New Orleans Group Sqad Up Partners with Def Jam

Former Lil Wayne affiliates Sqad Up and their label Money Yung'n Records have entered into an agreement with Def Jam Records to release their sophomore album, We Here Now. Under the partnership, Money Yung'n Records will work closely with Def Jam's marketing and promotions departments to expand the group’s exposure and facilitate worldwide distribution for the project. According to a press release, executives at Def Jam pursued the group after recognizing their strong street-level promotional efforts and discovering that they were not already involved with any other major record label. Island Def Jam VP of A&R Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith commented, "Through their own movement they have been able to brand themselves so well in the industry and the public's eye that, whether separate or together, there is no denying who they are and what they stand for as a whole. We look forward to working with Money Yung'n Records and together we plan to take Sqad Up to the next level in '07" We Here Now is slated for a spring '07 release.