The Inc. founder Irv Gotti continues to rebuild his musical empire with the signing of singer/songwriter Vanessa Carlton, the first new artist on the label since Gotti entered into a joint venture with Universal Motown Records.
The classically-trained musician hit the pop charts in 2002 with her debut, Be Not Nobody, which yielded the Top 5 Billboard Hot 100 single “A Thousand Miles.”
Carlton followed with her 2004 sophomore album Harmonium, which produced the hit single “Ordinary Day.”
“Vanessa is easily one of the best singer-songwriters that I have ever been around in my entire life,” said Gotti in a statement. “I thank God for bringing us together and for her believing in me and giving me the opportunity to show the world what I have seen, which is V being totally amazing.”
Carlton’s debut for The Inc. will hit stores in 2007.
In related news, Gotti is currently producing and starring in his own VH1 reality series tentatively titled The Irv Gotti Project.
The show chronicles his comeback in the music industry after being acquitted of federal money laundering charges in 2005.