Quality Control Music, home of Migos, Lil Baby and City Girls, Sold to Korean Music Giant HYBE in $300 Million Deal

Photo credit: Eric Ray Davidson

Pictured (from L-R): HYBE Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk, QC CEO Pierre "P" Thomas, QC COO Kevin "Coach K" Lee and HYBE America CEO Scooter Braun. 

Quality Control Music, the Atlanta-based record label that is home to chart-topping artists Migos, Lil

Baby and City Girls, has been acquired by South Korean Music company HYBE in a deal worth $300 million.

HYBE America shared the news on Wednesday, and while the company did not mention numbers in its announcement, a filing with Korean regulators indicates the company is paying a $250 million purchase price for the company and issuing $50 million in new stock to its founders Kevin "Coach K" Lee and Pierre "P" Thomas.

"HYBE are perfect partners for Quality Control as we come together to take our story and work global," Thomas, CEO of Quality Control said. "This partnership will create a global platform for our artists, which has been our goal since day one for them."

HYBE America is led by Scooter Braun, who has played integral roles in launching the careers of several pop and hip-hop stars, including Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. The move marks his first as CEO for the company, established in 2005 as Big Hit Entertainment, which is home to some of K-pop’s biggest acts including international superstars BTS.

Braun called Quality Control "one of the most significant independent labels in the world" and implied that the label would have some autonomy under the new arrangement.

"It's important to my team and me that P and Coach continue to have the freedom, and now our global resources, to continue to do what they do best," he said.

Quality Control Co-Founder and COO, Lee, who said he and Braun have cultivated real trust and a common way of looking at the world and culture over the years, added, "P and I are ecstatic about this partnership with Scooter and HYBE and are confident they can get us to our global ambitions we've had in our scope since the beginning of our company as nothing means more than our artists impacting world-wide."

Hip-Hop Stars Brand Power Shines in Trio of Super Bowl Ads

As Super Bowl LVI draws near, some of the most recognizable names in hip-hop are making an impact through commercials released ahead of the big event.

Diddy, Snoop Dogg, and Jack Harlow are among the stars appearing in these advertisements.

Ad space during the Super Bowl comes at a steep cost, with estimates putting the price tag for each 30-second ad slot at $7 million, excluding the talent's salaries.

Let's take a closer look at what these rap icons have in store:

Diddy, the CEO of Bad Boy Records, showcases his business expertise in an Uber Eats commercial. He's not only promoting the meal delivery service, but also his Love Records, CÎROC, and DeLeon Tequila brands.

In the ad the billionaire is on the hunt for the ideal jingle, which will feature remixed hits from artists like Montell Jordan, Donna Lewis, Kelis, Ylvis, and Haddaway.

Snoop Dogg brings his signature flair as the brand ambassador for Skechers Slip-Ins.

The vibrant spot feature fellow legends Martha Stewart, Howie Long and Tony Romo, and shows Snoop walking red carpets, performing at concerts, and cruising through L.A. on a beach cruiser, all while his hit song "Who Am I? (What's My Name?)" plays in the background.

The much-anticipated, following several teasers, Doritos commercial featuring Jack Harlow and Missy Elliott pulls out all the stops. The ad takes viewers on a journey through Jack's hypothetical career if he had incorporated Doritos into his stage performances, with appearances from Sway Calloway and Kelly Jackson of "Sway in The Morning" and a cameo from Sir Elton John.

LeBron James Breaks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA Scoring Record

LeBron James is now the NBA's all-time scoring leader.

LeBron James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record for most career points in the NBA on Tuesday night.

James, a forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, scored 36 points in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387 points.

Since his rookie season in 2003, James has been a dominant force in the league, averaging over 27 points per game for 12 seasons.

With over 7,300 points in his time with the Lakers, he is on track to reach the 40,000-point milestone before he retires.

HISTORY.

With this bucket, LeBron James moves past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer! pic.twitter.com/N6V5RxPe6r

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 8, 2023

Abdul-Jabbar was in attendance to witness the historic moment, 39 years after he set the record. Despite James' pass-first mentality, he now holds the record for most points in NBA history, including regular season and playoffs. He also ranks fifth in the NBA for both regular-season and postseason assists.

Four of the top five all-time scorers in NBA history— James, Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant — have played for the Lakers. Bulls legend Michael Jordan, at No. 5 on the list, is the only exception. 

Kareem just handed LeBron James the game ball…

Chills… 👑 pic.twitter.com/e17NYpRMHf

— Tavio Thrower 🏀 (@TavioThrowerNBA) February 8, 2023