XXXTentacion Signed $10M Empire Deal, Finished ‘Significant Amount Of Material’ Before Death

XXXTentacion signed a new record deal and has created a number of new songs before he was killed in South Florida last month.

XXXTentacion's Unreleased New Tracks

According to new reports, the 20-year-old was in the process of working on a third record, the follow-up to his album ? released earlier this year. He was also hammering out a new recording deal worth around $10 million with Empire weeks before his shocking death.

The news was first reported by The New York Times. Ghazi Shami, the Empire founder, disclosed to the publication that the "SAD!" rapper has finished "a significant amount of material" for a new album. He also said that there are currently no plans to drop the unreleased new music postmortem.

Even if the independent record label wants to gift fans with one final album by XXXTentacion, there might arise a few problems. The troubled young rapper's last record contract with the distribution unit of Universal Music Group might mean the unreleased new music will not be released until at least October.

XXXTentacion's Reaction To Spotify Ban

The music executive also revealed how the late artist reacted to his Spotify ban earlier this year. Shami shared that before he signed a new record deal, XXXTentacion was quite worried about his music's streaming performance, especially after the platform introduced a short-lived hateful conduct policy.

"Are you sure you want to sign me even when my streams are down?" Shami remembered XXXTentacion asking him at the time.

The hateful conduct policy also saw Spotify ban R. Kelly's music from automatically curated playlists on the platform. The move was in support of the women who have publicly accused both artists of assault.

In XXXTentacion's case, the rising hip-hop star faced a couple of charges, including aggravated battery of his then-pregnant girlfriend.

Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar reportedly intervened and threatened to remove his own music if they continue the ban.

Right now, the late rapper's "SAD!" is now the most streamed song within 24 hours on Spotify. He has eclipsed Taylor Swift who previously held the record.

XXXTentacion Passes Away At The Age Of 20

XXXTentacion, whose real name is Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, died after receiving a gunshot wound, on June 18 outside a motorcycle dealership in South Florida. Two men were seen fleeing the scene of the crime in an SUV.

One of the suspects, 22-year-old Dedrick Williams, has been brought into custody and has been charged with murder. Another person of interest, Robert Allen, is currently being sought by the police. A felony warrant for violating his probation, carrying a concealed weapon, and possessing the drug flakka is out for Allen, The Independent revealed.

Tags

XXXTentacion, Spotify, Empire, Sad