Emerging pop and melodic rap phenom Zzz. releases his major-label debut single, “All I Never Wanted” with the news that he (in partnership with Grade A Productions) has inked a record deal with Warner Records.
Grade A Productions, a label founded by Lil Bibby, who previously discovered and signed Juice WRLD and The Kid LAROI, promises big things with the rising newcomer. Lil Bibby says of the signing, “It’s a privilege to be able to show the world an extraordinary creative talent like Zzz. We’re thrilled to be working with Aaron, Tom, and the exceptional team at Warner Records for such an incredible artist and making his vision come to life.”
In making the announcement Aaron Bay-Schuck, CEO and Co-Chairman, Warner Records says, “Bibby has exceptional A&R instincts and is a proven entrepreneur, executive and champion for young talent. Tom (Corson) and I are excited to partner with Bibby and Grade A Productions for Zzz., who is a rising superstar in the making.”
Steven “Steve-O” Carless (President A&R) asserts, “Zzz’s devotion and passion to create music at such a high level is nearly unparalleled in today’s music landscape, and it’s an honor to partner with Grade A to launch his career.”
Unfiltered and brutally honest, “All I Never Wanted” finds Zzz. coming to terms with a breakup. “I always knew you was moving on, hoping we could get along,” he sings/raps over the lush production. Instead of finding comfort in fame and his rapidly improving financial situation, the 18-year-old shows maturity beyond his years by admitting the limitations of money: “Can’t buy you, it can only buy me Louis shoes.”
Zzz.’s staggering ability to switch from singing to rapping and back again — as well as his knack for tackling difficult, off-kilter tones and penning vulnerable lyrics — hints at a rising star with limitless potential. He also has a distinct visual style. In the “All I Never Wanted” video, his love interest consults a witch for a love potion, which wreaks all kinds of havoc. Watch it above.
Leading up to the release, Zzz. has been perfecting his sound, cultivating a lyrical quality to his soulful experiments. That culminated in “Running Away,” which went viral earlier this year. The track notched up more than 5 million plays on SoundCloud and broke into the top 25 of the SoundCloud charts. Since then, Zzz. has begun collaborating with some of the industry’s heaviest hitters including Marshmello, Internet Money, Taz Taylor, Backwoods, and Benny Blanco. With “All I Never Wanted,” Zzz. is ready to take it to the next level, sharing his emotional tunes with an ever-growing audience.
ABOUT ZZZ.:
Zzz. makes heartbroken ballads for the terminally online. The Miami singer/rapper’s songs are powered by the frenetic attention spans of the internet age, blending melodic emo-rap, bristling pop-punk, and colorful anti-pop experiments. His breakout 2022 hit “Running Away” distills the magnetism of his work into a little over two minutes. It’s relatable and real, which has earned the 18-year-old a lot of listeners in a short time. The track has notched 4 million plays on SoundCloud and reached the top 25 of the platform’s charts. Now he’s newly signed to Warner Records and working with a host of A-list producers and collaborators. The young Sam Zelaya has only been recording songs for a few years, and he’s only really been active since the early days of the pandemic. Because his mother has underlying health conditions, he spent over a year locked in his house. Bursting with the emotions from this intense experience, he recorded 7 or 8 tracks each day, each capturing a specific element of what he was feeling at the time. Sam’s savviness eventually got him on the radar of Chicago rapper and label executive Lil Bibby, who was impressed enough to offer the young rapper a deal with his Grade A Productions. As he works on new music, he’s put his work ethic front and center. He claims to now have more than 200 unreleased songs in the vault, evidence of his grind and that his recent success isn’t enough. He won’t stop until he’s reached everyone who feels as intensely as he does.
