VIP Records

I’m glad I got to go here one last time before they closed their doors for good. There’s not much records left for sale, but there’s plenty of T-​Shirts and hoodie with their original VIP logo. If you’re a big fan of classic west coast Hip hop, this is the place to be.

RIP 2 VIP??? Noooooooo I love this place. I pray that they are not REALLY closing on 12÷31÷15 as has been reported. The owner is so kind and the legacy of this store is immeasurable. I can not believe that the City of Long Beach will not support sustaining a TRUE LANDMARK! This place is music history. VIP Records is personally responsible for making several artist Gold and Platinum, just from sales at VIP Franchises. I am honored to have been in the Long Beach store and to personally know the owner. Mr. Andersen is a humble and loving man. He gave ALL Long Beach artists their first shot and just what have they done in return! I feel Snoop or Warren could have reached out and made sure that the doors of the place where they recorded their first demo with Nate stays open! Its so sad to see this legacy come to an end! We Love You VIP.

Finally made it out here before the store shuts down in late December. Got to meet the owner Kelvin and was put onto some new artists coming out of thr LBC. If you grew up on that classic G-​Funk sound you gotta visit here at least once.

Wrapping the day up and listening to my soundtrack for the evening… Teena Maria and Jill Scott. AMAZING service and selection. Wait. Let’s back up a bit. The selection is way more varied that you would think. Listened to a great Jazz fusion compilation and am going back for the Bee Gees next month after I free up some funds from my coffee budget. Kelvin and Elizabeth (?) made me not wanna leave after putting on Al Green… See you all soon!
My only reccomendation is to spruce up and clean the store. Looks a little garage-​ish!

(FYI: V.I.P isn’t closed, they’re just located directly on PCH now!)
I’ve been hitting up record stores since I was little, and I’m proud to say that I’ve been to the World Famous V.I.P a few times in my twenty years of living.
V.I.P is a legendary record shop in East Long Beach & if artists like Snoop Dogg & Warren G are giving you props, you’re doing is right. The owner is very nice & he has an extensive knowledge of music. If you’re a music enthusiast like myself & love to talk about music, he’s your dude.
If you’re looking for a rare or classic soul or hip-​hop record, they’ll have it here. If you’re a producer, I highly recommend coming here because you will leave with something you can sample later.
If this place looks familiar, this is the roof Snoop Dogg is on top of in the «What’s My Name» video. (Snoop Doooogy Dawwwg!)
Moral of the story: Visit V.I.P at least one time. It’s one of those things to cross off your bucket list if you’re a Long Beach/​562 native. Happy Digging!!!

Time to get on the ball VIP, I have been going there for years! Before the Snoop Dog Days! When I was younger there were no problem finding the top music here, always had mixed tapes ready to go, and vinyls for all of you DJ’s! One problem is they did not have a wide variety of music! I didn’t mind only because they had what I wanted! Now time has changed! Music has changed, and all you have to show for it is clothing? It doesn’t matter how long you have been there, or how great everyone thinks you might have been. If you don’t get with the program, they will be taking that sign down! I do not want to see that happen, this store has gone through a lot! I want to see it survive!

I really want to rate this place higher but the current state of their business and selection I just can’t justify it. A couple racks of CD’s, a dozen crates or so of dated hip hop 12″ vinyl, and an entire wall of random clothing merchandise is pretty much what you’ll find. I pretty much went there for the nostalgia factor, but we all know that doesn’t pay the bills. V.I.P. left me wanting more.
The workers there were helpful and fun to chat with. I inquired about local music and artists (while trying to stay away from any major L.A. artists) and left with only a few over priced CDs.

Here’s my beef with some of these reviews for VIP Records: you guys are rating it for its nostalgia. Yes, it’s iconic, yes you do need to stop by here if you’re in Long Beach. But I’m going to give you a straight review.
The store is now downsized to a side portion of the strip mall. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it seems like they downsized the music part of the store, and kept the clothing section the same, almost-​overwhelming size. I mean, the girls in the store were folding stacks of t-​shirts on the vinyl section that seemed worth checking out. For the section I was able to dig through, it was mainly multiple presses of one-​hit wonders. The dude at the counter was polite, though, and it seemed like he really wanted to help.
I’ll go back to VIP Records and give an update when I do, but for now, ehhhh. And yes, Snoop did shoot a music video here, but that doesn’t mean he LOVES it. Listen to «Vapors»: in the last verse, he talks about how Warren G tried getting a job here, but they turned him away… until he blew up.

RIP VIP… Sadly they’re closed.

