From all the way back in the day when street-level party music label Nervous Records was first founded in 1991, the master plan was always straight-up support for the deepest and grittiest parts of the house and hip-hop subcultures.
"The true underground is the guy who sleeps until 1 in the morning. And then he gets up and goes out at 2," explains Nervous label boss Mike Weiss. "Obviously, that crowd is always a little bit small. But I feel that's the essence of the label -- repping the people who are in it strictly for the love of the game."
He audibly shrugs, continuing: "You know, they're not in it because they're ultimately thinking they're going to play Madison Square Gardens in front of 20,000 people."
It's true that Nervous has always been about the real shit. Built on the backs of classic house heads like Roger S., Kenny Dope, and Todd Terry, Nervous has been home to several generations of East Coast club music, from dance diva Sandy B to rap legend Funkmaster Flex to Miami's own dark beat mastermind Oscar G. And now after 20 years, the label's commitment to repping the streets, the parties, and the music has become an undeniable way of life that influences every aspect of Nervous operations. Even bacon, eggs, and hotcakes.
"At WMC, we used to do a breakfast party at Denny's from 4 to 6 a.m. and it was just crazy," Weiss laughs. "That's the true underground."
Nervous Records' Pool Party 2 with Oscar G, Peter Rauhofer, Junior Sanchezz, Superchumbo, Ralph Falcon, and others. Sunday, March 27. Clevelander Hotel, 1020 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach. The party starts at 11 a.m. and tickets cost $30 via wantickets.com. Call 305-532-4006 or visit clevelander.com.
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