Jay-Z & Roc Nation Partner With Universal Music Group

    Jay-Z is back in the UMG building. An announcement was made this morning confirming that Roc Nation has partnered with Universal Music Group in a multi-year deal. The agreement reportedly states that upcoming albums from Jay-Z and Rihanna will be released through the UMG/Roc Nation partnership. Through Def Jam, both artists have long maintained ties to UMG, however Jay-Z had inked a deal with Sony/Columbia Records, where Roc Nation released albums from J. Cole and Rita Ora.

    The global deal allows Roc Nation to be a standalone label with UMG Worldwide.

    Jay-Z said in a statement, “We are looking forward to working with Lucian and the incredible team he’s assembled at Universal.  We would like to applaud Lucian for collaborating with us to strike a new age deal. This agreement presents a unique opportunity for Roc Nation’s artists—being able to continue to operate as an independent label with the strength, power and reach of the best major. I look forward to a long and prosperous collaboration with UMG. It feels good to be home.”

    The Brooklyn, New York mogul has recently been photographed in the studio with Timbaland, Rick Ross, DJ Khaled and others. The announcement comes less than a week after Roc Nation acquired the sports representation rights to New York Yankees Second Baseman Robinson Cano.

    RELATED: Jay-Z, Roc Nation & Beyonce Sign Publishing Deals With Warner/Chappell Music

    45 thoughts on “Jay-Z & Roc Nation Partner With Universal Music Group

    1. this guy is so un-hip hop it’s staggering to think about how many people in the industry still look up to him.

      1. You’re an idiot. Go back to your minimum wage job, and please continue to blame other people for your suffering. The man has worked hard to become a premier player in the music industry. I truly despise people like you. Your way of thinking is bad for music, and just bad for black people in general. Hard work pays off, being a hater never has. Start working hard, start achieving your goals, and I guarantee your views on Mr Carter will change.

      2. Stan, no one is saying that Jay-Z is not involved in many businesses. People are saying that all of his music after the Black Album is pop garbage, and that his music pre Blue Print was not great. IE, he is overreated as a rapper. What is so complicated about that? What does this have to do with race or work ethic? Work ethic does’t guarantee good music.

      3. dentaldamboy, evrything you say is BULLSHIT!! Jay-Z is one of the greatest rappers. He has a better catalog of music than many rappers.

      4. ahahaha fuck you. I have a real job and education, which is why I know what I’m talking about.
        this has nothing to do with race. this is about a rapper who tried to personally profit off of occupy wall street with no interest in helping the movement, or even having a conversation with any real people that support it.
        and really, the complaint isn’t about jay-z, people are certainly allowed to become capitalist pig pieces of shit (although, I don’t think anyone needs $50 mill a year, and if he is getting it anyways, why isn’t he helping ANYONE?)
        My real beef is with people like you who listen to this legal manuevering piece of shit and say he is street. He is so far from street and so disconnected from real people, it is staggering to think that people look up to him, like he gives a fuck about anything other than himself.
        so fuck you. you are going to stand up for him like he is a great example of a successful black man? this guy was worth $100 million dollars before he ever read a book, and I bet the only things he is interested in reading is how to start a talent agency and take as much off the top from the next black man as you can.
        what example has he set other than by working hard anyone can get rich? thats not a real thing. you work hard to get a real career and have a future. you get lucky as fuck and you become a multi-millionaire.
        I can’t continue because you’ll just reply “eat a dick” or something. shut your mouth and go make a difference in peoples lives, not just sell them bullshit stories that will never work for real people.

      5. Dude, shut up with the bullshit you say. You mad at Jay-Z for making something outta himself? Stop being a self-hating Uncle Tom and get a life, you pussy.

      6. ‘m so far ahead of my time, I’m bout to start another life
        Look behind you, I’m bout to pass you twice
        Back to the future and gotta slow up for the present
        I’m fast, niggaz can’t get past my past
        How they propose to deal with my perfect present?
        When I unwrap “The Gift & the Curse” in one session
        Ain’t no livin person can test him
        Only two restin in heaven can be mentioned in the same breath as him
        Seven straight summers, critics might not admit it
        But nobody in rap did it, quite like I did it
        If you did it I done it before, you get I had it
        Got mad at it and don’t want it no more
        And that goes for everything from flippin that raw
        Flippin whores, flippin vocal chords, don’t get it twisted
        Get it right, did different, did it better, did it nice
        Did the impossible then did it twice (get it right)

      7. How is he not hip hop? Explain? That is dumb ass hell. Jay-Z has grown as an artist and business man. Those in hip hop should copy the blueprint. And those saying his investment are bad and he doesnt have that much money, show and prove.

