HIPGNOSIS STRIKES DEAL WITH RZA

Hipgnosis and its investment adviser The Family (Music) Limited have acquired 50% of the copyright interest and writer's share in the song catalog of legendary hip-hop artist, songwriter and producer Robert "RZA" Diggs. As a lead member of the influential Wu-Tang Clan, RZA co-wrote and produced the majority of the group's catalog, along with many of the solo albums released by Wu-Tang members.

His catalog consists of 814 songs, including Wu-Tang's debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), an iconic body of work and seminal moment in rap; the group's second album Wu-Tang Forever, which debuted at #1 and went 4x platinum in 1997; and their 2x platinum third LP The W, among others.

In between Wu-Tang albums, RZA produced successful solo projects from members Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah.

Within the last decade, RZA worked with Kanye West on his landmark album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, along with West and Jay-Z's collab album, Watch The Throne.

RZA has released four solo studio albums including the gold certified Bobby Digital in Stereo in 1998. His works have combined for over 3 billion streams.

RZA was represented in the transaction by long-time manager Tyler Childs at Forward Artist Management and attorney Tim Mandelbaum at Fox Rothschild.

Hipgnosis founder Merck Mercuriadis says, "RZA and the Wu-Tang Clan did not invent hip-hop, but they took it from being fun to something that represented a true reflection of what the streets, and being black in America was really like. They were and are the most authentic band and brand in hip-hop and it all starts with RZA’s vision, his songs and his struggle, manifested in music, that could show the entire world what was really going on. He is now globally recognized as a true renaissance man of Hip Hop and most would argue that he is the goat."

RZA added, "I wear various hats in my artistic expressions but the one that has been so deeply reflective of my life’s journey is my songwriting. I’m honoured to partner up with Merck and the Hipgnosis team to usher my songs into an exciting future."