(AllHipHop News) Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Entertainment has entered into an exclusive partnership with Epic Records. The deal includes two upcoming Puff Daddy albums being distributed through Epic, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.
“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs aka Puff Daddy and I have been musical collaborators since the 1990s when we both ran independent record labels, myself with LaFace and soon after, Puffy with Bad Boy,” states LA Reid, Chairman and CEO of Epic Records. “Over the years, we not only enjoyed incredible success together, but we also became lifelong friends. Today, of course, Puffy is truly in a league all his own, continuing to influence culture and ignite musical revolutions time and time again. He’s a true innovator and I could not be more excited to join forces once again.”
The new label will include several new music projects, new artist signings and upcoming releases that will be announced in the weeks ahead. Epic will also provide promotion, marketing, sales and distribution for the Puff Daddy albums. In celebration of the signing, Combs will perform new music at the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta.
“I have known LA Reid since the very beginning and together we have enjoyed countless successes over our long friendship,” says Puffs. “To now work with LA in this capacity feels more like a homecoming than a new beginning. Not only is he a fearless and smart businessman, he believes in artists and understands music better than anyone. He embodies hard work and true success, evident in all of his endeavors. To collaborate with LA Reid is to collaborate with the very best.”
Bad Boy helped launch the careers of Puff Daddy, The Notorious B.I.G., Craig Mack, Ma$e, Faith Evans, 112, Mario Winans, Black Rob, The Lox, Danity Kane, Carl Thomas, Yung Joc, and Total. The label’s roster currently includes Janelle Monáe, Cassie, French Montana, and Machine Gun Kelly.
The Bad Boy catalog and Monáe will stay with Warner Music Group as per the prior venture agreement between WMG and Bad Boy. French Montana, Cassie, and MGK will remain at Interscope under the Bad Boy Imprint.
“It’s a pleasure being in business with three major music labels as we approach our third decade of making music for our peers and fans,” adds Harve Pierre, President of Bad Boy Entertainment.