Keep Cool
Parent companySony Music Entertainment
Founded2018 (2018)
FounderTunji Balogun
Courtney Stewart
Jon Tanners
Jared Sherman
Distributor(s)RCA Records
Genre
Country of originUnited States
LocationLos Angeles, California
Official websitekeepcool.net

Keep Cool Records is an American record label founded by Tunji Balogun, alongside Right Hand Music Group founder Courtney Stewart, A&R Jon Tanners and marketing executive Jared Sherman.[1] The label is a joint venture with RCA Records, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.

History

Tunji Balogun began working with RCA Records as an A&R representative, where he signed and developed artists Bryson Tiller, GoldLink, Khalid, Wizkid, and H.E.R. He was also involved in the partnership with RCA and Top Dawg Entertainment that signed SZA, bringing Cozz to Dreamville Records, as well as contributing in signing Childish Gambino to RCA.[2][3] On April 9, 2018, RCA and Keep Cool announced the joint venture record label to sign and develop artists, promoting Tunji Balogun to executive vice president of A&R. Balogun spoke with Billboard about the deal saying: "I’m honored to be able to continue that legacy with the launch of Keep Cool. My passion is discovering and working with artists that are slightly left-of-center, and finding meaningful ways to organically build culture around them. Keep Cool will be a safe-haven for artists and creatives who want to do things differently." The same day, they announced the signing of Normani.[4][5][6] In November 2018, they revealed the signings of Lucky Daye and duo VanJess.[7][8] On February 20, 2019, Keep Cool announced a deal with hip hop duo Freddie Gibbs & Madlib for their second album Bandana.[9] In May 2020, Keep Cool announced the signing of UMI to the label.[10] In February 2021, Keep Cool announced the addition of Louisville-singer Marzz to the roster.[11]

Roster

Current artists

Act Year
signed
Releases
under the label
Lucky Daye 2018 5
VanJess 2018 2
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib 2019 1
UMI 2020 3
Marzz 2021 1

Former artists

Act Year
signed
Releases
under the label
Normani 2018 6

Discography

Studio albums

Artist Album Details
Lucky Daye Painted
  • Released: May 24, 2019
  • Label: Keep Cool / RCA Records
  • Formats: Digital download
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib Bandana
  • Released: June 28, 2019
  • Label: Keep Cool, RCA Records, Madlib Invazion, ESGN
  • Formats: Digital download
VanJess Silk Canvas (Remixes)
  • Released: November 8, 2019
  • Label: Keep Cool / RCA Records
  • Formats: Digital download
Lucky Daye Candydrip
  • Released: March 10, 2022
  • Label: Keep Cool / RCA Records
  • Format: Digital download

Extended plays

Extended plays

Artist Extended play Details
Lucky Daye I
  • Released: November 9, 2018
  • Label: Keep Cool / RCA Records
  • Formats: Digital download
Lucky Daye II
  • Released: February 6, 2019
  • Label: Keep Cool / RCA Records
  • Formats: Digital download
UMI Introspection
  • Released: June 21, 2020
  • Label: Keep Cool / RCA Records
  • Formats: Digital download
VanJess Homegrown
  • Released: 5 February 2021[12]
  • Label: Keep Cool, RCA
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Lucky Daye Table For Two
  • Released: February 12, 2021
  • Label: Keep Cool / RCA
  • Format: Digital download
Marzz Love Letterz
  • Released: June 19, 2021
  • Label: Keep Cool / RCA
  • Format: Digital download

References

  1. Jones, Rhian. "TUNJI BALOGUN LAUNCHES LABEL JV WITH RCA RECORDS, AS HE'S PROMOTED TO EVP OF A&R". Music Business Worldwide.
  2. Lyle, Ashley. "A&R Spotlight: RCA's Tunji Balogun on Working With Bryson Tiller, SZA & Khalid". Billboard.
  3. Payne, Ogden. "RCA Announces Joint Venture With Keep Cool And CoFounder Tunji Balogun". Forbes.
  4. Mitchell, Gail. "RCA Enters Into Keep Cool Joint Venture With Co-Founder Tunji Balogun: Exclusive". Billboard.
  5. Mitchell, Gail. "Normani Signs to Keep Cool/RCA Records: Exclusive". Billboard.
  6. "RCA RAMPS UP KEEP COOL, UPS TUNJI, SIGNS NORMANI". HitsDailyDouble.
  7. Babalola, Bolu. "VanJess Go Deeper than Nostalgia with Their 90s-Style R&B". Noisey.
  8. Leight, Elias. "Lucky Daye Doesn't Want to Fit In". Rolling Stone.
  9. "Freddie Gibbs & Madlib Announce New Album 'Bandana,' Share 'Flat Tummy Tea' Single: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  10. "UMI's Introspection EP Out Now Via Keep Cool/RCA". RCA Records.
  11. "MARZZ – "SO FREQUENTLY" (VIDEO)". 2DopeBoyz.
  12. "Homegrown by VanJess". Apple Music. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
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