World's first and longest running Christian Hip Hop store ending its run

After serving a worldwide community for a little over a decade, the first and longest running Christian Hip Hop online store known around the world as The Bus Shop will be making preparations to officially close it doors on March 15, 2012. Ken "Bus" Falls, Jr., founder and owner of The Bus Shop, informed DaSouth.com of his decision January 5th, 2012, and made an announcement via The Bus Shop's official Twitter yesterday.

Thanks to everyone who supported The Bus Shop website over the past decade, it has been my pleasure to serve you. March 15th will be the last day of operation for The Bus Shop. Business matters will continue as usual up to the day of closing. The site will continue 2 place items in digital format, CDs placements will not be made. The contact # @ the site will remain active. All calls will be forwarded to my cell phone, please do not be surprised by the greeting of "Hello" when calling.. LOL #KeepItLocked

Based out of Charlotte, NC, The Bus Shop made its debut in 2001, the same year DaSouth.com first launched. For many years the store could only be found at the link www.dasouth.com/bus-shop (no longer active) and was the only place where people around the world could find Christian Hip Hop music and in great numbers.

The Bus Shop may be a business, but at the heart of things was a desire just to support the genre and artists. Unlike CD Baby (another popular online music store that CHH artists utilized), The Bus Shop was the only store that purchased CD's from you in advance for placement. There was not even a guarantee that your CD would sell, but Bus didn't mind doing things this way. He saw it as an opportunity to support the artists. Just because of that alone, in our eyes, this probably makes Bus one of Christian Hip Hop's greatest supporters.

As if that wasn't enough, The Bus Shop was the first online outlet to introduce you to popular mixtapes like DJ Sean Blu's "Streethymns" and many more. 

With thousands of CD titles - also including Gospel, R&P, Pop/Rock and Reggae - Bus singlehandedly operated The Bus Shop with excellence and with great customer service. The remarkable part is that he did it all while maintaining a full-time job and a successful marriage. Bus made all of the industry contacts and inquiries, purchased every CD in stock, packaged and shipped them around the world, and would many times bless you with a free mixtape, or include postcards from other artists.

One time only servicing physical CD's, Bus took the store to the next level when he decided to offer digital downloads. As well, the store reported sales to SoundScan, which was very important to artists trying to gain the attention of mainstream. This provided a way for independent artists to mobilize their careers upward. As well, the store went through two site redesigns - once in 2005 and again in 2008 when the store went digital. 

Bus is also the visionary behind the popular compilations called the Bus Shop Recordings presents The Unity Series, which featured prominent artists like Japhia Life, Rob Hodge, Braille, Vizunari, Json, JAZ, Everyday Process (before signing with CMR), Sean Slaughter, The Rep, ADF, Cy, Enock, R-Swift, Intellegentz, and Soul Plasma (before he became Soul P). They also featured stellar production from well known producers like 4SightSounds, Kid Classic, Maji, Tony Stone, Theory Hazit, MILlion Tracks, J. Pierre, Saint Man, Kid Class and many others. Bus executive produced all three projects, and today the compilations are considered classic material, having come out during a time when Christian Hip Hop was still very authentic and not so commercialized.

Unity Series Vol. 2: The Bond Flash Intro | Purchase all Unity Series

It's hard not to say that Bus has been "that dude" for many years. A very humble person who has always enjoyed playing the background, we know that Bus gives all of the glory to God for what The Bus Shop has accomplished. Those who know Bus personally know that you cannot find a better friend - someone who is loyal, trustworthy, and lives with integrity toward the Lord. We look forward to all the Lord has in store.

I'm sure the question many are still wondering at the moment is, why has The Bus Shop decided close its doors, and why now? Having talked to Bus, I can say this much...  

It was just time.

Bus, thank you for all you have done for the Christian Hip Hop genre. For the longest you were the only place where people around the world could find our genre of music. You are truly a pioneer and we appreciate you. We owe you our deepest gratitude and respect. There is no telling where the genre would be today had The Bus Shop not existed. May God bless you and all of your future endeavors. We love you, man!

If you have ever had the pleasure of doing business with The Bus Shop, or simply appreciate the part the store has played in helping our genre grow and expand, consider leaving a comment below. Show Bus some love!

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DaSouth.com held an interview with Bus in February 2009 that will remain one of our favorites to date. Read it here