Hidden Beach Recordings is an American independent record label founded in 1998 by Steven McKeever. The label releases music in R&B, soul, contemporary jazz, and inspirational genres and is distributed through Universal Music Group.
History
Founder background Born in Chicago, McKeever attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign before earning his Juris Doctor degreee from Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He began his career as an entertainment attorney at Irell & Manella LLP in Los Angeles. After leaving the firm, he joined PolyGram, where he discovered comedian Robin Harris and produced Harris’ first and only album, Be-Be’s Kids.
In 1991, McKeever joined Motown Records as senior vice president of A&R (artists and repertoire), expanding the label's line-up with musicians including Queen Latifah. In 1992, he launched the Motown subsidiary MoJazz Records, serving as its founding president and overseeing the label’s early roster with Norman Brown, Wayman Tisdale, and other artists. In 1993, McKeever was involved in the sale of Motown to PolyGram Records. By 1994, he was promoted to executive vice president of talent and creative affairs.
McKeever left Motown in 1995 to pursue independent ventures. In 1998, he founded Hidden Beach Recordings. He invited Charles Whitfield to join the company to oversee production and artist relations, and Whitfield later introduced McKeever to NBA star Michael Jordan, who became an early investor in the label.
Initial success In its early years, the label issued recordings by both emerging and established artists. Early commercial visibility came with the signing of Jill Scott, one of the label’s first artists. Her debut album, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1 (2000), received multiple Grammy Award nominations and achieved multi-platinum certification in the United States, helping establish the company during its initial years. Follow-up releases include Experience: Jill Scott 826+ (2001) and Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 (2004), which also appeared on Billboard charts.
In 2000, Hidden Beach released Paris Rain, a studio album by Brenda Russell. The album marked Russell’s return to solo recording after a recording hiatus and featured collaborations with artists including Carole King, Dave Koz, and Sheila E.. Additional projects during that period included the acquisition and development of Back to Then (2002), a neo-soul oriented solo album by Darius Rucker. Originally recorded for Atlantic Records following Rucker’s commercial success with Hootie & the Blowfish, the project was later developed by Hidden Beach after being shelved.
The label further expanded its roster with releases by Kindred the Family Soul, whose debut album Surrender to Love (2003) appeared on the Billboard R&B charts.
Early imprints Hidden Beach developed several label imprints focused on genre-specific releases. The Still Waters imprint was established for inspirational music, including gospel and spoken-word recordings. Releases issued through the imprint received nominations from organizations including the Grammy, Dove, and Stellar Awards. It later introduced the Celebration Series, which focused on themed seasonal releases. Among its release was My Christmas Prayer (2003) by BeBe Winans. According to industry reports, the album reached No. 1 on several Billboard catalog charts and was distributed through a retail partnership with Starbucks, where it sold more than 97,000 units during its initial release period.
Unwrapped music series Beginning in 2001, the label released the Unwrapped series, a collection of instrumental interpretations of contemporary rap and hip-hop recordings performed by contemporary jazz artists. Several volumes were issued during the 2000s, including a box set compiling the first four installments. Unwrapped, Vol. 3 featured interpretations of songs such as "In da Club" and "Lose Yourself" and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart and No. 4 on the overall Jazz chart. The fourth installment, Unwrapped, Vol. 4 (2006), also reached the Top 3 of the Contemporary Jazz chart. Unwrapped, Vol. 5: The Collipark Café Sessions was released in 2008.
Unwrapped Vol. 6: Give The Drummer Some!, featuring Tony Royster Jr., reached No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart. It was followed by Unwrapped Vol. 7: Back 2 Basics, continuing the series’ reinterpretation of contemporary urban repertoire through contemporary jazz arrangements. In 2019, Hidden Beach reintroduced the Unwrapped series with the release of Unwrapped Vol. 8: The Chicago Sessions, and announced plans for further volumes. A ninth volume, Unwrapped, Vol. 9: The Songs of Kendrick Lamar Reimagined, was released in 2025. Hidden Beach Experiences In 2014, Hidden Beach expanded its operations under the name Hidden Beach Experiences, while continuing to operate Hidden Beach Recordings as its primary label. Artists associated with the label include Naturally 7, Jill Scott, Kindred the Family Soul, Mike Phillips, Angie Fisher, and Al B. Sure!.
