Former Wendy Williams Experience co-host Charlamagne Tha God is continuing efforts to put the spotlight on North and South Carolina artists, with a historical transition for his Stupid Dope Moves (SDM) artist Lil Ru.
The AllHipHop.com Breeding Ground alum, who has garnered success as an independent artist, recently finalized a new recording contract with iconic recording home Def Jam Records.
The new deal is a milestone for Ru, who has made a string of regional hits and received support from various Carolina movers and shakers such as DJ B-Lord, DJ Chuck T, SDM co-founders Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Frosty.com of Columbia’s The Beat 100.1 (WXBT-FM).
Lil Ru’s success is among a string of accomplishments for Charlamagne, who left Williams’ successful syndicated show in November 2008 to pursue his own career interests.
In addition to writing for Ozone magazine, Charlamagne has written blogs for various websites as well as released two albums under the SDM umbrella.
The radio veteran, who currently hosts a specialty show on WXBT, is maximizing his time with SDM.
The lifestyle brand has already aligned with Headhunter Records to spearhead the exposure of the Carolina Hip-Hop movement.
According to the Charlamagne, it is only a matter of time before the Carolinas emerges as the next big region to capture the full attention of the Hip-Hop nation.
“Stupid Dope Moves and Headhunter Records are just positioning ourselves to be what Poe Boy and Slip ‘n Slide are to Florida; what Swisha House and Rap-A-Lot or to Texas,” he said. “South Carolina and the Carolinas in general are the next region to blow in this southern rap movement, which means we are the next region to blow period. Lil Ru is just the beginning.”
Among the artists featured on Headhunter, which is owned by producer 9 Mil and Lil Bo, are Lil Broad, who is enjoying growing regional buzz from her song “Do You Mind.”
With a diverse roster of talent, Charlamagne believes there is more history to be made in terms of what SDM and Headhunter can achieve.
“We’ve got an army of artist on deck…we built for this…Allah loves us.”