![SAINt JHN Kareem 'Biggs' Burke](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/media/SAINt-JHN-Kareem-Biggs-Burke-2019-billboard-1548.jpg?w=942&h=623&crop=1)
More than a decade since Kareem “Biggs” Burke stepped away from the music industry, the Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder has announced his return with the signing of burgeoning Hitco artist SAINt JHN to his Circle of Success Management Company.
The emerging artist started off by writing songs for artists like Usher, Jidenna and dvsn while creating mixtapes of his own music. After the release of his debut studio effort, Collection One. the rapper’s profile has steadily risen opening up for Post Malone and performing at an array of festivals including Rolling Loud. In addition, the rapper has amassed over 150 millions streams across digital service providers.
The move marks Burke’s first new foray in the music industry in 13 years, after selling his shares in Roc-A-Fella Records and leaving the company. He had previously helped bring the label he founded with Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, Damon “Dame” Dash to sell move than 60 million albums and executive produced every album released with the label, including every JAY-Z project up to The Black Album. As recently as 2017, Burke said in a Breakfast Club interview he didn’t “have the passion to do music anymore.” He added, “I’m glad that we created history, but I’m not trying to recreate it.”
However, an impromptu listening session of SAINt’s new music resonated with him. “The night [Roc Nation co-founder Tyran Smith], played a preview of SAINt JHN’s new abum, I drove home listening to Collection One and had an immediate sonic connection to his music.” After meeting SAINt JHN at a Pyer Moss fashion show, a friendship formed between the two. SAINt impressed Biggs after playing his new unreleased material, convincing the mogul to officially partner with the artist. Anticipating the release of new music from the rapper and what’s on the horizon, Biggs notes, “He will be the next biggest artist and brand in the world.”
In addition to Circle of Success Management, Biggs has several businesses extending across many verticals including fashion, film and TV. Recently he executive produced two projects, OG and It’s a Hard Truth Ain’t It, that was picked up last year by HBO.