Hybe, the South Korean company that represents BTS, Tomorrow X Together, Lee Hyun, and more, has acquired the Atlanta hip-hop label Quality Control, The Hollywood Reporter and The New York Times report. The $300 million deal was led by Hybe America CEO Scooter Braun, who oversaw the cash and stock purchase. Hybe will pay a $250 million purchase price and issue $50 million in new stock.
Braun joined Hybe in 2021, and was named sole CEO of the company’s American division last month. It’s his first major move since joining the company, which signals further investment in North America from Hybe. The company’s U.S. portfolio already includes acts associated with Braun’s SB Projects (Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Kid Laroi) and Big Machine Label Group (Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts).
“QC is one of the most significant independent labels in the world,” Braun said in a statement shared with The New York Times. “They not only distribute music, but they also distribute culture. Their artists are the voices of their communities.”
Quality Control will be overseen by Hybe America, with QC founders Kevin “Coach K” Lee and Pierre “P” Thomas to control the label under Braun’s direction. “P and I are ecstatic about this partnership with Scooter and Hybe and are confident they can get us to our global ambitions we’ve had in our scope since the beginning of the company as nothing means more than our artists impacting worldwide,” Lee said in a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “Over many years, Scooter and I have cultivated real trust and a common way of looking at the world and culture.”
Quality Control was founded by Lee and Thomas in 2013. The label is known for its releases with Migos, Lil Baby, and City Girls. In 2017, they released the compilation album Quality Control: Control the Streets, Vol. 1, which included music from Cardi B, Travis Scott, Nicki Minaj, Ty Dolla $ign, and more. The release was followed by Control the Streets, Volume 2 in 2019.
Migos have a particularly complicated relationship with Braun and Quality Control, compounded by the murder of Takeoff in November. In August, Offset sued Quality Control, accusing the label of violating ownership rights for his solo material. Braun’s Hybe-affiliated SB Projects, meanwhile, manages Quavo.
