D&D Studios

320 West 37th Street | also 320B West 37th Street, 320A West 37th Street, 320C West 37th Street | Hudson Yards | built 1927

Open on the map4 entries

The lot about 1940
About 1940. Via 1940s.nyc
The lot about 1985
About 1985. Via 80s.nyc

The city photographed every building for its tax records around 1940 and again in the 1980s. NYC Municipal Archives.

Written with AI from the source each entry cites, then fact-checked.

  1. 1996

    Jay-Z records Reasonable Doubt at D&D Studios

    Jay-Z recorded the whole Reasonable Doubt album at D&D Studios, the recording studio founded by Douglas Grama and David Lotwin at 320 West 37th Street. DJ Premier contributed production to the album. Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Fat Joe, Gang Starr and Big L also recorded there.

    Source: Wikipedia

  2. 1998

    Big L records most of The Big Picture at D&D with DJ Premier producing and executive producing

    Big L's second album was recorded mainly at D&D Studios through 1998 and early 1999. DJ Premier produced and executive produced it, joined by Lord Finesse, Pete Rock, Showbiz and others, and guests included Fat Joe and Kool G Rap. Big L was murdered before it was finished, so his manager Rich King completed it, and Rawkus released it on August 1, 2000.

    “Recording sessions for the album took place primarily at D&D Studios in New York City, New York throughout 1998 and early 1999.”

    Source: Wikipedia

  3. 2003

    DJ Premier buys the studio and renames it HeadQCourterz

    DJ Premier of Gang Starr, one of D&D's best-known producers, bought the studio from its owners in 2003. He renamed it HeadQCourterz in honor of his friend Kenneth "HeadQCourterz" Walker, who had been murdered in 2002.

    Source: Wikipedia

  4. 2014

    December 31

    D&D Studios, by then HeadQCourterz, closes

    The studio closed on December 31, 2014. The last project recorded there was by G. Fisher, a member of the DITC label, who made his debut single and an EP, God MC, at the studio.

    Source: Wikipedia

Further reading

Nearby

All 27 buildings with stories in Hudson Yards