Hip-hop icon T.I. has secured a major business milestone by transferring his entire publishing catalog to Reservoir Media, a move that consolidates rights for his backlist and future works under one independent publisher. This agreement, announced on Thursday, July 9, 2026, ensures Reservoir will manage the monetization of T.I.’s career-defining hits while overseeing the release strategy for his latest and final album, Kill the King. For radio programmers and rights holders, this deal centralizes the licensing of tracks like “What You Know” and “Live Your Life,” streamlining clearance processes for urban stations and streaming platforms.
Consolidating Rights for a Career-Defining Catalog
The agreement spans T.I.’s complete publishing portfolio, covering his historic back catalog and all future compositions. This includes his 2006 album, T.I. vs. T.I.P., which featured the Grammy-winning single “What You Know” for best rap solo performance. That album became T.I.’s first to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and held the top spot on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for four weeks. The deal also encompasses his 2008 album, The People Know, which became his second Billboard 200 No. 1 and remained at the top of the R&B/Hip-Hop chart for five weeks. This album included the chart-topping collaboration “Live Your Life” with Rihanna, which stayed at No. 1 on the Hot 100 for six weeks, alongside “Dead and Gone” with Justin Timberlake, which peaked at No. 2.
Final Album and Strategic Partnership Goals
Included in the new partnership is T.I.’s latest venture, Kill the King, which he has described as his final album. The LP debuted at No. 10 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 7 on the Top Rap Albums chart. Its lead single, “Let Em Know,” reached No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100. Golnar Khosrowshahi, founder and CEO of Reservoir, emphasized the strategic value of the partnership, noting that T.I. has been dubbed the “King of the South” for shaping Atlanta’s rap scene and the broader trajectory of hip-hop over the last 20 years. Faith Newman, executive vice president of A&R and catalog development at Reservoir, stated that T.I.’s crossover successes prove his enduring resonance with fans. Rell Lafargue, president and COO of Reservoir, added that welcoming such an influential artist reinforces the company’s commitment to the genre’s storied history and promising future.
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