«V.I.P that means the number’s not listed»
As a kid, piled in my mom’s rusted 70’s hooptie, I’d mark our local sunday scenic drives with what I regarded Long Beach landmarks –VIP being one.
Shhh. don’t tell anyone but back in the day the little homeboy whistleing on the roof was a whiteboy. I guess the days of commercial afrocentricity and Snoop Dog adopting this spot for one of his videos was enough to make someone think: hmmmm.
The LB’s landscape has changed in my 30+ yrs. Gone is Bob’s Big Boy winking eye as you turned off Long Beach BLVD towards the west side. Java Lane’s unmistakable Googie (not Google) building, before you hit the traffic circle, is also a ghost.
It’s hard to imagine a day rounding the corner of PCH & Atlantic, just past another signature landmark (Poly’s Art Deco auditorium) were VIP’s fiberglass mascot wouldn’t be there to urge my cruising on with a faint whistling of: ‘Sssswing down sweet chariot Stop and let me ride. ’

I remember watching Snoop film his video on the roof of this place in the early 90’s. It’s also cool to see what album covers they have painted above the windows. The guy on the huge sign used to be white back in the day too. You gotta love these places in times when the Internet is taking over. Holding a record in you hands and loading it yourself is a much better experience than mp3ing it. Love this landmark of a business.

I came to VIP Records on a pretty somber day… it was the day after Nate Dogg’s passing. There were quite a few boards where you could sign your condolences for Nate Dogg, and I’m not gonna lie. I was pretty honored/​shocked when they asked me to sign it. I grew up listening to Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Daz, etc so it was really nice of them to let me sign it. It meant a lot to me. It’s amazing to see this record store is still here in the days where record stores are a dying breed. Overall, it was a really great experience. I got an old LBC Mixtape, the new Daz Dillinger CD (which is fuckin’ awesome btw) and a newer Snoop mixtape. VIP Records will always hold a very special place in my heart. I’m not sure if you guys check this, but THANK YOU. RIP Nate Dogg.

Great place to pick up records. You should come by here and check it out.

A family operated establishment that retails HipHop/R&B, Gospel, Rap, & Jazz music. If they don’t have it on-​hand, they can order it for you. They also do design & print for business cards, flyers, t-​shirts, tickets, etc. Yes, they have expanded their services. Stop by & support! :)

Fist of all bowdown to history I mean real BLACK history VIP Records has a been a Eastside Long Beach tradition for generations yo mama’s mama used to get her 8 tracks there (real talk) Kelvin Anderson and his family have been commited to the mom and pop black owned format that our young people need to bear witness to and aspire to one day pursue OWNERSHIP music like religion is our heritage and VIP always stayed up on OUR music OUR life and times I am so very glad to have been raised @ VIP with the likes of Kelvin, King Tim, The Kingsman Crew, Dj Slice, Dj Seany P., Dj Percise, Radio (RIP) and so many others who pioneered OUR artforms and music VIP as a life long Eastsider I salute you and thank you.

hahaa here’s a VIP Records review by me in rap format:
I just came back from the VIP Records in the LBC/​This is the same spot where a rapper rapped a top the roof by the name of Snoop D-​O-​double G/​this place is crazy as in cool/​I’ve seen kids come down here wearing gangsta-​ass house shoes/​it’s all gravy/​There used to be a Louisiana Fried Chicken next door to it,/ but I guess the landlord was like «bitch, pay me!”/ or maybe…/the economy’s gone far along to where rich people are more shady/​records and cash money’s cd’s are here whenever you need these/​albums are to the left side/​to the right side of the store, they sell Gospel/​filled with even religious rap music produced by Jim Gittem’ the modern day rap apostle/​
Kelvin’s the manager that’s cool as hell/​if you walk around the store, you see so much Obama support, it’s so easy to tell/​that if you’re trying to hide all that smoke smell,/ they even got some sticks of incense for sale./ Before you go down here, you should stop by the King Taco on Long Beach Boulevard/​crackheads run around long beach as if they’re full-​on retard/​but I mean that in a nice way/​on the corner, there’s a soul food restauraunt right next to the brothas playing a dice game/​damn, VIP records is nice, mang!

For the person that says «It is what it is Gansta rap», has probably only drove by VIP. I am an avid visitor of VIP and I dont listen to rap AT ALL! NONE OF IT! However, they have everything I’m looking for and if they dont have it they will find it for me. The owner of this place knows his music, and his son knows all of the latest also. So the music is very versatile.
Keep it rockin Kelvin!
Gail

This is Long Beach. Every time I see this place, I’m reminded of the riots, Snoop Dogg and riding my bike to the beach from my house in Signal Hill. Nostalgia!

Not much selection…
it is what it is. Gangsta rap. Not much other type of Hip Hop. Don’t get me wrong, I grew up on Warren G, Snoop, Dre. I love me some Xzibit when I’m in the mood.
I just wish I could dig thru some common, mos def, Visionaries… some conscious hip hop. this place makes me miss stacks in cerritos.
come here when you’re feenin to rep the west.
–peace

I really like VIP. Not only do they have a great selection but they are always really helpful and make really good recommendations. And I’m all about supporting the local businesses. The owner is really nice and supportive of the community. In front local merchandise is always displayed.
Oh and when ever people come from out of town, I have to take them by VIP. I mean, hello, who doesn’t love that Snoop video with him on the roof? :grins: