Four-time Grammy winner Will Smith is among the artists on Slang, a new label launched by music-rights and entertainment company Influence Media and led by Rene McLean, its partner and founding advisor. The new label’s roster also includes Grammy-winning producers Camper (Jay-Z, Drake, Mary J Blige) and 30 Roc (Roddy Rich, Travis Scott, Lil Yachty), along with singer-rapper Leaf, hip-hop duo the Underachievers, and singer-songwriter Isaia Huron, among others.
In his role at Influence Media Partners, McLean (pictured above, right) recently led major catalog acquisition deals for Future, Tyler Johnson and superstar Puerto Rican songwriter-producer Tainy. Prior to joining Influence, he worked closely with Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, Eminem, Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, and others. Previously, he founded RPM GRP which saw him securing partnerships with Pepsi, LVMH, Apple Music, among others, and establishing the Mixshow Power Summit. Backed by BlackRock and Warner Music Group, Influence’s latest fund has secured more than 30 music-rights investments, also including Enrique Iglesias, Blake Shelton, Jessie Reyez, songwriter-producer Julia Michaels, and others.
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“I’m proud to lead Slang’s efforts to partner with quality artists and invest in their growth, regardless of genre or where they are in their respective careers,” McLean says. “In a quickly changing music industry, Slang artists will be surrounded by a team of like-minded strategists who will stop at nothing to further their trajectory and help them meet their goals. Our commitment to culture comes first, and we consider our Slang roster family.”
Will Smith, who is said to be at work on a new album, released his first single through the label, the faith-based “You Can Make It” (featuring Fridayy and the Sunday Service Choir) late in June; he also performed the song on the BET Awards with Kirk Franklin and Chandler Moore. It was the latest in several music moves this year for Smith, who also performed with J Balvin at the Coachella festival in April and released his latest film,“Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” also starring Martin Lawrence, on June 7, which featured his duet with Sean Paul, “Light Em Up.”
