In the music industry, change is the only constant. Even in today’s world of algorithm-powered playlists and overnight TikTok fame, some artists and entrepreneurs are still playing the long game—building platforms that value soul over clicks and vision over virality.
One such player is Ty Dolla $ign, whose label EZMNY Records just announced a new joint venture with Create Music Group, a powerhouse known for backing bold talent and giving artists room to grow. This partnership isn’t just another corporate handshake—it’s a statement of intent.
You might’ve already caught wind of EZMNY if you’ve heard Mutt, the hauntingly smooth single by Leon Thomas that’s been making quiet waves this year. It’s not your typical hit—it’s the kind of track that feels like moonlight dripping through a 90s R&B filter, with just enough modern edge to keep you playing it on repeat. No TikTok challenge. No clickbait rollout. Just music that hits right.
Leon’s success didn’t come out of nowhere. Behind the scenes is Shawn Barron, an industry veteran who signed Ty to Atlantic Records way back in 2012. That was before Ty became the hook king we all know today. Now, Barron and Ty are teaming up once again—this time not just to sign a star, but to build a label that nurtures them.
“The partnership with Create Music Group marks a new chapter for EZMNY Records,” Barron said in a press release. And while that sounds like typical industry-speak, the truth is, when you look at Create’s track record, this collaboration makes real sense.
Founded in 2015, Create Music Group has never been about flash-in-the-pan fame. Instead, it’s built its reputation on backing serious, self-aware artists—names like Ye (formerly Kanye West), Blxst, DDG, and Rich The Kid. Their approach is about infrastructure, not hype. A machine built not to spit out singles but to support artists who are trying to say something.
Create’s CEO Jonathan Strauss praised Ty and Shawn not just for their musical chops but for their understanding of the industry. “They’re not just hitmakers—they’re builders,” he said. “This isn’t about a few chart-toppers. It’s about creating a system that can produce lasting, cultural work.”
And that system? It’s not built in a conference room.
Picture this: it’s late night in a downtown LA studio. Ty Dolla $ign is standing over the mixing console, whiskey in hand. Leon Thomas is on the couch, strumming chords on an acoustic guitar. There’s no viral moment, no cameras. Just two artists trying to get the sound right. That’s what EZMNY is trying to preserve. And that’s the kind of creative space Create Music Group is investing in.
Steeven Leblanc, Create’s Head of Business Development, put it best: “We believe in partnering with visionaries. Shawn and Ty are exactly that. Their understanding of culture, artistry, and business is one of a kind.” That’s not just PR fluff. It’s a bet on substance over spectacle.
It brings to mind the early days of Aftermath, when Dr. Dre was quietly building an empire of artists who didn’t just want to sell records—they wanted to shift the sound of a generation. Ty and Shawn may not be Dre, but the ambition echoes the same energy: don’t follow the trend, shape it.
The irony, of course, is that in an age where one TikTok can mint a new star overnight, it’s those who slow down, who go against the grain, who often end up standing out. EZMNY and Create aren’t chasing clout—they’re curating legacy. While others are busy hacking the algorithm, they’re building catalogues that will age like wine.
Leon Thomas’ Mutt isn’t just a fluke—it’s a signpost. A hint of what this new venture could become. If the team continues on this path, we may well be witnessing the rise of a new kind of label: one that doesn’t just sign artists, but elevates them. One that doesn’t just push singles, but cultivates stories.
This isn’t just business—it’s a philosophy. A rare one, in a music industry obsessed with speed, stats, and spectacle.
And if that philosophy holds, maybe—just maybe—we’ll get more tracks like Mutt. Songs that don’t just trend, but stick with you. Songs that come not from a marketing playbook, but from a late-night jam session. From a place of patience, risk, and soul.
And honestly? That’s the kind of music the world could use more of.
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