Def Jam Drops Trinidad James, Announces Split On Twitter

Less than two years after signing with the label, Trinidad James announced that he is no longer a Def Jam recording artist.

The "All Gold Everything" rapper made this statement on Twitter late Friday night.

James' split with the label is quite surprising, given that Def Jam put down $2 million on the rapper's Gold Gang Records in a joint-venture deal just 19 months ago.

"We're excited to welcome a young talent like Trinidad James to the Def Jam family," Def Jam President Joie Manda said in a 2012 press release issued to MTV News. "Def Jam prides itself as both a cornerstone of hip-hop's rich tradition, and as a vital, forward-thinking label dedicated to breaking and nurturing emerging artists. Trinidad James represents the cutting-edge of what's happening in the culture today. We are thrilled to have him at the label, and look forward to growing his already massive buzz."

Whatever the reason for the split this week, MTV pointed to a 2013 concert incident when James riled up fans at Converse's Rubber Track Studios in Brooklyn.

"I remember when New York rap was the sh-- and us 'bamas,' us from the South was like, 'What the f---?' And we just did our own thing, but now we run y'all musically. That's crazy," he said.

While James hasn't exactly been given a wealth of time to improve his discography, the rapper has yet to hang his hat on anything except "All Gold Everthing" – the breakout 2012 single that got him signed in the first place.

His 2013 single "Females Welcomed" failed to chart, and James has been preparing his first full-length album since the release of his second mixtape last August.

Tags

Trinidad James, Def Jam