The company later launched Guardians of Soul, a division focused on projects developed in collaboration with artist estates. In 2015, Hidden Beach worked with the estate of Luther Vandross on The Power of Love: The Luther Vandross Experience, a tribute production created in cooperation with the estate.
Other projects In 2008, Hidden Beach released Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement, a compilation album supporting the presidential campaign of Barack Obama. The recording, released on September 18, 2008, featured performances by several artists including Kanye West, Stevie Wonder, and Sheryl Crow.
After the 2009 presidential inauguration, the company produced Change Is Now: Renewing America’s Promise, a commemorative CD-DVD set featuring music performances by various artists along with selected speeches from the inauguration period. The label also released Hidden Beach Recordings Presents: Hidden Hits Vol. 1 in 2009, a compilation album featuring recordings by Myron, Trek Life, and Kev Brown.
Discography +Studio Albums YearArtist Album2000Jill ScottWho Is Jill Scott: Words and Sounds, Vol. 1Brenda RussellParis Rain2002Darius RuckerBack to Then Mike Phillips You Have Reached Mike Phillips 2003Kindred the Family SoulSurrender to LoveJeff BradshawBone Deep2004Jill ScottBeautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol. 2BeBe WinansMy Christmas PrayerBent FabricJukebox Naturally 7Christmas: A Love Story2005BeBe WinansDreamLina The Inner Beauty MovementMike Phillips Uncommon Denominator Kindred the Family SoulIn This Life Together2006John DensmoreTribaljazz OntishaChurch GirlSunny HawkinsMore of You2007Keite YoungThe Rise and Fall of Keite Young Jill ScottThe Real Thing, Words and Sounds Vol. 3 2008Tony RichExistKindred the Family SoulThe Arrival2010Al B. Sure!Honey I'm HomeMike PhillipsM.P.3Naturally 7 VocalPlay2011Ramsey Lewis and his Electric BandTaking Another Look2012Jeff BradshawBone Appetit Vol. 1 Bone Appetit Vol. 2Peter Black Neverwhere: Peter Black's Book Vol. I 2015Naturally 7 Hidden in Plain SightJill ScottGolden Moments 2018Jill ScottBy Popular Demand +Compilation AlbumsYear ArtistAlbum2007Jill ScottJill Scott Collaborations Cornel WestNever Forget: A Journey of Revelations 2008Various artistsBarack Obama Yes We Can: Voices Of A Grassroots Movement2009Various artists Hidden Beach Recordings Presents: Hidden Hits Vol. 1Various artists Change Is Now: Renewing America's Promise 2011Jill ScottThe Original Jill Scott from the Vault, Vol. 1 Various artistsHidden Beach Valentines Vol. 1: Love, Passion & Other Emotions2012Jill ScottRemix Fundamentals, Vol. 1 (Spring Summer Feeling)2015Kindred the Family SoulFamily Treasures: Greatest Hits +Unwrapped Series YearAlbum2001Hidden Beach Recordings Presents: Unwrapped Vol,12002Hidden Beach Recordings Presents: Unwrapped Vol, 22003Hidden Beach Recordings Presents: Unwrapped Vol. 3 2005Hidden Beach Recordings Presents: Unwrapped Vol. 4 2008Hidden Beach Recordings Presents: Unwrapped Vol. 5.02009Hidden Beach Recordings Presents: Unwrapped The Ultimate Box Set 2009Hidden Beach Presents Unwrapped Vol. 6: Give the Drummer Some! Featuring Tony Royster Jr.2010Hidden Beach Recordings Presents: Unwrapped Vol. 7 "Back to Basics" 2019Hidden Beach Presents: Unwrapped, Vol. 8 (The Chicago Sessions)2025Unwrapped Vol. 9: The Songs of Kendrick Lamar Reimagined +Live Studio AlbumsYearArtistAlbum2001Jill ScottExperience Jill Scott 826+2008Jill ScottJill Scott Live in Paris2011Jill ScottLive at House of Blues, Sunset Strip +SinglesYearArtistSingle2004Jill Scott"Still Here" 2014Angie Fisher"I.R.S." 2015Angie Fisher"Hide & Seek""Summertime"2020Gene Noble"Too Many Lost""Matching Tattoos"2022Phat Yaki "Leave"2023Phat Yaki "Jupiter"2024Frayne Vibez"Take it Easy"2025Frayne Vibez"Savior""Fall Apart"
References
External links
Hidden Beach Recordings discography at Discogs Steve McKeever at AllMusic