Reservoir is pleased to announce the signing of artists and producers Jesse Rankins and Eddie Smith III, collectively known as WatchTheDuck. The deal sees Reservoir represent Rankins and Smith both as a duo and as independent songwriters, and includes four dozen released titles in addition to the band’s forthcoming works.

WatchTheDuck joins the Reservoir roster following years of creative and commercial success. Raised in Montgomery, Alabama and friends since childhood, Rankins and Smith first collaborated as the production outfit the Bama Boyz in Houston, Texas. The collective quickly established itself with impressive work for artists like Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child, the latter product of which served as the soundtrack of a major Wal-Mart advertising campaign. Following that deal, the team secured several more licensing placements for clients including Ford, MTV, BET, and Nickelodeon. Two years later, with a focus on developing their own act, the collective relocated to Atlanta and created WatchTheDuck, a group now known for its deft blend of trap, electronic dance, soul, and R&B, as well as Rankins’ distinctive, soulful vocals.

Reservoir SVP of Creative & Business Development Faith Newman facilitated the company’s deal with WatchTheDuck, drawn to the group’s innate talent and original flair.

“Between Jesse’s raw and emotive vocals, Eddie’s genre-defying production, and the group’s consistently strong songwriting, it’s clear that WatchTheDuck is a rare gem of a band,” Newman says. “Having so much in a single group, from the classic soul vocal styling to the Top 40 production credits and synchronization potential, makes this an ideal partnership and a special signing for Reservoir.”

“We’re looking forward to working with Reservoir,” Rankins and Smith say of the new relationship. “It’s a great thing when an entire team is excited about our sound and getting it to the masses. It feels good. It feels special.”

Signed to Epic Records by Grammy Award-winning producer Tricky Stewart, WatchTheDuck has released a celebrated EP, Anatidaephobia, which spawned the popular single, “Poppin’ Off”, notably used in the opening scenes of Kevin Hart and Ice Cube’s Ride Along. Anatidaephobia was followed by last year’s mixtape, Don’t Watch Me, known for the catchy and humorous “Girlfriend??” featuring T.I. The group continues to write and produce for other acts, counting Iggy Azalea’s “100”, from the Grammy nominated album The New Classic, and T.I.’s “Light Em Up (RIP Doe B)”, from #1 release Paperwork, among their recent credits.

WatchTheDuck is currently camped out in Los Angeles, where the two-man team is writing for their upcoming full-length Epic release and collaborating with a host of high-profile acts, including T.I., Rihanna, Afrojack, and Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records.