An inside look at New York City's best independent record stores

"On the corner of Jamaica Avenue and 170 th Street in New York City's Jamaica, Queens neighbourhood lies a record store with a humble, retro blue and yellow frontage. " VP Records: Miles Ahead in Reggae," it reads. Named after its founders Vincent "Randy" Chin and Patricia "Miss Pat" Chin, the store was first opened by the pair in the Jamaica area in 1979 after they relocated from their home country of Jamaica."

""When you think of Jamaica, Queens, you might actually think more of hip hop - it's always been a melting pot," says Karla. " VP Records is run by Miss Pat, who is a legend in that world, and it's gorgeous. It's a community centre - she holds record store events, block parties and has a foundation for kids that are interested in becoming musicians.""

Thirty-three independent record stores across New York City's five boroughs are photographed and archived, capturing storefronts, interiors, and the people who sustain them. The Jamaica Avenue VP Records location opened in 1979 by Vincent 'Randy' Chin and Patricia 'Miss Pat' Chin, stocks reggae, dub, soca and dancehall, and displays Rastafarian flags, books and music photography. VP Records operates as the world's largest reggae and Caribbean distributor and maintains an international label presence while serving as a community center hosting events, block parties and a foundation for young musicians.

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