Joseph "Reverend Run" Simmons, who has played a key role in creating hip hop supergroup Run - D.M.C., has annouced his signing to United Kingdom independent record label Craze Productions.

Kid Rock, a rap/country artist who is also closely asscociated with Rev. Run, will be assisting in tours and publicity campaigns as a way to kick off the promotion for Simmons' album, which is set to be released sometime this quarter.

"This is a landmark deal for Crazed Productions, which will put our company at the forefront of multi-faceted marketing and promotion in hip-hop,"  said Sam Kleinman, CEO of Crazed Productions, also predicting that the deal will "lead other major artists to sign direct with digital record companies thus bypassing the major recording companies."

Crazed Productions have had a notable online music history, having only been mainly a Web and mobile downloads/ringtone company.