    2. In other words, Rihanna is now a Roc member and Roc Nations albums go out independently withing UMG.

      1. There’s never been a nigga this good for this long
        This hood
        Or this pop is hot
        Or this strong
        With so many different flows
        This ones for this song
        The next one I’ll switch up
        This one will get bit up
        These fucks
        To lazy to make up shit
        They crazy
        They don’t…paint pictures
        They just trace me
        You know what
        Soon they forget who they plucked
        They whole style from
        And try to reverse the outcome
        I’m like…CLUCK
        I’m not a biter
        I’m a writer
        For myself and others
        I say a B.I.G. verse I’m only biggin up my brother
        Biggin up my borough
        I’m big enough to do it
        I’m that thorough
        Plus i know my own flow is foolish
        So the rings and things you sing about
        Bring em out
        It’s hard to yell when the bar-rel’s in your mouth
        I’m in…New sneakers
        Deuce seaters
        A few Diva’s
        What more can i tell you
        Let me spell it for you
        W-I-Double L-I-E
        Nobody truer than H-O-V
        And I’m back for more
        New Yorks ambassador
        Prime Minister back to finish my business up

      2. Now you know ass is Willie
        When they got you in a mag
        For like half a Billi
        And your ass ain’t Lilly
        White
        That mean that shit you write must be illy
        Either that or your flow is silly
        It’s both
        I don’t mean to boast
        But damn if i don’t brag
        Them crackers gonna act like i ain’t on they ads
        The Martha Stewart
        That’s far from Jewish
        Far from a Harvard student
        Just had the balls to do it
        And no I’m not through with it
        In fact I’m just previewing it
        This ain’t the show I’m just EQ’in it
        One, Two and i won’t stop abusing it
        To groupie girls stop false accusing it
        Back to the music
        The mayback roof is translucent
        Niggas got a problem Houston
        What up B
        They can’t shut up me
        Shut down I
        Not even P.E.
        I’mma ride
        God forgive me for my brash deivery
        But i remember vivily
        What these streets did to me
        So picture me
        Lettin these clowns nit pick at me
        Paint me like a Pickaninny
        I will literally
        Kiss Tee-Tee in the forhead
        Tell her please forgive me
        Then squeeze until your forhead
        I’m not the one to score points off
        In fact
        I got a joint to knock your points off
        Young
        Hova the God nigga blast for me
        I’m at the Trump International
        Ask for me
        I ain’t never scared
        I’m everywhere
        You ain’t never there
        Nigga why would i ever care
        Pound for pound I’m the best to ever come around here
        Excluding nobody
        Look what i embody
        The soul of a hustler i really ran the street
        I CEO’s mine
        That marketing plan was me
        And no i ain’t get shot up a whole bunch of times
        Or make up shit in a whole bunch of lines
        And i ain’t animated, like say a, Busta Rhymes
        But the real shit you get when you bust down my lines
        Add that to the fact i went plat a bunch of times
        Times that by my influence
        On pop culture
        I supposed to be number one on everybody’s list
        We’ll see what happens when i no longer exist
        Fuck this

    3. Birdman runs Universal. Jay, Birdman is my boss and it’s great. I’m sure you’ll enjoy working for him as well. Just stay in line or Beyonce may have another miscarriage.

      1. No they aren’t. Birdman has more cash than Jay. Jay has most of his money locked up in rapidly deteriorating ventures. Meanwhile, Birdman is mostly cash except investments in Trukfit, Bronalnd Oil & Gas, as well as a few properties in New Orleans. Unlike Jay’s shitty investments, all of Birdmans investments already generate regular dividends.

