Alec Boateng: Last News

Launched last month, Universal Music’s new UK version of its Def Jam label – aka 0207 Def Jam – has announced Wretch 32 as its Creative Director.“Alongside being an incredible artist, we’re super excited our new label will be able to tap into Wretch 32’s unrivalled creative mind”, says co-President Alec Boateng. “I’ve been lucky enough to be close up and witness his ever-evolving genius many times.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Following Universal Music’s restructuring of its U.S. labels earlier this year, the company’s U.K. division is reorganizing as well, notably with the merging of two iconic frontline labels, Island Records U.K.

Universal’s new 0207 Def Jam label has announced its first signing. It’s quite a big one.

Stormzy has become the first act to sign to the new UK-based 0207 Def Jam label. 

Stormzy has signed a deal with newly formed record label 0207 Def Jam.The label was launched recently by co-presidents Alex Boateng and Alec Boateng, Ghanaian-British twins who are music industry stalwarts.The grime artist’s previous studio album was released through #Merky and Atlantic Records UK. Stormzy is the first signing to be announced by 0207 Def Jam.The news was confirmed earlier today, with Universal Music describing Stormzy as a “once in a generation artist” on Twitter.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBritish rapper Stormzy, one of the most successful British musical artists to emerge in the past decade, is the first signing to Universal Music Group’s newly launched 0207 Def Jam record label. Stormzy has spent much of his professional career with Warner Music’s label Atlantic, which distributed his Merky label.Stormzy is pictured above in October with (L-R): Tobe Onwuka (Stormzy’s manager), Alec Boateng (co-president, 0207 Def Jam), Sir Lucian Grainge (Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Group), Alex Boateng (co-president, 0207 Def Jam) and David Joseph (Chairman & CEO, Universal Music UK).He is a three-time Brit Award winner, including Best Male Artist in 2018 and 2020 and Best Album in 2018.

Drake, Tiwa Savage, Giggs and Ray BLK.Alec, meanwhile, was most recently the co-head of A&R at Atlantic Records, where he oversaw the rise of artists including Jess Glynne, Stormzy and Burna Boy.They’ll be joined by Alex’s former Island colleague Amy Tettey, who will be joining the team as managing director after 11 years.Alex Boateng said: “Especially in these times, this is a real privilege. I’m proud our collective journey now includes partnering a legendary label with a style that only London and the UK can provide.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorUniversal Music U.K. has today announced the launch of 0207 Def Jam, a new frontline label and the U.K.