‘X Factor’ finalists Chris Rene, Marcus Canty, ‘Astro’ sign to Epic
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‘The X Factor’ semi-finalists Chris Rene, Brian ‘Astro’ Bradley and Marcus Canty have all inked deals with Epic Records, the label announced Wednesday.
Their signings shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering they were handpicked and mentored on the reality competition by label head Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid.
Reid will oversee the debuts of Rene, who became a fan favorite thanks to his endearing audition track ‘Young Homie’ and his dedication to remaining sober; R&B heartthrob Canty, whom Reid pegged as ‘the next Bobby Brown,’ without the sex; and Bradley, the teen rapper with a spitfire flow and Jay-Z aspirations. Rene, Canty and Bradley were three of Reid’s four semi-finalists. Melanie Amaro, the show’s inaugural winner, snagged the largest guaranteed prize in television history with a $5-million recording contract with Sony Music through Syco, a joint venture between Sony and show creator Simon Cowell.
Reid was appointed chairman and chief executive of the label in July after previously serving as chairman of Island Def Jam -- from which he departed to become a judge on “The X Factor” alongside Cowell, Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger.
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-- Gerrick D. Kennedy
