Kid Ink Inks Deal With RCA Records

'We just felt it was time to team up with a major in 2013 to take it to the next level,' Los Angeles rising rap star said.

Los Angeles rapper Kid Ink moved a little bit closer to achieving his dreams now that the rap rookie has signed a major-label deal with RCA Records.

Ink revealed the news Thursday night on Twitter when he sent out the message: "RCA x Alumni" right before he premiered his new single "Bad Ass" featuring Meek Mill and Wale on Power 106 in his native L.A.

Kid Ink drew a ton of attention when he was featured on the XXLmagazine's annual Freshman cover alongside French Montana, MGK and Macklemore at the top of 2012. In June he released his independent LPUp & Away on Tha Alumni Music Group to much fanfare. Without a major-label push, the album impressively debuted at #2 on Billboard's rap albums chart after pushing 20,000 units in its first week. The project's lead and melodic single "Time of Your Life" has racked up over 12 million YouTube views since its release.

"We achieved so much last year independently but we just felt it was time to team up with a major in 2013 to take it to the next level and RCA is as excited as we are about the vision and possibilities," Ink said in a press release issued to Rap Radar.

Last year the rap rookie made his "RapFix Live" debut alongside TDE's Ab-Soul and veteran MC N.O.R.E. and spit a spirited freestyle while former "Yo! MTV Raps" hosts Ed Love and Doctor Dre looked on.

"I'm ecstatic to have someone as multi-talented as Kid Ink, along with the backing of Tha Alumni team with us at RCA Records, said J. Grand, RCA's SVP of A&R and Marketing in the release. "We see him not just as an emerging domestic star but as someone whose music and entrepreneurship is already developing a global presence."

What do you think of Kid Ink's major-label singing? Let us know in the comments!