This landmark publishing agreement between Reservoir Media and hip-hop icon T.I. (Tip) fundamentally reshapes the management of one of Black music’s most enduring catalogs, offering radio programmers, rights holders, and songwriters a clear signal of how legacy Atlanta rap assets are being consolidated for future growth. The deal, announced Thursday, July 9, 2026, grants Reservoir full administration over T.I.’s entire publishing portfolio, encompassing his historic back catalog and all future creative output, including his recent Top 10 Billboard album Kill the King.
Consolidating a Legacy Catalog for Future Growth
Under the terms of the agreement, Reservoir will work across T.I.’s complete publishing catalog, spanning his back catalog and future works. This strategic move ensures that T.I.’s three Grammy wins and over 60 additional industry accolades are managed with a unified vision. The rapper, widely dubbed the “King of the South” for putting Atlanta’s rap scene on the map, has sold over 10 million albums worldwide and released multiple platinum records, including the 2x-Platinum The Truth (2006) and the 4x-Platinum I Am Still Music (2011).
T.I. commented on the partnership, stating he is “very excited about building a strong partnership with Reservoir as we work together to diversify the business and expand the reach of my catalog.” Faith Newman, Reservoir’s Executive Vice President of A&R and Catalog Development, emphasized that T.I.’s crossover successes and enduring popularity prove how much his music resonates with fans. She noted it is an honor to partner with him on continuing to carve out the legacy of these cultural touchpoints he has created.
Reservoir’s Strategic Expansion in Hip-Hop Rights
This partnership reinforces Reservoir Media’s long-standing commitment to the genre’s storied history and promising future. Rell Lafargue, Reservoir’s President and Chief Operating Officer, described T.I. as a rare powerhouse whose music has real cultural significance and staying power. He highlighted that welcoming one of rap and hip-hop’s most influential artists to Reservoir reinforces the company’s mission to grow its roster with world-class music.
Reservoir, a New York-headquartered independent music company founded as a family-owned publisher in 2007, is the first female-founded and led publicly traded independent music company in the U.S. The company frequently holds a Top 10 U.S. market share in Billboard’s Publishers Quarterly. This deal comes amid a broader period of catalog and partnership activity for Reservoir, which recently expanded its relationship with film composer Jady Frontman Jarrett Doherty and struck a joint venture with Latin music publisher TU Publishing. The transaction was represented by Davis, Shapiro, Lewit & Grabel, LLP.
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