UPDATE: Jahlil Beats Talks Roc Nation Signing, “I’ma Boss” Remix
Over the weekend, Roc Nation expanded their growing roster by adding hit-making producer Jahlil Beats to the roster. XXL caught up with the Pennsylvania-bred beatsmith to find out how the deal materialized.
“I was in a bidding war with like six different labels for publishing deals,” he said. “I just feel like Roc Nation, as a brand, as a name, was bigger than life. On top of that, they gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse, where I could have so much space to do whatever I want to do outside of Roc Nation.”
The signing is brings a story full circle for Jahlil, in a way similar to his now label-mate J. Cole.
“I had tried to give Jay some beats at [Philadelphia’s] Powerhouse 2009,” he says of his first encounter with Jiggaman. “I waited for him at the entrance, and when he was coming in I was like, ‘Yo, I got these joints.’ And Jay was like, ‘Nah, I don’t want that.’ Then, a couple years later, I’m in his office and he talking about, ‘I’m a fan of your work.’ It’s crazy.”
That’s not all that Jahlil says is “crazy.” He promises the remix to Meek Mill’s summer smash, “I’ma Boss,” will blow listeners away.
“The remix is gonna be crazy,” he boasts. “I’m not gonna tell you who’s gonna be on the remix, but that’s gonna be the biggest remix that came out in the longest. The best rappers in the game is on that joint. All the top rappers.”
While the official line-up is unknown, T.I. revealed to XXLMag last week that he will be on the song.
As for what else he’s been up to, the new signee has been keeping busy. “I did like 90% of Jim Jones’s Vampire Life album,” he says. “I did like 90% of Bow Wow’s Underrated album. I’m working on Fab’s album. I’m working on stuff with Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Willow, Jaden Smith. I got like four joints on Red Café’s album that’s dropping in February. I’m working with Soulja Boy, Tyga. I’m working with so many cats. Meek got so many tracks from me. That’s a given. I’m working on my own stuff, too. It’s a mixtape. I’m spitting.”
Look out for the “I’ma Boss” remix in the coming weeks.