Jamaican Dancehall Sensation Skeng Absent from Nicki Minaj's New Label Starting Roster
Nicki Minaj's recent announcement of her new record label has left fans wondering why Jamaican Dancehall artist Skeng is absent from the starting roster. Skeng, who signed a joint venture publishing deal with Geejam and California-based Downtown Records in June 2022, would require a buyout of his existing deal for Nicki's label to sign him. The cost of this buyout has raised questions about Skeng's potential value to the new label.
- Staff Reporter
Nicki Minaj, the famous rapper and songwriter, recently made headlines with the announcement of her new label. However, it appears that there is one notable absence from the label's starting roster - Jamaican Dancehall artist Skeng.
This has caused some confusion among fans, who were excited to see what Minaj's new label would bring to the table.
In a recent Apple podcast, Nicki hinted that Patty Lauren would lead the label's A&R efforts, resulting in a starting lineup that includes Ghanian Nana Fofie, Baltimore rapper Tate Koban, Queens rapper Rico Danna, and Bronx-based rapper London Hill. While these artists are no doubt talented, many were surprised that Skeng, who has been making waves in the Jamaican music scene, was not included.
Skeng signed a global joint venture publishing deal with Geejam and California-based Downtown Records in June 2022, along with his stablemates Shacko and Coop.
The deal was seen as a significant milestone for Skeng, who had been gaining a lot of attention for his unique blend of Jamaican Dancehall and other genres.
"For Nicki to sign Skeng, her new label would have to buy out the Geejam/Downtown deal," explained music brand strategist Lloyd Laing, who played a key role in negotiating a landmark publishing deal with Sony/Columbia for Jermaine Edwards and Rushawn earlier this year.
"The question to ask... is it worth buying out?" he added.
This raises an interesting question about the value of Skeng's talent and potential in the music industry. While Nicki's label would undoubtedly benefit from having Skeng on board, the cost of buying out his existing deal may not be worth it in the long run.
As industry insiders continue to watch the rollout of Nicki's Republic imprint closely, many are curious to see if Skeng eventually signs with the unnamed label.
If he does, it could be a game-changer for both Skeng's career and Nicki's label, as they both work to make a name for themselves in new spaces.
