The announcement at the newly established label, led by Influence Media Partners founding advisor and partner Rene McLean, comes on the heels of Smith’s performance at last month’s BET Awards.
Will Smith is ready to get jiggy with music (again) — he’s signed a new record deal.
On the heels of his performance at last month’s BET Awards, the Grammy-winning rapper and Oscar-winning actor has signed to the new independent frontline label SLANG, led by music executive Rene McLean, the partner and founding advisor of music and entertainment company Influence Media Partners.
SLANG’s roster also includes Grammy-winning producer-songwriter Camper and chart-topping hip-hop producer 30 Roc, as well as several developing and emerging acts, including rapper-singer Leaf, Flatbush hip-hop duo The Underachievers, Atlanta-based rapper Truththebull, artist-songwriter-producer Isaia Huron and underground Atlanta rapper RY XP.
Rene McLean
Aviva Klein
“I’m proud to lead SLANG’s efforts to partner with quality artists and invest in their growth, regardless of genre or where they are in their respective careers. In a quickly changing music industry, SLANG artists will be surrounded by a team of like-minded strategists who will stop at nothing to further their trajectory and help them meet their goals. Our commitment to culture comes first, and we consider our SLANG roster family,” McLean says in a statement.
In his role at Influence Media Partners, McLean led catalog acquisition deals for Grammy-winning rapper Future, hit songwriter-producer-engineer Tyler Johnson (Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers,” Harry Styles’ “As It Was”) and hitmaking Latin producer Tainy. Before that, he worked with artists like Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Eminem, Pharrell and Timbaland.
Performing in a circle of fire backed by the Sunday Service Choir and R&B singer Friday at the BET Awards on June 30, Smith rapped his inspirational song “You Can Make It.” Rain poured down during the performance, which also featured gospel star Kirk Franklin and his words of courage and wisdom. “Nobody gets an easy ride. We all have a cross to bear, but there’s wisdom in the fire, and every moment is an opportunity,” Smith said onstage. “Embrace the journey.”
Smith released his first album, Rock the House, in 1987 as part of the rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. They had success with hits like “Summertime” and “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” which won the first-ever rap Grammy in 1989. Smith went solo and topped the charts with the fun-flavored hits “Wild Wild West” and “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It,” which also won him a Grammy. His last album was 2005’s Lost and Found, though in recent years he’s been featured on songs by Marc Anthony, Nicky Jam, Joyner Lucas, Bomba Estéreo and his son, Jaden Smith. He collaborated with Sean Paul on the soundtrack for his recent blockbuster hit, Bad Boys: Ride or Die.