Valiant Signs With Sony Music’s Epic Records UK
Dancehall artist Valiant is now releasing music under Sony Music UK’s Epic Records UK.
Sony UK confirmed it with a shout-out on their official Instagram, congratulating Valiant as one of the artists on their roster, who recently copped a MOBO Award nomination.
“Congratulations to all our @MOBOAwards nominees. Central Cee – Best Male Act, Best Drill Act, Headie One – Best Drill Act, Strandz – Best Newcomer, Doja Cat – Best International Act, Travis Scott – Best International Scott, Valiant – Best Caribbean Music Act,” the post read.
Valiant joins Skillibeng, BEAM, Koffee, Protoje, and Lila Iké in the Sony family. The latter three are signed to Sony Music’s Columbia Records UK in the UK, but are also represented by the Sony flagship, RCA Records in the US, while BEAM has been releasing music under Columbia/Epic and Skillibeng under RCA.
Sony Music UK relaunched Epic Records UK last April, coinciding with the label’s 70th anniversary, and according to Music Business Worldwide, it is being positioned “as a frontline label to champion global music and British culture.”
Valiant, who currently has a Spotify following of over 614,000 monthly listeners, has the three UK locales of London, Southwark, and Birmingham listed among the top five regions where his music is most consumed on the platform. London is listed at No. 1, while Kingston, Jamaica and Toronto, Canada are at No. 2 and 3, respectively.
His first releases under Sony/Epic were Mad Out (September 15), produced by Zimi Records, and Beer & Salt (November 1), produced by DJ Mac.
Then there was a six-song EP titled A Gift From Me to You released just in time for the holidays on December 18. The EP featured the songs Polygamy, Search, BUDDUM, Heart Attack, Birkin, and Set Fi Mi.
Valiant was initially a member of Unruly Camp for several years, releasing songs under Popcaan’s label, such as Couple Million, Steady, Miss Your Body, Man Wah Rich, Better Than That, and Enjoy Yuh Life.
In the summer of 2022, the artist, who had taken on a new management team of friends and producers dubbed 1Diplomats, rose to prominence after going viral for glibly uttering the words “kotch e hat, a lie” during a music video shoot.
A string of hit songs followed, including Speed Off, Dunce Check, CAL (Cut All Losses), North Carolina, Expensive, and Mad Out.
Entertainment Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange, who has been a big supporter of Valiant’s music career, has often tried to steer her “nephew” away from recording unwholesome songs. While speaking at his 4:14 mixtape launch in July 2023, the Minister told Valiant that despite some of his musical content, he had made her proud, particularly due to his benevolence.
“I have always felt that you must stay at work with your people and help to change attitudes and help to make them better. And so, I have seen many poor youths rise to the top to the point where they can turn around and help others. But I am so proud of Valiant, because there was this student who could not pay the school fee and Valiant stood up and said he would do it,” Grange explained.
“And not many others would do that: so you make some money, you buy some nice car, buy some nice sneakers; yuh spend yuh money on all kinda things and you forget where you coming from,” she added.