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Local rapper Savage could be adding some famous friends to his posse, after officially signing on as a label mate to Amy Winehouse and Jack Johnson at Universal Republic last Friday.
As reported last week, Savage was caught in the midst of a four-way bidding war after his 2005 hit single Swing was released in America last month, soaring up the iTunes charts.
Universal Music NZ managing director Adam Holt said it was great news for both Savage and his local record label Dawn Raid.
"It's such an amazing breakthrough. Universal Republic are a big label with really good hip-hop credibility. They're going to get the best producers and all that. It really gives Dawn Raid a foothold on America."
Holt also hopes the deal will boost the confidence of the local hip-hop scene in general, which has suffered a rough couple of years.
Dawn Raid's Brother D said it was a very proud moment for the team, similar to when OMC's How Bizarre hit the charts 12 years ago.
"When How Bizarre broke out we were like 'Wow, we finally did it'. To me, that is how this feels. It's another 'wow, we finally did it' moment again.
"I'm really proud of Savage but also of what we've done to follow it through, especially with some of the headaches we've had.
"That's how business is, you go through your highs and lows. This is a high."
