With T.I. making an impact on the Billboard albums and singles charts and business alliances made with Killer Mike and Big Boi, 2008 comes as a year of success for Grand Hustle Entertainment.The Atlanta-based company is moving forward towards the New Year as it joins forces with Interscope Records to release the upcoming debut album from rapper Yung LA. The project, titled Futuristic Leland, will include appearances from T.I. and other Grand Hustle artists.“Each song will be different, I may be swag rapping, but I’ma hit you with bars too,” said Yung LA, who admitted the album is “a new way of hip hop and a new way to express it.” “There’s nothing I can say that the next man hasn’t said, it’s just the way I say mine and the way I paint the same picture with different colors.”The pending release of Futuristic Leland comes as Grand Hustle celebrates its new alliance with rap star Killer Mike. The partnership, which is expected to be finalized in early 2009, involves the former Purple Ribbon artist’s Grand Time record label and Grand Hustle. Killer Mike’s forthcoming release, 16 In The Kitchen, will be the first project from the union.Prior to the Killer Mike deal, Grand Hustle reached an agreement with Outkast member Big Boi in September to manage the lyricist’s solo career. Under the pact, the label’s president and CEO Jason Geter and Grand Hustle Management will work together to ensure Big Boi’s success outside of Outkast with various opportunities.Discovered by rapper Young Dro in 2006 and signed to Grand Hustle in 2007, Yung LA has garnered a healthy buzz among fans with his single “Ain’t I.” The regional success of the Big Kuntry King-featured track resulted in a remix featuring Young Dro and T.I., along with a video that currently airs on MTV Jams.With Futuristic Leland, Young LA proclaimed that the project reflects “what we do in Atlanta, but I’m putting the hip hop in it.” In addition, the 22-year-old rapper opted to expand himself musically as he emphasized that “the beats are going to be futuristic” for the Grand Hustle / Interscope album.The anticipation of Futuristic Leland marks another chapter for Grand Hustle after T.I. spent two weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart in October with this latest album Paper Trail. The album, which sold 568,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week, includes the hit singles “Whatever You Like” and “Live Your Life” featuring Rihanna. Thesingles outdid each other on the Billboard 100 as “Live Your Life” broke “Whatever You Like’s” record for making the largest leap to the top of the singles chart by jumping from No. 80 to No. 1.Young LA’s Futuristic Leland is slated to hit stores in early 2009.
