Human Re Sources

Did You Know?

• Raye's single 'Escapism', released under Human Re Sources in October 2022, reached number one in the United Kingdom and the top five in numerous other countries.
• In March 2024, Human Re Sources partnered with Nigerian-based music magazine The Native to spotlight underground and alternative creative communities through The Native's uNder LIVE showcase.

History

Human Re Sources got its start in 2016, founded by Julius Erving III, who had previously worked as an artist manager at Maverick. The company made its official debut the following year with a roster that included YBN Nahmir, Charlotte Lawrence, Spencer Barnett, Dame D.O.L.L.A., Ernest K, and Six60. In 2019, the company joined forces with Q&A, a music and technology venture co-founded that same year by Troy Carter, Suzy Ryoo, and Erving himself. By December of that year, Human Re Sources had set up shop in the United Kingdom, bringing on A&R executive Amal Omari and Vice President of Creator Services Matt Ott. The following June, the company added UK artists Christian Alexander, Oscar Welsh, and Matilda Cole to its British roster, which already included Lancey Foux and ADMT. On the US side, the label was seeing success with acts like Baby Rose, Pink Sweat$, and Ant Clemons. In December 2020, Erving sold Human Re Sources to Sony Music Entertainment, which ended the partnership with Q&A. The company then became part of The Orchard, and Erving took on the role of Executive Vice President of Creative Development for Sony Music Entertainment. Artists 2Tone and Grip had been signed to Human Re Sources just before this transition.

In April 2022, Mark Jackson came on board as Vice President and head of the company’s Atlanta operations. Two months later, Human Re Sources signed British singer-songwriter Raye, who had left Polydor, her label since 2014. The company announced the signing with a statement expressing excitement about welcoming Raye and supporting her vision as an artist and a powerful young woman. That October, Raye dropped the single "Escapism" through Human Re Sources, which became a major hit, reaching number one in the UK and cracking the top five in many other countries. Her debut album, My 21st Century Blues, followed in 2023 and earned both commercial and critical success, winning British Album of the Year at the 2024 Brit Awards as part of a six-award haul for the artist. In January 2023, Junko Takeda stepped in as the new Vice President, overseeing the company’s operations in both Atlanta and Los Angeles. Around that time, Human Re Sources signed new artists Kelz and Lekan.

By 2024, the label’s roster had grown to include Brent Faiyaz and Eva Ruiz. That March, Human Re Sources announced a partnership with the Nigerian music magazine The Native. Through this collaboration, the company pledged to help spotlight underground and alternative creative communities, aiming to reshape mainstream output via The Native’s uNder LIVE showcase, which gives emerging Nigerian acts a platform to perform live and develop their craft. In February 2026, American singer-songwriter Jill Scott released her sixth studio album, To Whom This May Concern, under Human Re Sources. The album earned critical acclaim and landed at number 33 on the US Billboard 200. The following month, Raye put out her second studio album, This Music May Contain Hope, which also received critical praise and commercial success, hitting number one on the UK Albums Chart. Its lead single, "Where Is My Husband?" from 2025, became her second number one in the UK and had sold over 1.1 million copies there by March 2026. Erving credited Raye’s hard work and her managers for the album’s success, noting that they would ensure the project got the attention it deserved.

As of 2026, Human Re Sources’ roster includes Akia, Buddah Bless, Dxledward, Eva Ruiz, H1mward, Jill Scott, Lancey, Lakeyah, Lekan, Natanya, Raye, SuperJazzClub, and SwaVay.