S. Samuel
R&B singer Rihanna has joined forces with Jay-Z by inking a deal with his Roc Nation management company.
The announcement circulated online Wednesday (October 20) evening.
The singer announced Wednesday (October 20) that she will now be managed by mentor and former Def Jam exec Jay-Z’s Roc Nation company. The chart-ruling singer spilled the beans to The Associated Press, saying in a statement she’s “so excited to take this next step in my career.” The “Only Girl in the World” singer joins songstress Melanie Fiona, spitter Wale and DJ/producer Mark Ronson as other faces handled by the management arm of Hov’s multi-pronged firm. (MTV)
In addition to her Roc Nation move, RiRi is also putting together her own company.
The Barbados-born songbird has also announced that she’s forming Rihanna Entertainment, a catchall company to oversee all aspects of her brand, including music, films, fashion, book ventures, a fragrance line and whatever else comes up. (E! Online)
Jay is known for helping secure Rihanna with a Def Jam deal five years ago when he was the company’s president and collaborating with the “Umbrella” hitmaker.
Jay-Z is credited for inking Rihanna to Def Jam in 2005. The two won a Grammy in 2008 for the hit song “Umbrella.” Earlier this year, the pair picked up two Grammys for the rap song “Run This Town,” which also featured Kanye West. (Singersroom)
Last month, Jay revealed nine year-old singer Willow Smith was signed to Roc Nation.
“First off, I heard the record first, before I knew that it was recorded by a nine year-old,” Jay said in an interview with radio host Ryan Seacrest speaking about “Whip My Hair.” “I was like, ‘Man, that record is a smash.’ — I went to Japan to do some stuff and they were out there and I met Willow and she walked in and the first thing she said was, ‘I’m really nervous,’ and I thought that maturity, explaining exactly how she was feeling as she was walking in the room, I knew right there she was a star. I believe in super stars and I believe in big records on super stars…Yes, [I signed her and we plan on helping her] facilitate all her ideas. As you’re going to learn today, if you sit with her for a half hour, you’ll see, she’s just a wealth of information and ideas…She’s a child, she has child innocence but she has a refreshing clear vision of what she wants to be…And I imagine that’s how Mike [Jackson] was as a kid.” (Rap Radar)
Check out Jay-Z & Rihanna’s “Run This Town” music video below:
