Common has found a new home with a familia . Less than three years after Common signed with Warner Bros, the free agent MC has announced that he has signed with longtime friend and collaborator NO I.D.’s Atrium/Def Jam Records.
Common is planning to release his 10th studio album Nobody Smiling on July 22nd through his new label situation. According to Common in the press release, this signing was one that has been in the cards for a while:
I’m honored to team up with No I.D. and be a part of the Artium and Def Jam family. Creating this album and signing to Def Jam feels like a new beginning for me. I feel like a new artist because I created this album with the purpose to give back to my city and to the culture of hip hop. Def Jam is part of the foundation of hip hop and being able to work with No I.D. was returning to my foundation now with new energy and new hunger.
In June 2011, Common signed to Warner Bros. due to then-CEO Lyor Cohen personally pursuing the Chicago rap legend.. Common released his 9th album The Dreamer/The Believer six months later through his Warner Bros. Records and his own company Think Common. Lyor Cohen resigned from being Warner Music Group CEO a year later.
Back in a July 2011 interview with MTV, Common revealed that he was not signed to a label since December 2009 when he left Universal Music Group. The same week Common announced he signed to Warner Bros Records, Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music signed a new deal with Universal Music Group.
