Dave East Signs with Def Jam

Dave East is down with Def Jam.

Hitting “The Breakfast Club” this morning, the New York MC announced a partnership deal with Def Jam Recordings and Nas’ Mass Appeal Records.

“Mass Appeal’s still the family,” he explained. “I actually just did a joint deal with Def Jam. I’m excited about it…It wasn’t the average me just signing to a major. I’m actually partners with them.”

Although Nas did not executive produce East’s Kairi Chanel mixtape, which drops tomorrow (Sept. 30), Esco is on board to executive produce Dave’s debut album on Def Jam/Mass Appeal.

“It was a step forward for me,” East added. “I was with Mass Appeal solely for almost two years. Nas really introduced the world to me, a lot of people to me. So that was ideal as far as me first coming in. It’s at a time now where a machine really helps what I’m trying to do, especially being from New York and not trying to stay in New York.

“Like I told y’all before,” he continued, “I’m not trying to be underground or classified as a certain type of dude. I feel like this was a good move to really get what I’m trying to do, my brand, my movement, across the world.”

Def Jam and Mass Appeal are both celebrating the news.

Welcome To The Family @DaveEast #DefJamFamily pic.twitter.com/tZCjPyCbTC

— Def Jam Recordings (@DefJamRecords) September 29, 2016

Mad love and props to @DaveEast for that @DefJamRecords X @MassAppealRecs partnership deal! pic.twitter.com/8dscKRHtlY

— MASS APPEAL (@MassAppeal) September 29, 2016

There’s much more to come from East. Dropping tomorrow, his Kairi Chanel mixtape features a slew of stars, including 2 Chainz, Sevyn Streeter, Fabolous, Cam’ron, and Beanie Sigel.