Music Week can reveal that one of the UK’s biggest stars has a new label home.
J Hus has today (June 26) announced he has partnered with leading independent record label Empire, and to mark the occasion he has shared a brand new single. Released today, Gold features Nigerian star Asake and was produced by P2J.
As a recap, in 2017 J Hus’ debut record Common Sense earned him a BRIT Award nomination and a platinum certification. It is on sales of 472,826 to date, according to Official Charts Company.
In 2020, meanwhile, his second outing, Big Conspiracy debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart. Last week, Hus performed a one-night only Big Conspiracy five-year Anniversary show at Royal Albert Hall that sold out in minutes. He scored his second No.1 record in 2023 with Beautiful And Brutal Yard, released via Black Butter.
Speaking about the signing, Empire COO Nima Etminan said: “J Hus embodies everything Empire looks for in an international superstar – he’s charismatic, hard working, an incredible performer and he blends sounds and cultures together seamlessly. Our entire global team is excited to get to work on helping Hus reach the heights he deserves.”
The signing marks an intensification of Empire’s moves in the UK. Earlier this year, the label hired Guillermo Ramos as MD Europe and Ted May as senior vice president, international marketing – both having previously served in senior roles at Virgin Music and MNRK/eOne, respectively.
“It is an honour to expand Empire’s European footprint in partnership with a visionary icon like J Hus,” added Guillermo Ramos. “His gravitas, fearlessness and cultural resonance continue to define the current musical era, and his artistry aligns perfectly with Empire’s values of independence, authenticity and originality.”
J Hus embodies everything Empire looks for in an international superstar
Nima Etminan, Empire
“J Hus is a generational artist whose work embraces cultures and transcends borders,” said Ted May. “His partnership with Empire is a natural fit, a major milestone that reflects the scale of our global ambition and reinforces our commitment to empowering the world’s most important artists with true independent strength and vision.”
J Hus has racked up a host of platinum hits in the UK, including Drake collaborations Did You See and Who Told You (2,203,855 and 666,398 sales respectively), as well as Bouff Daddy (1,095,310 sales), Disaster (847,028) and Fisherman featuring MoStack and Mist (621,696) among others.
“Really excited to be working with Empire on this new independent journey for Hus,” concluded Michael Adane, GM of 2K Entertainment. “We have a clear vision for what we’re trying to achieve in this new chapter and Empire are the perfect partners.”
