About Us

For 25 years and counting, Jackson, Miss.-based Mercenary Records has been a forerunner in discovering, developing, and delivering some of the brightest talents in rap music to prominence. Located in the heart of the South, this premier powerhouse independent label has one of the longest-running track records in the game for producing underground and radio hits alike.

From the late-1990s supergroup Presidential Playas to the recent rap phenomenon Hollywood Luck, Mercenary Records has played an integral part in the advancement of their music careers. And they all got their starts recording in a modest home studio on the Northwest section of the city.

Founded in 1996 by eager entrepreneur Tavius Hunt (better known as T. Hunt), Mercenary Records initially started as a way for Hunt to keep the neighborhood kids out of trouble. He knew that many of them were interested in being rap artists, so he gathered the youngsters up and invested in some studio time for them to record their music.

But it didn’t take long before buying studio time grew thin. “I got tired of paying for studio time,” he recalls, “so I bought my own equipment.”

Out of those long days and night recording music emerged the label’s first standout group Presidential Playas. The group’s name paid homage to their Presidential Hills community and included a popular artist now known as Hollywood Luck. Over the years, they poured out a bevy of hit singles and albums, toured with platinum and gold-selling artists, and had the major labels salivating to sign them to a deal.

“I took them in, molded them, branded and took them where they needed to be,” Hunt recalls. “I put them in the spotlight.”

With a proven track record of molding aspiring talents, Mercenary Records introduces its new wave of hitmakers. This brand-new movement introduces solo rappers Godson Royal and Osama Woo and reintroduces new music from Mr. Presidential himself. Mercenary Records is back like we never left!

“We got an archive of music. I can send you a hit for every day this month,” Hunt contends. “Everybody knows the brand. The consumer knows we got good music. We got our own niche with clarity and deliverance. We’re looking to being the top dogs that stand out.”

And they are reaching the fans from the grassroots level just like they always have done. “We jump out the wrapped van just like an old school with posters, t-shirts, and USB instead of CDs,” Hunt describes. “It’s going to be what everybody is looking for. We’re still online but we are in your face!”