Music executive and hip-hop manager to the stars Gee Roberson has announced he is starting his own label. Blueprint will be a full-service record company and will be distributed by Interscope Geffen A&M.
“I’m very happy about the knowledge and experience I gained at Geffen that will be very useful going forward in the future,” Roberson said. “Now it’s time to go back to my roots, that entrepreneurial spirit, wrap my arms around my own label and fold it into Interscope Geffen A&M. Based on the relationship I already have with Jimmy [Iovine] and everyone at the label, this is a very natural move that’s filled with synergies.”
Interscope Geffen A&M chairman/CEO Jimmy Iovine added, "Gee has an extraordinary entrepreneurial instinct and that spirit has always been an important part of our company. John [Janick, Interscope COO] and I are thrilled at the opportunity to partner with Gee on his latest venture."
Roberson began his career at Roc-A-Fella Records, working his way up the ladder before moving on to Atlantic Records. In 1998, he co-founded the management company, Rock The World, signing Kanye West as its first client. The company changed its name to Hip Hop Since 1978 several years later and merged with Cortez Bryant's Bryant Management in 2010. The Blueprint Group, which Roberson will continue to run with Bryant, counts Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, T.I. and Drake among its clients.
Producer/rapper Hit-Boy and Chicago rap group L.E.P. Bogus Boys will be the first artists on the Blueprint roster.