Former Island/Def Jam Chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid has resurfaced at both Epic Records and as a judge on the upcoming Fox talent search show “The X-Factor.” According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, Reid is wasting no time bringing in some of his former LaFace/Jive acts over to his new home at Epic.
“L.A. Reid has been busy erasing the company’s tarnished image and rebuilding its roster, which will soon include Outkast and Ciara, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter,” said Shirley Halperin of The Hollywod Reporter’s website, THR.com. “Reid has a long history with both acts, who were originally signed to his LaFace Records.”
Reid was instrumental in initially signing Outkast to the LaFace label he cofounded with Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, as well as later signing Ciara to Jive. Both acts have expressed frustration with Jive since Reid’s departure with Outkast’s Big Boi accusing Jive of not clearing his Andre 3000 feature for “Lookin’ For Ya.”
Additionally, Ciara took to Facebook back in February and told fans “I pray that my label will release me…it’s at that point where I feel we don’t share the same views on who I am as an artist.”
Big Boi previously stated individual solo albums as well as an Outkast album were on deck for 2012. And if he and Andre 3000 are able to facilitate a move from Arista to Epic with Reid, it would it would seem to greatly improve the odds of making that happen.
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