Jay-Z Signs UK Rapper K. Koke to Roc Nation

Jay-Z knows full well that running a profitable company in the current music industry involves creating a worldwide front. That's why, in addition to hyped hip-hop artists such as J. Cole and Jay Electronica, Hov is signing mainstream pop acts like Willow Smith and little-known foreign artists such as Cher Lloyd. His next big addition is a British rapper named K. Koke. The rapper confirmed his deal with the Roc Nation label over the weekend.

The deal is a joint venture contract between Koke's Suspect Entertainment label and Roc Nation/RCA and should definitely put the London native in front of many new potential fans in the upcoming months. Koke is from Stonesbridge, London and formed his company, Suspect Entertainment, with a pair of CEOs--Squingy and Krish--in 2005. Other artists involved include Froggy, Lefty, Grams, R9, Skeng, Capo, Bug, Gyro, Leokins, Lil Shan and others with equally puzzling names.

K. Koke joins an increasingly powerhouse roster at Roc Nation that includes Rihanna, J. Cole, Willow Smith, Cher Lloyd, Sean Garrett and Jay Electronica. The British rhymer plans to release his next record, entitled 'Pure Koke Volume 2,' in the near future and is already the focus of collaboration rumors for an appearance on J. Cole's upcoming debut album.