acetate of the John Morales mix.
Right:The rare green label issue of this song from 1982.

 

Left:The regular labelcolour.
Right:The rare blue label issue of this song.

 

Left:The Gold label copy with different text on the label (A side says that it is mixed by Rick Gianatos)
Right:The red label copy.

 
   
 

One of the many versions of this song.
This song is also issued on the Panorama label in 1980.
That one was mixed by Rick Gianatos and the B side is instrumental.

There were also two albums issued on the Nia label:

-Drum Spirits Various artists 1983 NIA 777 Contains only "african" Drum Beats
-N.Y.C. Crazy Jams Various artists 1986 NILP 11250 Contains one song which wasn't issued on 12":D'Bora- No Sense
 
 

If anyone has more info to put on this page please let me know.