TDE’s Ray Vaugh Signs With RCA Records & Earns His Spot In XXL Freshman Class 2025

Following the critically-lauded debut of his mixtape, The Good The Bad The Dollar Menu, Top Dawg Entertainment’s new burgeoning star, Ray Vaughn, announces his major label signing with RCA Records in partnership with TDE. 

The news of the signing comes just after the rising MC’s unveiled spot in this year’s XXL Magazine’s 2025 Freshman Class. His profound clarity and understanding of self, paired with his hard-fought grit and unwavering determination—as well as, of course, his outstanding mic skills—is what landed Vaughn both these accomplishments. 

Regarding the signing with RCA and XXL Freshman Class inductee news, Ray Vaughn shares: “On the heels of making XXL’s Freshman cover, I feel like this was the best decision I could have made major label wise. They seem the most interested in me.” He continued, “They care about my vision. They see the vision. Not to mention, Peter Edge and Mark Pitts have brought so many legends to the game. I don't even have a well known name yet. But me just being a part of that RCA lineage now, as well as the TDE lineage, I feel like that's the perfect combination. We got SZA over here. I'm over here. TDE is infiltrating the structure and system. Choosing RCA was a great decision, as it’s been nothing but love over here.” 

The visionary, responsible for shaping the careers of Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Doechii, whom was struck by the young rapper’s undeniable talent upon meeting, .Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith shares on the signing: “Ray Vaughn is already showing the world he’s one of the best doing it. He’s got that DNA we look for in a TDE artist. His project The Good The Bad The Dollar Menu says it all— his storytelling, delivery and bars are krazy. We’re also happy to announce that we’re partnering with RCA again, we've been successful before, and I know, with Ray, we will continue to win.

RCA Records CEO, Peter Edge, shared: ““Ray Vaughn is a dynamic songwriter and gifted artist. We are thrilled to partner with him and TDE to bring his music and storytelling to his fans around the world and more. 

RCA Records SVP A&R, Derrick Aroh shared: “Ray Vaughn is one of the most elite rising rappers in the game today. His unique ability to write the deepest, vulnerable verses as well as the wittiest and most charisma filled records has him in a space that doesn’t exist in the game today. One of One special talent.”