Fresh off his new EP Self Promotion, Wale took Wednesday morning to announce that he was “thrilled” to join the Warner Bros. team.”I felt their passion, commitment, and enthusiasm from day one,” he said in a statement to Complex. “They believed in my vision whole heartedly, and I am ready to show and prove.”

The new deal, he added, will help him showcase both his artistry and “entrepreneurial spirit.”Tom Corson, label co-chairman, touted Wale as a “pillar in the hip-hop community and beyond” and said the team was “delighted” to welcome him. “With his cultural relevance and lyrical prose, he continues to elevate the game,” he said Wednesday. “Wale is truly a force to be reckoned with and we look forward to a successful partnership for years to come.”

Wale’s sixth studio full-length is due later this year at his new label home.