Kobalt Music has announced a new deal with rapper, singer and songwriter Young Thug. Known as one of rap’s most boundary-pushing artists, Young Thug’s publishing administration will now be handled by Kobalt as well as global synch and creative services for all of his catalog and future works made under the deal. He was previously administered by Reservoir Media.
The deal comes on the heels of the rapper’s latest album Punk — a pop-punk infused, 20 song epic — which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart in its first week. Featuring appearances by Doja Cat, J. Cole, Travis Scott, Drake, Future, Mac Miller and more, Punk is Young Thug’s third project to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200, following Young Stoner Life: Slime Language 2, a collaboration with Lil Keed and Gunna which dropped earlier this year, and So Much Fun, released in 2019.
As a featured artist, Young Thug is also making his mark on the Hot 100 chart with his guest appearance on Drake’s cheeky anthem “Way 2 Sexy,” currently billed at No. 7.
In a statement about the deal, Kobalt Music’s vp of creative, Jill Tschogal said, “Young Thug’s track record for impacting the modern sound of hip-hop, trap and popular music is undeniable. He is not only one of the most influential songwriters and artists in rap today, but a cultural icon. It’s an honor to work closely with Young Thug and his team. We look forward to supporting his incredible talent and artistry.”
Born Jeffery Lamar Williams, Young Thug is known for taking influences from genres as wide-ranging as country to punk, depending on the project. Along with his work as a songwriter, singer and rapper, he is the founder of YSL Records, an imprint of Atlantic Records, which is responsible for bringing up the likes of Gunna and Lil Keed.
