RCA Greater China Signs Five-Album Deal with IRIS Chengdu to Expand Hip-Hop Presence
RCA Greater China has partnered with IRIS Chengdu to release five hip-hop albums, marking a significant expansion into China's growing music market. The partnership focuses on Chengdu, a city of 21.4 million residents that's considered the epicenter of China's hip-hop scene.
Chengdu cityscape illuminated at night
IRIS Chengdu, founded in November 2021 by producer and DJ Andre Grant (Harikiri), operates as a multi-faceted music company providing label services and talent management. The agreement specifies the release of albums from five artists:
- Vinida Weng
- Haysen Cheng
- Miles
- Swag Kelly
- Harikiri
The first release under this partnership is Vinida's "7th Seed" album, partially recorded in English. Vinida and Cheng have also released a Mandarin single titled "Black Eight."
The 12-month agreement aims to expand these artists' reach globally while maintaining their authentic artistic vision. As Harikiri states, "IRIS Chengdu was founded to push creative boundaries and give artists the freedom to tell their stories authentically."
This move follows other major labels' recent expansions in China's music market, including Universal Music Greater China's exclusive agreement with Liu Huan and their promotion of Jacky Cheung's milestone 1,000th concert achievement.
While financial details remain undisclosed, this partnership represents a strategic move to bridge Eastern and Western music markets through hip-hop culture, with Chengdu serving as the cultural gateway.