Australian rapper Iggy Azalea has revealed she's signed a new record deal with indie hip-hop powerhouse Empire after weeks of publicising her departure from Island Records.
She announced last week she had signed a new "deal/partnership" worth $US2.7 million ($A3.7 million) without revealing the company.
According to the announcement, the multi-year agreement will see the San Francisco-based company "utilise its innovative label services to oversee the release and promotion of Azalea's highly anticipated new music and forthcoming sophomore album," which the rapper said is coming early next year.
"I'm so excited to begin a new entrepreneurial chapter in my career with EMPIRE as my partner," Azalea said in the announcement on Tuesday.
"The ability to have control of my own artistic future is a long awaited and monumental change in my life. I genuinely feel I am in the best position to achieve my creative ambitions."
Ghazi Shami, founder and CEO of Empire, said, "We're excited to welcome Iggy to the Empire family. Over the years, I've admired Iggy's artistry, honest and direct relationship with her fans and tenacity as a businesswoman. I'm honoured that we will have the opportunity to build upon her already exceptional career."
In announcing her split with Island, the rapper said she hoped to release music early next year. "Well still no music this year tho...," she wrote.
"I am nowhere near ready direction wise etc with the stuff I've been working on and I don't wanna jump the gun and have some messy era aesthetically. I'm aiming to be ready to share new music early next year!"
Producer J White, who co-produced Cardi B's Bodak Yellow and I Like It, told Variety earlier this week that he's scheduled to go into the studio with Azalea, although the project seemed destined for his forthcoming solo album.
It's been a rocky few months for the rapper, who spoke earlier this year of an intervention for her mental health being staged by her management, one that resulted in enrolling in a facility in Arizona.
The rapper had moved from Def Jam to Island earlier this year (both companies are part of Universal Music Group) and released her first music in four years, the Survive the Summer EP.
An autumn tour was scheduled and announced, however it was cancelled last month, officially due to "unforeseen circumstances" but presumably due to slow ticket sales.
Australian Associated Press
