Sanctuary Urban Snags Southern Rapper Papa Reu

NEW YORK (Sanctuary Records) - Sanctuary Urban has sealed a deal with Papa Reu's Reu Muzik to distribute and market his third effort, marking his official major label debut. Sanctuary Urban is the home of Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child), Jon B, Ray J, Bizarre (D-12), Keith Sweat, Sunshine Anderson, O-Jay's and Da La Soul.

Papa Reu hails from Houston Texas by the way of Trinidad. Reu has been grinding on the independent scene for a few years. I love reggae music, but I don't do reggae music. I like to think of my music as Thug Hall, Reu states. At the age of fifteen, he left his native land of Trinidad, and settled in Houston Texas. While in Houston, he completed high school at Jack Yates High School. In school, he began to sign up for talent shows, ultimately earning his stripes as a performer, Reu caught the attention of Memphis natives 8Ball and MJG, who enlisted the fifteen year old rapper on their Hip-Hop classic- On The Outside Looking In Lick Em Up Shots.

Reu hasn't looked back. Reu released his debut independent album Excuse Me, ultimately selling over 50,000 units in the south. Then in 2001, he followed that success with his sophomore effort- U Know Me. Unfortunately; the promising album was release on 9/11. That was a day I will never forget, states Reu. Since then, he has written and collaborated with a host of Hip-Hop and R&B royalty, Tight Whips by Master P & The 504 Boyz, H Town's Baby I Love Ya, Buss One and Rock It Steady, Lil Wayne's Like Me and Solange Knowles on The Fighting Temptations soundtrack.

On his new effort Life and Music, lets the world know he has arrived. Life and Music features a bevy of melodic cuts, Mr. GoodBye, the uptempo groove Streets Calling and the lead single Hold On that features a familiar Shalamer sample. Also, the album features guest appearances by Lil Flip, Cash Money's Juvenile, Lil KeKe, Hawk and Cazual.

Tailoring a pattern of southern success- of previously released, independent records later picked up by major companies- like Master P, Nelly, Three 6 Mafia, The Cash Money Click and Lil Flip, Papa Reu is the next one to become a household name.