New York-based Reservoir Media has struck a global publishing deal with Grammy-winning artist and songwriter Michael Render aka Killer Mike of hip-hop duo, Run The Jewels.
Reservoir says that the deal includes his entire catalog and future works.
Atlanta-born Killer Mike has released four studio albums alongside his Run The Jewels partner, EL-P. Their most recent, RTJ4, reached the Top 10 on the Billboard 200.
Beyond his work with Run The Jewels, Killer Mike has been an active solo artist for over 20 years, releasing studio albums and mixtapes, while also collaborating on projects by some of the biggest names in hip-hop including Outkast, Jay-Z, Big Boi, T.I., Black Thought, and more.
Killer Mike secured a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance Duo or Group for his collaboration with Outkast, The Whole World, and also featured on Poppin’ Tags off Jay-Z’s No.1 and triple-Platinum album, The Blueprint 2: The Gift and the Curse.
In addition to his success as a musician, Killer Mike has acted in several films, including Baby Driver, Idlewild, and ATL.
He also provided voiceover for the 2021 Netflix film America: The Motion Picture and is the host of multiple series including PBS’ Love & Respect with Killer Mike, Facebook’s Roll’N with Killer Mike, and Netflix’s Trigger Warning with Killer Mike.
Killer Mike is an advocate for the disenfranchised, a business owner, and a frequent public speaker on politics, race, and inequality in many communities.
Reservoir’s deal with Killer Mike follows last month’s news that the firm had struck a deal for a stake in the catalog of legendary hip-hop producer and songwriter Larry Smith.
The firm’s financial results for its fiscal Q3 2022 (calendar Q4 2021), revealed that it saw its total revenue in the three months ended December 31 increase by 26% to $27.1 million, compared to $21.6 million in the prior year quarter.
Alongside Reservoir’s most recent financial results, Khosrowshahi revealed that the firm has “$3 billion worth of deals in the pipeline”.
Since Reservoir successfully floated on the NASDAQ in July 2021, the firm has acquired:
A raft of songs from country songwriter Stephony Smith for an undisclosed fee (in November).
Hit songs by Platinum-selling songwriter and producer Dallas Austin (November).
A stake in the publishing catalog of Fred Parris, the writer, lead vocalist and founder of doo-wop group The Five Satins (December).
The publishing catalog of Grammy-winning DJ, songwriter, and producer Fred Rister (in January 2022).
The publishing and recorded music catalogs of country star Travis Tritt (January 2022).
“A great publisher is a major key to success, and I’m excited to embark on this phase of my career with the dynamic team at Reservoir.”
Killer Mike
On the deal, Mike said: “A great publisher is a major key to success, and I’m excited to embark on this phase of my career with the dynamic team at Reservoir.”
“Artists and visionaries of his caliber do not come around often, and we are grateful to be the publishing home for such a trailblazing creator.”
Faith Newman, Reservoir
Faith Newman, Reservoir Executive Vice President of A&R and Catalog Development, added: “Killer Mike has been a fixture of hip-hop for decades now, and both his past successes and upcoming music continue to push boundaries and address deeply meaningful topics.
“Artists and visionaries of his caliber do not come around often, and we are grateful to be the publishing home for such a trailblazing creator.”Music Business Worldwide
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