T.I. has signed a publishing agreement with Reservoir, with the new deal spanning his entire publishing catalog including past and future works, the company announced today (July 9). T.I. released his latest album, Kill the King, on June 26.
“I’m very excited about building a strong partnership with Reservoir as we work together to diversify the business and expand the reach of my catalog,” T.I. said in a statement.
Included within the deal is T.I.’s 2006 album, King, which included the single “What You Know” that won the Grammy for best rap solo performance. King became T.I.’s first album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and remained at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for four weeks.
His 2008 album, Paper Trail, became his second of three Billboard 200 No. 1s, and remained at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart for five weeks, and included featured collaborations with Jay-Z, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Lil Wayne. “Live Your Life” featuring Rihanna hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining there for six weeks, while “Dead and Gone” with Justin Timberlake hit No. 2. His single “Whatever You Like” also hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 and held on at the top for seven weeks.
“T.I. has been dubbed the ‘King of the South’ for putting Atlanta’s rap scene on the map, which helped shape the trajectory of the genre of hip-hop for the past 20 plus years,” said Faith Newman, executive vp of A&R and catalog development at Reservoir, in a statement. “His crossover successes and enduring popularity have proven time and again how much his music resonates with fans. It’s an honor to partner with him on continuing to carve out the legacy of these cultural touchpoints he has created.”
T.I. described his latest venture, Kill the King, as his final album. The LP debuted at No. 10 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, No. 7 on the Top Rap Albums chart and at No. 30 on the Billboard 200. The album’s lead single, “Let Em Know,” peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at No. 4 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.
“T.I. is one of those rare powerhouses whose music has real cultural significance and staying power,” Rell Lafargue, president and COO at Reservoir, said in a statement. “Our focus has always been to grow our roster with world-class music, and welcoming one of rap and hip-hop’s most influential artists and bodies of work to Reservoir reinforces that mission. This partnership with T.I. also doubles down on our long-standing commitment to the genre’s storied history and promising future.”
