Kanye West’s independent record label G.O.O.D. Music, has been signed to an exclusive long-term worldwide label agreement with the Island Def Jam Music Group, it was announced today by West, Barry Weiss (chairman & CEO of Universal Motown Republic Group and Island Def Jam Music Group) and Steve Bartels (president & COO, Island Def Jam Music Group).
The first release under the new agreement will be Big Sean’s debut “Finally Famous,” in stores tomorrow. The album, was executive produced by West and features the hit single “My Last.”
G.O.O.D. (an acronym for “Getting Out Our Dreams”) had previously acted as more of an imprint, as well as a management and production company, with releases from John Legend, Common, Kid Cudi, Pusha T and others going through different distributors. But this arrangement makes it into more of a formal record label, with all new signings, as well as Pusha T and Big Sean, going through IDJ.
“G.O.O.D. Music is an exciting new chapter in the long and successful association of Kanye West and Island Def Jam,” said Weiss. “As a recording artist and a producer over the past eight years, there is no one who has made a greater impression on the game than Kanye. We look forward to working closely with the new and established artists that he will be bringing to G.O.O.D. Music, which is already off to an impressive start with Big Sean.”
West has been a Def Jam artist for his entire solo career, beginning with his 2004 debut, “The College Dropout.”