Big Beat Records was an American East Coast hip hop and dance-music record label that operated as a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. It was founded in 1987 by a 22-year-old New York deejay Craig Kallman, who initially ran the label from his parents' apartment. Thereafter, it was operated as a division of Hands On Productions Inc. After achieving some notoriety on the underground dance music circuit, Doug Morris — then head of Atlantic Records — brought Kallman and Big Beat into the Atlantic stable in 1991. Atlantic purchased the label outright in 1992. Although the label originally focused on house music, being entrenched in the often cutting-edge New York music scene inevitably led Big Beat to embrace the growing hip hop genre as the 1990s progressed. It also had a sub-label named Turnstyle. In 1998, Kallman was promoted to Vice President of Atlantic. Following his promotion, Big Beat (and most of its roster) was subsequently absorbed into its parent company.

Not to be confused with the British reissue label Big Beat Records.

For the company until July 26, 1991, please see Big Beat Records (12).
For the company after July 26, 1991, please see Big Beat Records, Inc.