Urban Lights Music

Urban Lights Music opened in Saint Paul in 1993, taking over the former Northern Lights shop and putting hip-hop, R&B and other urban music at the center of its selection. Its history includes live DJs, artist visits and a collection of autographs with stories of their own.

In our interview, Tim Wilson talks about the changes around University Avenue, the records customers are looking for, and how a 50-cent soda became a running joke with Janet Jackson.

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Interview with Urban Lights Music

Urban Lights leans hard into hip-hop, R&B, old-school soul, reggae and dance — that's a distinct spine for a Twin Cities shop. How did the store settle on that identity, and what does Saint Paul specifically bring to that mix?

We settled on these genres because they all encompass urban music in all its diverse sounds. We opened in 1993, purchasing the store from another record shop called Northern Lights who specialized in everything and we wanted to change the narrative and focus specifically on the Urban product as I’m from that world as a DJ, artist, producer etc. Saint Paul represented a fresh start and a opportunity to carve out our niche in a less crowded retail marketplace…

University Avenue between the Cathedral and the border is a stretch with its own long history — the Rondo neighborhood, the light rail, everything that's changed and hasn't. What do you tell someone visiting the shop about what's around you on that avenue?

Honestly we speak more about what it used to be before the light rail, COVID, civil unrest, metro surge and the complete gentrification of the area and it being a testament to be here. We speak about Minnesotas rich music history, our cultural impact as a store locally and nationally, the numerous local and national recording artists that have visited us over the years from Beyoncé to RUN DMC, the respect we have garnered from the industry that’s our focus and why people shop with us, it’s because of the vibes…

Live DJs while people shop isn't standard — it turns a browsing trip into something else. How does that change who comes through the door and what happens when they do?

Live DJs add to the already incredible vibes giving the customer the ultimate experience. We approach things as DJs in clubs, stadiums, weddings etc would as we read the room curating a playlist for shoppers, crate diggers, cd and vinyl enthusiasts alike like I said enhancing the experience…

You've noted you're cash only rather than offering store credit. That's the opposite of what most shops do, and there's usually a real reason behind it. What's yours, and how do sellers usually react when you explain it?

We actually except both cash and digital forms of payment…

On the buying side, you look for hip-hop, R&B, jazz, reggae, dance in very good quality — so what quietly turns out to be valuable in those genres that sellers don't expect much for? A record they'd throw in the "eh" pile that you'd happily pay real money for?

Classic 70’s, 80’s R&B is definitely the most sought after right now…

And the reverse — in hip-hop and R&B especially, what do sellers most often overvalue? The record they walk in thinking is their retirement fund that actually isn't?

Classic 70’s, 80’s R&B everyone with a copy of Michael Jackson, Prince, etc. thinks they hit the lottery which they have to understand There were more records pressed back then and there are more copies of off-the-wall, thriller and purple rain pressed than they would actually believe, it’s about supply and demand and most don’t understand that…

12-inch singles are their own world — jukebox history, club history, DJ tools. In hip-hop, R&B and dance specifically, do 12-inches still move at the shop, or has it shifted to LPs and albums?

12 inch singles are still relevant but are quickly becoming second fiddle to full length recordings as most would rather listen to a full album now as a collector. Believe it or not from a DJ standpoint 45s are coming back into play even more than 12 inch singles. there is a number of DJs who are playing all 45 sets and there’s clubs that only hire DJs who spin 45s…

The autographed posters and album covers are a whole separate collection — how did that accumulate, and is there one signed piece that means the most to the shop's story?

The collection of autographs has been accumulated over the years based on a number of in stores, artist events, record listening sessions, and artist just popping in because they’re in town. To be honest with you a number of the pictures and autographs have stories but the one that sticks out the most is the Janet Jackson autographed picture, which was given to me by her all because I borrowed her 50 Cents to purchase a soda while she was recording at Flyte Tyme, every time I would see her after that I would ask her “hey you remember when I gave you that 50 cents for that soda? like I know you’re good for it, but you never paid me back and I was just wondering when I could expect that. we would laugh about it became a running joke for about 2 to 3 years at different events in and outside of the city until one day. she said I’m gonna pay you back but I’m not gonna give you the 50 Cent. She gave me the picture signed instead…

There you have it in a nutshell, to be honest the story is pretty interesting, lots of ups, downs, good and bad stories of which will all be compiled in a book at some point once I get the time to finish it, but this should give you a snapshot into our world…

Last updated: 2026-09-05

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