Juice WRLD‘s estate has reportedly sold off the majority of the late rapper’s catalog in a nine-figure deal quietly negotiated within the early months of 2022.
According to Billboard, unbiased document label and music writer Opus Music Group now owns 90 p.c of the late Chicago rapper’s publishing and the rights to 90 p.c of the earnings derived from his grasp recordings.
The deal included not solely the large output of Juice WRLD music that has already been launched to followers — two albums in life; two posthumous albums; a collaborative mixtape challenge with Future; a solo mixtape and 9 EPs — but in addition tons of of unreleased songs.
The rapper’s label companions, Interscope Records and Lil Bibby‘s Grade A Productions, retained ownership of Juice WRLD’s masters.
Over the previous few months, quite a lot of Hip Hop artists younger and outdated have negotiated comparable offers together with Future and Iggy Azalea, who each notched eight-figure offers in change for possession of their publishing rights in 2022.
Most not too long ago, Zaytoven offered 560 songs written between 2005 and 2022, together with Migos’ breakout hit “Versace,” Travis Scott’s “3500,” Lil Wayne’s “Problems,” 21 Savage’s “Famous” and extra, in keeping with Variety. The sale quantity has not been disclosed.
In early January, Billboard reported that Dr. Dre was closing in on two separate offers to dump a share of music earnings streams and different property to Shamrock Holdings and Universal Music Group. The offers, which had been shopped by Dre’s longtime legal professional Peter Paterno, had been being pitched for a mixed sum of $250million. While the ultimate sale worth gained’t fairly be that top, a supply near the rap mogul mentioned the determine will nonetheless be “well above $200million.”
What stands out in regards to the Juice WRLD deal, along with the secrecy beneath which it was executed, is that the corporate which acquired his catalog appears to be pretty new on this area.
In addition to the “Lucid Dreams” rapper, Opus Music Group solely represents two different artists: Columbian Reggaeton star and actor Maluma; and Puerto Rican newcomer Rauw Alejandro, in keeping with its web site.
While the corporate wouldn’t touch upon the acquisition straight, it informed Billboard in a press release: “To represent the body of work of Juice Wrld – whose cultural significance and generational influence can’t be overstated – is an honor and a responsibility.”
Juice WRLD’s representatives declined to problem a press release of any type.
News of the sale comes slightly over two months after Juice’s cousin known as out the late rapper’s ex-girlfriend and document label for allegedly “controlling” and “manipulating” him previous to his dying.
Millz, who runs the Instagram account The Abyss Brand, posted a sequence of messages on November 30 accusing Juice’s label and his associate, Ally Lotti, of driving a wedge between the Chicago rapper and his shut buddies whereas exploiting him for his musical success with little concern for his wellbeing.
He didn’t specify which label he was speaking about, however Juice was signed to Lil Bibby’s imprint, together with Interscope Records, who signed him to a $3million deal in 2017.
Juice WRLD’s Girlfriend Claims Rapper Didn’t Die From Drug Overdose
Millz, an authentic member of Juice WRLD’s 999 collective, went on to say that he eliminated himself from “that toxic situation” after his grandmother was recognized with most cancers (which she efficiently battled), however continued to be portrayed as a hanger-on by Lotti.
In December, Lil Bibby organized the most recent iteration of the annual Juice WRLD Fest, with performances by Trippie Redd, Cordae and G Herbo, in addition to Lil Tecca, Ski Mask The Slump God, Bankroll Hayden, Sleazyworld Go, Lucki, DDG and Tana.
The celebration got here on the finish of a yr that noticed the late artist obtain large posthumous success, together with turning into the primary artist to have 4 albums promote over 500,000 models every in 2022.
With solely 4 albums to his title, meaning all of Juice WRLD’s initiatives, together with his most up-to-date posthumous launch Fighting Demons, has moved over 500,000 models, a momentous achievement for the Chicago rapper, who handed away from an overdose-induced seizure in 2019.
Fighting Demons debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 when it dropped on the late rapper’s birthday in December 2021, and moved 119,000 album equal models in its first week.
While Juice WRLD followers have remained dedicated to bumping the rapper’s discography, Lil Bibby mentioned managing his consumer’s music is a draining job.
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