LiAngelo Ball‘s song “Tweaker” has been gaining attention lately from fans and rappers alike, and now its success has reportedly led to a seven-figure record deal.
On Monday (January 13), ESPN reporter Shams Charnia said that a rep from Ball’s Born2Ball Music Group told him the basketball player-slash-rapper had signed a deal with Def Jam and UMG.
AD LOADING...
“Sources said the deal is worth as much as $13 million, with $8 million guaranteed, and gives Ball full ownership of music and his own record label,” Charnia continued.
Check the message below.
LiAngelo Ball has signed a deal with Def Jam and Universal Music Group, a representative from his label Born2Ball Music Group says. Sources said the deal is worth as much as $13 million, with $8 million guaranteed, and gives Ball full ownership of music and his own record label.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 13, 2025
The $8 million number was disputed by TMZ, who cited their own (unnamed) sources.
“Tweaker” has a couple of high-profile fans who have indicated they’re ready to jump on a remix: Boosie Badazz and Moneybagg Yo.
AD LOADING...
Last Tuesday (January 7), both Southern rappers hopped on X to say they were happy to appear on the song as soon as they got an opportunity.
“Send me da open verse ima tweak,” Moneybagg Yo wrote, while Boosie posted, “Send da verse.”
AD LOADING...
Ball’s track, which is reminiscent of late ’90s/early-aughts Cash Money acts like the Big Tymers (the duo of Mannie Fresh and Birdman), also drew praise from a pioneer of Southern rap, Three 6 Mafia‘s DJ Paul.
“When I heard that song, the first thing that came to my mind was some Mannie Fresh/Juvenile,” Paul told TMZ. “Whoever produced this song, I think they were inspired by some Juvenile and some Mannie Fresh.”
“Tweaker” recently got attention for a different reason than its retro sound — its credits. The song lists LiAngelo’s brother Lonzo as a writer, something he recently clarified.
“Only credit I deserve is the cover art lol G really that! #YearOfG,” the NBA star wrote in a post on X.
AD LOADING...
“Tweaker” hit streaming services on January 3, but had already gone viral online after LiAngelo played the song on Neon’s stream and fans immediately compared it to something that would have been released in the Cash Money/Hot Boys era.
