IDOL signs US hip-hop trailblazer Erick the Architect, confirms 2024 debut solo album
First single ‘Parkour’ produced by James Blake – out 11 July
Album to be released via Architect Recording Company, with support from Quincy Jones Production’s management team
IDOL to provide digital distribution, artist services and global marketing for all upcoming releases
IDOL, the independent digital distributor, has agreed a global artist services deal with Erick the Architect; rapper, producer and founding member of Brooklyn hip-hop trio Flatbush Zombies.
The partnership will see IDOL handle worldwide digital distribution, as well as global marketing , for all upcoming releases – the first being Erick’s upcoming single, ‘Parkour’ which is to be released on 11 July. IDOL’s US team will work closely with Erick’s management at Quincy Jones Productions on release strategy and audience development, including channel management.
‘Parkour’ is produced by Grammy and Mercury Prize-winning artist, songwriter and producer James Blake, one of Erick’s long-term collaborators. It will be the first track from Erick’s incoming debut solo album, which James Blake will also have a hand in. Set to be released next year via his own label, Architect Recording Company, the album also promises a number of high-profile artist features. More details will be revealed over the coming months.
Building on the success of his first solo EP ‘Future Proof’ in 2021, as well as featuring on Jungle’s 2023 single ‘Candle Flame’, Erick’s forthcoming album marks the next milestone for his solo career. He first made a name for himself as the primary producer for Flatbush Zombies, which formed in 2010 and rose to prominence alongside fellow Brooklyn rap groups The Underachievers and Pro Era as part of the Beast Coast hip-hop collective.
The signing is an important step in the expansion of IDOL’s US operations, and extends IDOL’s roster of direct deals with entrepreneurial artists and their management teams. To date, these have led to international success for acts including 2023 Grammy-nominee Ibrahim Maalouf, as well as La Femme, Lomepal and Jazzy Bazz.
The deal with Erick the Architect follows Thomas Maxwell’s recent promotion to General Manager, USA to head up IDOL’s North American operations, with the company also inking new partnerships with Fire Records, Soundway Records and Gondwana Records over the past 18 months.
Erick the Architect said: “When I first was introduced to IDOL, I had a solid piece of music (my new album) & I felt that it had to be nourished by the right individual/s considering I’ve been working on it for almost 4 years. Considering how special it is to me, I wanted to work with a team of people who saw my vision and believed in it just as much as I do. Working with IDOL has been such a joy, they’ve identified how well my music can/and will perform internationally/globally and believe in the ability for it to span all across the world. It means a lot to me to work alongside them. They are an efficient, extremely competent and personable company and I can’t wait for the world to see what we’ve been cooking up!”
Jordan Abrams, Artist Manager and A&R at Quincy Jones Productions, commented: “IDOL makes for an incredible partner for Erick's upcoming album. They look at each step in the album development/creation along with promotion using a global lens. The team is thorough and has spent the past year with us prepping for one of Erick's biggest moments in his career. With an emphasis on independence, we’re able to shape an elaborate rollout while pushing new boundaries at every corner. We are extremely grateful for all the support and groundwork they continue to give Erick + we look forward to building all the foundations of this generational talent.”
Pascal Bittard, President of IDOL, added: “As IDOL continues to strengthen its presence in the North American market, the new deal with Erick marks a significant milestone for our US team as well as the company’s wider international ambitions. Joining IDOL with an already impressive body of work under his belt, both as a rapper and producer, we are beyond excited to be working with an artist harnessing the level of talent and creativity displayed by Erick. With much planned over the coming months, we look forward to working with him and his team at Quincy Jones Productions to help execute his vision for a landmark debut solo album.
About IDOL
IDOL is a digital distributor that provides world-leading service to some of the most prestigious names in independent music. Its diverse roster, built around the highest standards of artistic curation, includes Erased Tapes, Glitterbeat, Gondwana, Kitsuné, AIM Awards 2022 winners Local Action, Soundway, SRD, Ubisoft, Acrophase, B3SCI and Exceleration, whilst also working with artists Four Tet, Nils Frahm, Daphni, La Femme, L’Impératrice and Lomepal.
IDOL was founded in 2006 by Pascal Bittard as one of the first fully digital aggregators, with “independence is a strength” as its core belief. Its offering combines unbeatable label management and marketing services with a focus on long-term catalogue development – a combination that consistently achieves better results for its clients.
IDOL operates its own digital distribution platform, Labelcamp, which offers state-of-the-art supply chain management tools and analytics dashboards to its distributed partners. Labelcamp is also available as a SaaS product for third-party labels and distributors, and is used by the likes of [PIAS], Because, Concord and Ditto.
The IDOL’s team and operations are spread across Paris, London, Berlin, New York, LA, Nashville and Johannesburg.