Shop Local: Brittany's Record Shop Spins Diverse Music
The Slavic Village spot celebrates Black culture by focusing on reggae, hip-hop, jazz and more.
Her eponymously named Brittany’s Record Shop focuses on genres such as reggae, hip-hop, rap and jazz. “There was a gap in the kind of music I was looking for, and I was relegated to looking on the internet [to buy records],” says Benton, who opened the shop in 2018. “I wanted this to be a reflection of what being a young Black millennial in the city is all about.”
Even the decor is an homage to DJ and hip-hop culture, starting with the two turntables and a mixer that guard the doorway. Benton pipes of-the-moment music throughout the shop while burning incense (usually nag champa) to create “good vibes,” per her mother’s advice. Eager shoppers can pore through the 25 crates of vinyl, and Benton carefully curates incoming stock, balancing the classics with whatever is up-and-coming.
She’s also willing to help a customer track down an album she doesn’t yet have in stock. “My favorite thing is to discover new music, whether it’s newly released or it’s just new to me,” Benton says.
An Item We Love: Benton recommends Shaker Heights native Galcher Lustwerk’s latest album, Information ($21). The electronica artist is known for trippy house sounds and smooth vocals.
6412 Fleet Ave., Cleveland, 833-568-3929, brittanysrecordshop.com
Click here to explore more than 30 local shops and boutiques as part of this month’s “Shop Local” package.
