Jay-Z & Roc Nation Sign With Universal Music

Jay-Z will make a return to Universal Music, the world’s largest music company with a new multiyear deal that also includes other artists on his Roc Nation imprint like Rihanna, J. Cole and Shakira. This comes only a week after announcing the sports representation agency, Roc Nation sports.

Kendrick Lamar Shakes Up The Super Bowl With Bold Drake Diss And Surprise Guests

Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl 59 halftime performance was nothing short of legendary, leaving fans buzzing with surprise cameos and bold moments that took his long-running feud with Drake to new heights. Kicking off with an unreleased song snippet and followed by “Squabble Up” from his latest album GNX, Kendrick immediately set the tone for a game-changing performance. Fans eagerly waited to see if Kendrick would play his diss track Not Like Us, especially with Drake's ongoing lawsuit against him and his label for defamation and harassment. Lamar's performance included an unexpected appearance by SZA and a quirky cameo from Serena Williams, along with Samuel L. Jackson’s comedic interruptions, all building the suspense around the Drake drama. In the middle of his performance, Kendrick turned up the heat, looking straight into the camera and directly addressing Drake with his famous lyrics, “I heard you like them young," as fans held their breath. Despite the tension, Kendrick censored himself when it came time to call Drake a "certified lover boy" and avoided saying “pedophile,” which had been widely speculated. Social media lit up with mixed reactions, with some fans mocking the performance as a "mid mashup" and others noting the intense hostility toward Drake. With the hashtag #KendrickBowl trending, it’s clear that Kendrick’s performance was a cultural moment that pushed boundaries—but has he gone too far, or is this just another chapter in hip-hop history? Only time will tell, and Drake has yet to respond.

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Last month, Warner’s Warner/Chappell publishing department had scored the publishing rights to Jay Z’s his Roc Nation artists’ works. The financial aspect of the new deal with Universal haven’t been disclosed but according to the statement released, Roc Nation will serve a “standalone label” under Universal Music group.

Jay-Z was earlier the President of and a recoding artist under Universal’s Island Def Jam Music Group from 2004 to 2007. Here’s what Mr. Carter says about the return:

“This agreement presents a unique opportunity for Roc Nation’s artists—being able to continue to operate as an independent label with the strength, power and reach of the best major. I look forward to a long and prosperous collaboration with UMG. It feels good to be home.”

Via WSJ