Creative Music Emporium

i still remember my middle school and high school days picking up single and albums here, man that like 10 – 15 years ago… i haven’t really brought a cd for a long time but this place is still the spot tho…

This is a classic. I had gone here for years during the 80’s and 90’s. The service is great, they have neighborhood artists, underground music, and if you don’t find it, they will help you to get hold of it. I no longer live in the City, and it’s places like this that make my heart ache for those streets of San Francisco.

My favorite mom & pop music shop! I remember going here with my boys after high school to look at what new Bay Area rap tapes & cds came out. Joe has always been friendly! I really hope this place does not close down anytime soon!

I remember back in the late 90’s, me and my friends would rush over everyday after school to look at all the music they had in store in there. This place serves as a solid pillar in my memory and I cherish so many of them that came from here. The owner is forever friendly, they had stacks and stacks of photos of celebrities who’ve been in the store. Definitely a place that I feel deserves to be some sort of landmark. Even to this day, it hasn’t changed an ounce. It still looks the same, feels the same, SMELLS the same.

bought my first cassette and cd here. i remember coming here after school to buy cassette singles. lots of independent stuff you won’t find at bestbuy/​target. they have alot of local artist, and underground hip-​hop and san francisco rap.

Ahh Creative Music.
I have always loved it, it was the very first music store I went into. 1989. I was in middle school and running around Excelsior with the girls after school.
I didn’t know much about music besides music class at school — which was learning church songs and singing whatever Mrs. Moseley wanted to hear. And I tickled the ivory for a few years. And I listened to the radio.
I remember us trying to get some N.W.A. casette tape — who were we walking in thinking we could pass for 18? Foolish and stupid.
The owners have always been wonderful, even with a bunch of girls in rolled up skirts with no money to buy music, but to come in and see the newest, the fionest, the classics.
Now they still have a great selection and a great resource for music. Its great for bein up on a song before VH1soul or radio, or getting spammed by a myspace music page. And there’s something that happens in small music stores, dialogue between owners and consumers, and the love of the art that makes listening to music sweeter.

A San Francisco Institution!
They’ve got what you need and if not, they will get it for you.
Awesome collection of all types of genres. The owners are awesome people to boot.

Whether you like Ali Farka Toure, James Brown, Lil’ Kim or Billy Holiday, you’re going to love Creative Music Emporium, in the heart of the Excelsior. Your collection is going to expand…

All of my Gems get 4 stars. This is a OMI/​Excelsior Gem.
Remember the days of the record store. You go in and peruse the bins for what you thought you were looking for, only to discover 4 or 5 additional Cd’s, Albums, Phonographs that you had to hear?
Well that was my experience today @ Creative Music Emporium.
Located at Ocean Ave –Mission Street– Persia and very accessible by MUNI or BART. Creative has been @ 26 Ocean Ave since 1985.
A black family own business, I really don’t know how I first heard about the music store. I do know when I needed to find a Hip Hop or Rap CD or Single, this was the place I would head. They have alot of Bay Area and Regional Independent music, but snap they also have the music of a big chain record/​music store.
I can tell this is a Musicology couple. I saw Cher… I saw some gospel. They have a wide array of Latin/​Hispanic music. Salsa, Cumbia etc.
I saw the widest selection of Putumayo World Music in my life, and that is saying something. I even picked up a catalog. Putumayo is the quintessential record label established in 1993.
CME has CD’s, DVD’s Poster’s, Vinyl (yeah actual phonograph records), T-​Shirts, Gifts. The Motto of CME «From Be Bop to Hip Hop»
The owner’s The Lambert’s should also state they are a music museum (Photos galor, Platinum Records commemorating record sales etc) They are a Music Archivist’s dream.
Check out Creative Music Emporium’s location or website
Elba and Joe also can suggest artists that you may be interested. These are two real live people with musical taste and experience and knowledge to guide you on the musical sound scape.
Amazon.com’s selection and so called «recommendation’s» have nothing on the musicologists of Joe and Elba.
Check them out say you are a «Yelper»
Infodiva w/​the hot 411. Reppin Ingleside in the 415.