Reservoir announces publishing deal with rapper Armani White

16 May 2023 - Press release

Reservoir Media, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSVR), an award-winning independent music company, today announced a new deal with rapper Armani White. This is White’s first publishing deal and includes his full catalog, featuring his viral hit “BILLIE EILISH.,” as well as future works.

In 2022, White’s popularity rose meteorically with his global hit “BILLIE EILISH.” The 90 second song was tailor-made for social virality and boasts more than 40 billion views on TikTok, as well as over 250 million streams on Spotify. “BILLIE EILISH.” also reached #58 on the Billboard Hot 100, cracked the top 20 of Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and has been Gold-certified in the U.S. White’s success with the single helped him secure a record deal with Def Jam.

Earlier this year, White teamed up with Denzel Curry on his single “GOATED.” The track garnered over 19 million streams on Spotify and was released alongside a music video featuring boxing icon Floyd Mayweather. Following a performance of “GOATED.” on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” Uproxx praised White as “one of rap music’s most promising new acts.” In April, White also dropped “SILVER TOOTH.” with A$AP Ferg ahead of his EP Road to CASABLANCO., which was released last week and debuted at #8 on Spotify’s Top Albums Global Debut chart. HotNewHipHop dubbed the release an “explosive new EP” that showcases White’s lyrical strength, with NPR, YouTube Music, and Okayplayer, among others, all featuring it in coverage of top releases on Friday.

Hailing from Philadelphia, White began rapping at a young age. In 2015, he uploaded a music video for his single “Stick Up,” which earned him industry-wide attention and opportunities to perform alongside artists such as Big Sean, Goldlink, and Big Krit. In 2019, White independently released his debut album, Keep In Touch, which This Song Is Sick called “an absolute triumph…featuring a wealth of groovy, warbling bass, crisp horns, bouncing percussion and Armani’s skittering flow.” He later released 2021’s Things We Lost In The Fire, an emotional five-track EP that showed further range, exploring White’s trauma surrounding several family tragedies.

White commented, “Music has helped me through so much, and this is an exciting moment to bring that to a new level. I know Faith Newman and the Reservoir team can help me get there. I can’t wait to share more music with my fans and keep building the world of Armani White with them.”

Reservoir Executive Vice President of A&R and Catalog Development Faith Newman added, “As a fellow Philly native, it is really special to work with Armani, whose music pays homage to the history of Philly hip-hop and brings in a modern flare to create his self-described ‘happy hood’ niche within the genre. He also has a remarkable work ethic, and the Reservoir team is eager to help Armani continue to release hit songs that drive the genre forward.”

Reservoir President and Chief Operating Officer Rell Lafargue also said, “Armani has been on the rise for years, but ‘BILLIE EILISH.’ helped him explode onto the scene to gain the attention he deserves. He is a true artist and global thinker – incorporating striking visual elements into his campaigns and recognizing the importance of impressive international collaborations. Armani is exactly the kind of artist we look to support at Reservoir, and, despite billions of views and streams, he’s just scratching the surface.”