      2. Nothing you say is true. Jay-Z has more money than Birdman. Jay-Z owns a part of the Brooklyn Nets, has 40/40 clubs, Rocawear, is a part of LiveNation, record sales, RocNation, and other good investments. Birdman, however, has shitty investments outside of music that doesn’t make a lot of income; he’s making most of his money off of record sales of Young Money/Cash Money artists. There’s no such thing as Bronald Oil & Gas. Forbes themselves will tell you what you’re saying is bullshit; that Jay-Z is worth more and has more money than Birdman.

    4. I hope somebody relaunches Roc-a-Fella to serve as a home for REAL, STRAIGHT-UP HIP-HOP. Jay don’t care about us anymore, we’ll just use the TRUE DYNASTY he threw away, pick it up, and destroy his FALSE DYNASTY.

      FREE BEANIE SIGEL

    5. Yo RocNation began as Jays plan to make a super successful independent label and management outside of the big labels/recording companies. wtf is this bullshit then?

      1. So, the name of the game is economic position. With a good economic position, you can continue to put out more artist, sign more artist and ultimately create a better brand and produce more music for you to enjoy. It’s basic math dummies. Go with the label that is going to market your brand the best. It’s like selling Nike’s in foot locker. Sure Nike can sell shoes in their Nike store, but they can sell MORE shoes in foot locker than they would ever sell on their few stores. So, jay is looking to further his brand and create more options for future endeavors.

    6. Dude stay making moves while yall stay hating while scraping up money to go to McDonalds.

      1. I KNOW DAWG. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE. JAY KEEP MAKING POWER MOVES. NO OTHER CAT IN THE GAME HAS DONE THIS SHIT BEFORE.

        lol everytime jay make any moves, its publicized and lemmings swallow it as some huge deal. None of yall hear the moves Dre or Diddy make but them dudes earnings these years are the top in the game. Its all mediahype

      2. I meant that Wu-Tang was the first group to be signed as a collective, but also have solo contracts with different labels.

    7. I’m so far ahead of my time, I’m bout to start another life
      Look behind you, I’m bout to pass you twice
      Back to the future and gotta slow up for the present
      I’m fast, niggaz can’t get past my past
      How they propose to deal with my perfect present?
      When I unwrap “The Gift & the Curse” in one session
      Ain’t no livin person can test him
      Only two restin in heaven can be mentioned in the same breath as him
      Seven straight summers, critics might not admit it
      But nobody in rap did it, quite like I did it
      If you did it I done it before, you get I had it
      Got mad at it and don’t want it no more
      And that goes for everything from flippin that raw
      Flippin whores, flippin vocal chords, don’t get it twisted
      Get it right, did different, did it better, did it nice
      Did the impossible then did it twice (get it right)

    8. I HATE WHEN PPL ARGUE ABOUT RAP DUDES MONEY, LIKE ANY OF YOU CLOWNS KNOW HOW MUCH DOE THEY REALLY HOLD. GET YALL LIFE TOGETHER LAMES!

    9. Inspired by Basquiat, my chariots of fire
      Everybody took shots hit my body up I’m tired
      Build me up, break me down, to build me up again
      They like Hov we need you back so we can kill your ass again
      Hov got flow though he’s no Big and Pac but he’s close
      How I’m supposed to win they got me fighting ghosts
      (Most kings get their heads cut off)
      Same sword they knight you they gonna good night you with
      Sh*t that’s only half if they like you
      That ain’t he even the half what they might do
      Don’t believe me ask Michael
      See Martin, see Malcolm
      You see Biggie, see Pac, see success and its outcome
      See Jesus, see Judas
      See Caesar, see Brutus
      See success is like suicide
      Suicide, it’s a suicide
      If you succeed prepare to be crucified
      Hmm, media meddles, n*ggas sue you, you settle
      Every step you take they remind you, you ghetto
      So it’s tough being Bobby Brown
      To be Bobby then, you gotta be Bobby now
      Now the question is, is to have had and lost
      Better than not having at all
      Because dawg

      1. I don’t understand how you internet weirdos can look at famous people and judge whos “broke” and whos not. You know nothing about them or what they have….You just looked at estimated “net worth” bullshit or judge by who you see on TV the most….You dont know bout their investments, or anything they do outside of music….And even if they’re “broke” in the rapper world, their broke is probably more money then you will ever see in your life. So shut the fuck up and worry about yourself.

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