Bun B Jumps Off Asylum, Heads For Universal Music's (Independent) Fontana

Before the end of last year, Ron Spaulding was promoted to President at Fontana (Universal Music Group's Independent Distribution company). Mr. Spaulding is no stranger to hip hop. He was one of the main lynchpins at West Coast hip hop label Priority Records back in the 90's and after that Executive Vice President and General Manager at Asylum (Bun B's now former label). Mr. Spaulding just acquired the ICP label Psychopathic Records early this month. Fellow Texan Trae Tha Truth runs his label through Fontana, as well. To confirm Bun B's choice, all fingers are pointing to Fontana for hip hop artists to go as their method for music distribution. Read on.

via XXL

Looks like fans are going to have to wait a couple more months for Bun B’s new album Trill O.G. to hit stores. The Southern rap vet recently told XXLMag.com that he’s switching label homes.

“We’re gonna be moving from the Warner Bros. system to the Universal system,” he told XXL.

The UGK rapper will now be going through Fontana, which is a subsidiary of the Universal Music Group. “[This new situation] works better for me,” Bun continued. “I work better in the small system. When you’re in the big system it’s really about breaking you and exposing you and I think I’ve been able to build a career as far as just associating myself. We’re pretty good with that in-house with Rap-A-Lot. But with Universal we are gonna use their distribution legs and promotional chain, because they do have access that we haven’t been able to have before.”

When asked why he left Asylum, Bun had this to say, “[Asylum] helped me immensely over the last four or five years in my career as far as taking, me, myself and UGK to another level. It’s just that the system in house changed. Todd [Moskowitz] got moved up to a higher position and it doesn’t give me as much of an opportunity to be hand on hand on a lot of stuff.”

The Port Arthur, Texas rep has already recorded a lot of material for the follow-up to 2008’s II Trill, including tracks with Drake, Jamie Foxx, Young Jeezy, Trey Songz and DJ Premier, among others. Yet, now as he awaits the paperwork to be finalized, he can work on more music for his upcoming disc.

“It gives me time to work with people that I thought I was gonna miss, like Pharrell,” he shared. “Pharrell and I have been trying to get together for this album but we’ve been having scheduling conflicts, which actually just opened up a nice window for us to record. And it also gives me a chance to finish up recording with Premier. We was supposed to do two, but I only got one done. We were worried we weren’t gonna get the second one done but we got time to get that done. It’s also given me another chance to do another one with Drake and fine tune that whole situation.”

There was one collaboration that Bun remained tight lipped about but promised it would turn a lot of heads. “I got a song that’s just kinda crazy,” he said. “All I can tell you is that it’s a legendary song; literally it’s three legends on this song. Two of them is hip-hop and one of them is a cultural icon.”

Pill: After Label Bidding War Signs With Asylum Records

via XXL

The labels went Ham over signing Pill and XXLMag.com has confirmed that the November ‘09 Show and Prove candidate has signed with Asylum Records, joining a roster that includes Gucci Mane, Lil’ Boosie and Cam’ron.

XXL reached out to P-I Double to find out the details of the deal. “They were the first to reach out to me and if you look at the urban side of the music they got control over that shit right now,” he said. “They smashing radio right now. And if you look at the other labels I haven’t really seen them break an artist in I don’t know how long, I mean a new urban act…most of these labels are breaking R&B artists. I was like damn, I got in a spot where I can actually be heard and not be overpowered by some big R&B pop star.”

According to the Atlanta-native, every major label, from Universal Motown to Def Jam, to Atlantic to Interscrope were reaching out to get him to sign on the dotted line but he was most intrigued by the Warner offshoot. “It’s almost like Asylum got like three or four top urban acts that been gaining in the last couple quarters,” he explained of his decision. “With Gucci and then New Boyz smashed, the Boosie, you seen him everywhere. The promotions team, the marketing, all that shit is crazy. I need that type of marketing if I’m gonna take it to the next level.”

While Pill’s manager Derek Schklar was tight-lipped about the exact amount of advance money Pill was awarded he had this to say, “It was a very unconventional deal for Asylum.”

Over the course of 2009, the up-and-coming MC made a name for himself with two critically acclaimed mixtapes—4180: The Prescription and the 4075: The Refill—as well the draw dropping video for his buzz-inducing single “Trap Goin’ Ham.” He was also included on Killer Mike’s Underground Atlanta compilation.

As of press time there is no set date for Pill’s major label debut, The Medicine.