*The Atlanta-based hip-hop label Quality Control has merged with South Korean-based music company HYBE, led by Scooter Braun, in a $300 million deal.
Quality Control was founded by Pierre “P” Thomas and COO Kevin “Coach K” Lee and is home to City Girls, Migos, and Lil Baby. It’s the first major deal by Braun since becoming the sole CEO of HYBE America.
“I am so proud and honored to have Coach and P join Bang and I as our partners,” said Braun in announcing the deal. “QC is one of the most significant independent labels in the world, working with incredible artists who are, and remain to be, the voices of culture.
Braun added: “I’ll never forget riding around Atlanta over 20 years ago with Coach discussing our dreams and ambitions and how we said ‘If they let us in the game, we are never going to give it back.’ Now, all these years later, we are joining forces to make these dreams a reality.”
Thomas added: “HYBE are perfect partners for Quality Control as we come together to take our story and work globally. All of HYBE’s leaders are entrepreneurs with phenomenal combined history finding talent and taking it to the highest levels. Taking QC worldwide requires key partners like this who understand building something from the bottom and aiming sky high. It matters to us greatly their grasp of culture and acutely seeing what QC has built and the limitless path of where it can go.”
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“Over many years Scooter and I have cultivated real trust and a common way of looking at the world and culture. An added bonus of this partnership is the fact that both QC and HYBE have existing relationships with the UMG family and that will create an easy flow that will benefit the artists. The artists of QC are our focus and their best interests will be incredibly supported with this partnership,” Thomas said.
Braun established a relationship with Coach and P in the early 2000s when he was living in Atlanta.
“It’s important to me and my team that P and Coach continue to have the freedom, and now our global resources, to continue to do what they do best; facilitate and nurture great art and culture,” Braun noted in the announcement.
According to Variety, QC’s music roster will remain affiliated with Universal Music Group.
I been saying Offset on some Eazy E shit w/ the label && the rest of Migos were happy with their deals and being played..
Sure enough that man sold his whole label for $300 millions.
And thats the beef! Quavo comfortable w/ how P do business and Offset know they getting played!
— Pack Leader of #TeamNoHomeTraining (@returnofdaMaq) February 9, 2023
Now a yt man owns Quavo masters. Not even Pee was loyal LMFAO
— . (@Defensess09) February 9, 2023
WHY TF DID QC SELL OUT??? Black folks refuse to keep shit for ourselves, I swear.
And to Scooter Braun?? Are you serious?
I see why Offset wanted out.
— Tut, The Habitual Linestepper. (@KingTutUncut) February 9, 2023
QC is labeled as one of the most influential labels.. why Black ppl never keep sht to pass down and create a legacy like the Jewish mfs? Why they always sell out? That label couldve been worth sooo much more down the line.
— AP ???? (@alaynaa__) February 9, 2023
Amid criticism from fans about the deal, Pee has denied “selling out” and made clear that he’s “selling in,” The YBF reports.
”I don’t usually post long notes but I recorded some thoughts tonight,” Pee wrote on his IG. “There’s no value in separation. There is so much more value when people are working together and not hating and taking each other down. Especially when you come from nothing.”
He continued, “Stop thinking people are selling OUT. Instead see people are selling IN and see that you are building something to create more-for everybody. Black entrepreneurs are not getting these opportunities on a regular basis and they should be.
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