Sony Music Entertainment France announced a new chapter in its 11-year partnership with Wati-B, following the acquisition of recording rights to the label’s entire catalogue.

The agreement covers all albums and singles produced by Wati-B between 2009 and 2023, featuring emblematic artists from the french rap scene: Sexion d’Assaut (*L’école des points vitaux*, *L’Apogée*) and its solo members: Maître Gims (*Subliminal*, *Mon cœur avait raison*), Black M (*Les yeux plus gros que le monde*, *Eternel insatisfait*), Lefa (*Monsieur Fall*), as well as Tiakola (*Mélo*), 4Keus (*A cœur ouvert*, *Vie d’artiste*) and Kodes (*Avoir & être*, *No cap*).

 

 

This catalogue is one of the most successful in French rap, with over 50 certifications (including 10 diamond and 20 platinum) and legendary tracks such as “Désolé”, “Wati by Night” (Sexion d’Assaut), “Est ce que tu m’aimes” ”, « Sapé comme jamais », « Bella » (Gims), “Sur ma route” (Black M) and, more recently, “Meuda” (Tiakola).

“We have had a long-standing collaboration with Wati-B and it is a superb example of a fruitful partnership, which has played a unique role in the popularization of rap in France,” said Marie-Anne Robert, Managing Director, Sony Music Entertainment France. “Harnessing our passion, creativity and global expertise, Sony Music France will continue to honour and nurture the WATI B catalogue, which played a significant role in contributing to our first rap successes in France in the 2010s.”

The acquisition is part of a broader strategic initiative from Sony Music France to enhance its local catalogue and comes at a time when catalogue’s share of music listening in France is consistently on the rise.