Yo Gotti is making moves in R&B.
On Monday (May 2), the rapper announced that he signed R&B artist Lehla Samia to his CMG (Collective Music Group) label, marking the first time a woman has joined the CMG imprint. Samia’s signing also indicates an expansion into the R&B genre for the label which has focused primarily on hip-hop.
“I’m proud to welcome Lehla to the CMG family,” Yo Gotti said in a statement. “She has an incredible voice, she’s creatively gifted and she’s been putting in the work to develop into the next R&B superstar. I’ve always said that CMG is more than just hip-hop label. We have our focus on building the biggest and most versatile force in the music industry. Signing Lehla is the latest example of that goal.”
Currently, CMG’s roster boasts hip-hop artists including Moneybagg Yo, 42 Dugg, EST Gee, Mozzy, Blac Youngsta, Blocboy JB, Lil Poppa, Big Boogie and 10Percent.
Samia said in a statement, “Signing with Gotti and joining the CMG team is a dream come true. I’ve been grinding for this opportunity for a minute and I’m really excited about this new chapter in my career. I can’t wait to share my story with the world and deliver that pure R&B sound for my old and new fans.”
Samia first gained popularity on social media by releasing her renditions of fan-favorite songs by fellow artists including Queen Naija and Coi Leray. She has gained 1.2 million followers and 16 million likes on TikTok thanks to these covers and remixes, which she’s dubbed “LehMixes.”
CMG, which was founded as Cocaine Muzik Group in 2012, partnered with Interscope Geffen A&M (IGA) last summer to further advance and support its signees. At the time, Yo Gotti said in a statement, “We share the same vision about winning. We want to break barriers, disrupt the industry and develop the next generation of superstars. I’m thrilled to partner with them as I continue focusing on CMG’s expansion.”
Under the Interscope partnership, CMG released Moneybagg Yo’s fourth studio album, A Gangsta’s Pain, which sat atop the Billboard 200 for two weeks last year. The LP, which marked Moneybagg Yo’s first No. 1 on the tally, has logged a total of 52 weeks there. Also under the partnership, 42 Dugg scored a win with his mixtape Free Dem Boyz, which debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and charted for 46 weeks.
