Classified Added By Sony

When Halifax hip-hop artist Classified talked to ChartAttack's resident hip-hop artist, Pete The Meat, early this year, he told him that he hates the music industry but would sign with a large label "if it was right."

Sony Music must have had the right stuff, because they've now signed the MC and producer and will release his new album in March. Classified's most recent albums had come out through Urbnet Records.

Classified (real name Luke Boyd) has self-produced 11 albums and repeatedly toured across Canada. He released his Times Up full-length debut in 1995 and has steadily built a solid reputation since then.

Boy-Cott-In The Industry earned a best rap recording Juno Award nomination in 2006, while Hitch Hikin' Music received another one last year and has sold more than 15,000 copies. "No Mistakes" won a MuchMusic Video Award for best rap clip, while "The Maritimes" made the nation's music station's top 20 countdown.

"It's hard to ignore the success of Classified and his tireless approach to building his career the old fashioned way — hitting the streets, touring from Halifax to Victoria and all points in between," says Dave Harris, A&R director for Sony Music Canada's Red Ink Music division. "Sony Music is extremely excited about partnering with Classified and advancing his career.”

Classified will issue a street single called "Trouble" from the still-untitled new album on Nov. 25. An animated video for the track will follow in early December.

Classified has joined D12, Royce Da 5'9", Obie Trice and Joe Budden for their Canadian and European tours. You can see all of them here:

Nov. 13 Ottawa, ON @ Babylon
Nov. 14 Oshawa, ON @ The Big Sexy
Nov. 15 Thunder Bay, ON @ C2 Nightclub
Nov. 18 Winnipeg, MB @ The Pyramid Cabaret
Nov. 20 Saskatoon, SK @ The Roxy On Broadway
Nov. 21 Medicine Hat, AB @ KC JAX Ultra Lounge & Grill
Nov. 22 Edmonton, AB @ Diesel Ultra Lounge
Nov. 23 Banff, AB @ Wild Bill's Legendary Saloon & Cookhouse
Nov. 24 Lethbridge, AB @ Suede Nightclub & Lounge
Nov. 25 Calgary, AB @ Cowboys
Nov. 26 Grande Prairie, AB @ Rock City Nightclub
Nov. 27 Ft. McMurray, AB @ Cowboys Country Saloon
Nov. 28 Penticton, BC @ Element Nite Club
Nov. 29 Castlegar, BC @ Element Club Bar & Grill