Blxst Renews Deal With Red Bull Records for Exclusive Partnership

Rising L.A. R&B/hip-hop artist Blxst has re-signed with Red Bull Records in an exclusive worldwide partnership, Billboard can announce.

Blxst (born Matthew Burdette) founded his own record label Evgle in 2018 and entered into a partnership with Red Bull Records two years later for the release of his debut EP No Love Lost on Sept. 4, 2020, peaking at No. 3 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart. His and Bino Rideaux’s joint project Sixtape 2 topped the July 31, 2021-dated Heatseekers Albums tally.

Red Bull Records will continue to release the artist’s music in the new deal, including his highly anticipated full-length album in 2022. The new joint venture between Blxst’s Evgle brand and Red Bull also includes facilitating new artist signings and furnishing rising talent.

“Everything we’re building at Evgle centers around innovation, family, and community,” Blxst says in an official statement. “As I enter the next phase of my career as an artist and business owner, I’m excited to continue our partnership with Red Bull Records, a company that has supported my vision.”

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Adds Evgle president and Blxst’s manager Victor Burnett: “Evgle is a company that is vertically integrated from the ground floor and built for the long run. Our fully staffed team has the ability to create, design, process, and operationalize at a high level, and with this extended partnership, we’re excited to take our operations to new heights in the music business and beyond.”

The 26-year-old singer-songwriter-producer received the first-ever Rising Star Award at Billboard‘s virtual R&B/Hip-Hop Summit in August, when he was also named Billboard‘s R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month. He also received his first award show nomination at the 2021 Bet Hip-Hop Awards, where he’s up for best new hip-hop artist, and he’s also recognized as a member of the XXL Freshman Class of 2021. His single “Chosen,” featuring Tyga and Ty Dolla $ign, is currently in the top 20 of Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and nearing that region on Rhythmic Airplay. And another song, “Gang Slide,” serves as the main theme song for the new Issa Rae-produced HBO reality TV series, Sweet Life: Los Angeles.

Blxst is currently embarking on his first headlining North American tour, the No Love Lost Tour, which sold out in less than a minute.

“Blxst has established himself as a groundbreaking international artist through his visionary sound and an unrivaled dedication to his craft, and we look forward to amplifying this next chapter of his career alongside Evgle,” says Red Bull Records managing director Greg Hammer. “Our SVP/Head of A&R, Kenny Salcido, and our VP of A&R, Charles Burks III, were passionately involved in the project from the beginning, and have been instrumental in the continuation of this partnership.”

The “Forever Humble” singer spoke with Billboard last month about his pact with Red Bull Records, which included an immersive Apple Maps guide launched this summer that takes fans on a tour of L.A. through Blxst’s eyes and favorite spots.

“Everybody at Red Bull Records feel like the homie. I can text them and just type ’em a crazy idea, and they’re gonna have some type of inspiration behind it,” he said. “Even if we can’t do it 100%, we gon’ make a way. And I just enjoy having that extra support system.”

Additionally, Blxst said that he wanted to continue building out his Evgle label by bringing on other artists and producers who don’t necessarily have to be based in L.A.

“I’m not gonna box myself in — I want to go international! I want to be global, so if you’re in Africa and I feel inspired by you, come to the Evgle gang,” he added.

“We wanted this innovative partnership to set a precedent for the next batch of Black artists to find a partner that supports their vision not just creatively but from a business perspective as well,” Blxst and Evgle’s attorney/partner, Karl Fowlkes, Esq., said in a statement. “With this deal in place, the pieces are there for Blxst and Evgle to make a championship run.”