After much speculation, it's official: Q-Tip has signed a deal with Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label and Def Jam Recordings. His first album through the venture, tentatively titled The Last Zulu, is slated to drop early 2013.
"I'm excited to be a part of the great iconic Def Jam label," Q-Tip said via a statement. "I'm humbled to be a part of such a storied history. To reconnect with Barry Weiss is a great thing. As far as G.O.O.D. Music, I'm excited to solidify my working relationship with Kanye, and I look forward to all the opportunities that lie ahead in our partnership. I will do my best to present the most cutting edge music I can."
"I am thrilled to be working with Q-Tip once again," added Barry Weiss, Chairman & CEO of Universal Republic and Island Def Jam, who worked with the New York MC in the 1990s as a member ofA Tribe Called Quest signed to Jive Records. "He is a respected voice in the music community as shown by his acclaimed solo albums and countless contributions to the work of other artists. His creativity continues to surpass all boundaries of hip-hop, R&B, pop, and jazz. We welcome Q-Tip to the G.O.O.D. Music / Island Def Jam family."
The union won't be the first time Tip and Kanye work together. The two also joined forces for 'Ye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, on which Q-Tip produced, as well as West's and Jay-Z's recent collaborative effort, Watch the Throne.
Q-Tip was most recently in the studio with Rico Love, Marsha Ambrosius, Kendrick Lamar and Fiona Apple, among others. He also produced songs on the just-released fourth solo album by Esperanza Spalding.
