Congratulations are most certainly in order for ‘Rebirth‘ maestro Eric Bellinger.
For, after doing his part to push R&B to the forefront of Pop culture via cuts penned for Usher, Chris Brown and Justin Bieber, a lucrative new deal signed with industry power-player Lyor Cohen will see his own career take centre stage.
Good news below…
Billboard Biz reports exclusively:
“Lyor Cohen’s 300 Entertainment has signed Grammy Award-winning songwriter Eric Bellinger, Billboard has learned exclusively. Under terms of the new deal, the Warner Music Group-distributed 300 Entertainment will release, market and promote Bellinger’s debut solo album, “The Rebirth.”
“Best known as the songwriter behind hits for Chris Brown (“Love More,” “Fine China”), Usher (“Let Me See”) and Justin Bieber (“Right Here”), Bellinger initially released double-CD, 32-track “The Rebirth” digitally in February through YFS (Your Favorite Song), the indie label operated by Bellinger and his manager/business partner Nieman Johnson. The set’s buzz single, “I Don’t Want Her” featuring Problem, currently stands at No. 35 on Billboard’s Rhythmic chart.”
“300 will be the umbrella; they have so many resources that we can plug into,” Bellinger tells Billboard about the new alliance. “Lyor told us, ‘We really like ‘I Don’t Want Her’ — you just need help pushing it. That’s where I come in.’ Nieman and I are still going to push YFS, signing artists as well as other writer/producers.”
Unfamiliar with Cohen?
Pictured alongside Bellinger in the snap sent to That Grape Juice.Net this morning, the former Island Def Jam president is responsible for signing a teenage Will Smith to Rush Artist Management, also credited for brokering Run-DMC‘s game-changing Adidas partnership.
This, just to name two of the power-player’s achievements, billed “the first Hip-Hop president of a major label”, after helping to form and subsequently lead the aforementioned ‘Island.’
Keep it locked on That Grape Juice for more on this developing story!