NEW YORK (Universal Records/ www.umusic.com) - Atlanta-based hip-hop label has built the successful careers of Ludacris, Shawnna, I-20, Playa Circle, and others, and is poised to break new R&B artist
Bobby Valentino - THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT, 4th album by Ludacris, debuted at No 1 on the Soundscan chart; features top 10 hit, "
Get Back"
Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJ) has signed a new long-term contract with Disturbing Tha Peace and IDJ recording artist Ludacris. IDJ has entered into a joint venture with Disturbing Tha Peace Records (DTP), it was jointly announced today by Antonio "L.A." Reid, Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group, and the three principals of the Atlanta-based Disturbing Tha Peace label: Ludacris, Jeff Dixon and Chaka Zulu.
Under terms of the agreement, Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJ) will continue to provide all marketing, publicity, promotion and sales efforts on behalf of the artists on the Disturbing Tha Peace Records label.
The first release through Disturbing Tha Peace Records is from the 22-year-old velvet-voiced R&B singer, Bobby Valentino. The singer, whose first single, "Slow Down" from his debut album GIVE ME A CHANCE, is already top 5 most played at Power 106 (KPWR) Los Angeles, and has over 1,300 spins in the L.A. market alone. Bobby Valentino's debut album is scheduled for an April 2005 release.
Already platinum, THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT, the 4th album by Ludacris (in-store December 7, 2004), debuted at No 1 on the Soundscan charts and remains inside the top 5 this week on the Billboard 200 albums chart and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album's lead single, "Get Back," is Top 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and Top 40 Rhythmic Billboard charts. The 2nd single, "Number 1 Spot," is easily recognizable with its inventive use of the Austin Powers movie theme song, and already has an early add at New York's Hot 97.
"The Atlanta hip-hop scene and the Dirty South movement in general owe more than they can ever repay to Chris," said Mr. Reid. "Our friendship stretches back nearly a decade and I never cease to be amazed at his imagination, creativity, and most of all his outrageous sense of humor. He has helped build Disturbing Tha Peace into one of the icon names in hip-hop, one that will be developing artists and careers for years to come, as an important part of the Island Def Jam family."
DTP was initially founded in Atlanta in 1998, as an independent production company and music furnisher that signed a number of its acts to various major labels. Chief among these acts was Ludacris, whose debut album of 2000, Incognegro, was eventually picked up by Def Jam's Def South division and repackaged as Back For the First Time. The triple-platinum No 2 R&B/#4 Pop best-selling album spun-off the top 5 hits "What's Your Fantasy" and "Southern Hospitality." DTP went on to nurture the careers of Shawnna (signed to IDJ), Chingy and I-20 (both Capitol), and Playa Circle (Universal) among others.
But the core of DTP's valuable catalog - and the heart of the Dirty South hip-hop movement - belongs to the innovative and multi-faceted Ludacris. After Back For the First Time, he returned in 2001 with Word Of Mouf , a No 1 R&B/ No 3 Pop triple platinum success containing three new pop/R&B/hip-hop crossover hits, "Area Codes," "Welcome To Atlanta," "Move B***h," and "Saturday (Oooh Oooh!)." Last year's Chicken-N-Beer gave Ludacris his first across-the-board No 1 Rap/ No 1 R&B/ No 1 Pop smash hit singles "Stand Up" and "Splash Waterfalls" which sent the album to No 1 Pop/ No 1 R&B and double-platinum sales.
