According to a press release, New York based Reservoir Media has secured a stake in Legendary Hip Hop producer and songwriter Larry Smith’s catalog. This deal includes his work with the groundbreaking group Whodini and their Escape and Back In Black albums. Reservoir says of Larry Smith: “Smith helped propel Hip Hop into the mainstream as one of the most influential producers in the early days of the genre."

Smith, who was bass player in Kurtis Blow’s touring band Orange Krush produced Run-D.M.C.’s debut and sophomore albums which established them in Hip Hop’s underground and placed them on MTV and into the living rooms of mainstream America. Larry’s work on Whodini’s Escape, Back In Black and Open Sesame established them as one of the few mid 1980’s Rap groups that actually rapped over music opposed to just drum machine beats. Escape was the first Hip Hop album to be certified Platinum as well as reach the Billboard top 40. Smith also worked with The Fat Boys. Lovebug Starski, Joan Jett And The Blackhearts and Confunkshun.

Reservoir Executive Vice President of A&R and catalog development Faith Newman said “Larry was a pioneer who consistently made Hip Hop history, drove the soundscape of the genre forward and broke through to the mainstream. It’s a great honor to bring his catalog to Reservoir and build on our portfolio of renowned legacy music.”

Larry Smith passed on December 19, 2014 of complications from a series of strokes. He was 62 years old.