Molly Santana Signs to Epic Records, Drops "A Girl Is A Gun"

Molly Santana has signed to Epic Records and released her new single and self-directed music video "A Girl Is A Gun" on November 6, 2026. The single serves as the formal introduction to her upcoming project BLACK PUNK, due November 27 under the Epic Records and Black Punk Music partnership.

The track was produced by Showjoe and Tom Lev. No additional production credits or album tracklist details were included in the announcement.

What "A Girl Is A Gun" Sounds Like and Where It Comes From

Santana, a native of Fontana, California, has described her influences as alternative, punk, grunge, and hip hop. "A Girl Is A Gun" pulls from that cross-genre approach and pairs it with a self-directed visual. The release follows two earlier 2026 singles, "Live Your Life" and "Can't Touch This," which kept her name in circulation while the Epic deal was being finalized.

Her path to this moment started with the Masonic Music EP, released in September 2024. That project led directly to a supporting slot on Don Toliver's Hardstone Psycho Tour and a set at Rolling Loud, both in 2024. Earlier in 2026, she hosted a "black punk" themed booth at ComplexCon that previewed the aesthetic of the project now formally titled BLACK PUNK.

The biggest acceleration came when she appeared on Drake's ICEMAN album on the track "Ran To Atlanta." According to the release, the song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Santana's first appearance on that chart. In an interview with Complex, Santana said Drake reached out after Future mentioned her name. "Drake hit me up and was like, 'Future said your name. We got to get you on this song,'" she told Complex. "And I was like... this has to be destiny."

That feature brought a significant new audience to an artist who had already been building a fanbase for years. According to the release, Santana currently has over one million followers across social platforms.

What BLACK PUNK Is and What Ezekiel Lewis Means for the Project

BLACK PUNK is Santana's first full project under Epic Records. The label deal was brokered under Ezekiel Lewis, who is named in the announcement as a key figure on the Epic side. Lewis has been active in A&R and label development at Epic, though the specific scope of his role on this project was not detailed in the release.

Santana spoke to Billboard about the project. "BLACK PUNK music marks a new chapter in my career, one devoted to pushing the boundaries of creativity in music and beyond," she said. "Ezekiel Lewis and the team at Epic have given me the perfect home for my new label, a place filled with passion, inspiration, and complete determination to push the future of music forward."

The phrase "my new label" in that quote suggests BLACK PUNK Music functions as Santana's own imprint operating in partnership with Epic, rather than a straight signing. That structure, an artist-owned label distributed or co-signed through a major, is increasingly common for artists with established fanbases who want to retain creative and commercial control.

BLACK PUNK arrives November 27. No tracklist, runtime, or featured artists have been announced beyond what is included in the single release.

Photos from the campaign were shot by Gabriel Flores.

What Independent Artists Can Take From This Campaign

Santana's rollout is worth studying for artists still building. She spent two years creating proof of concept before the major label conversation happened. The Masonic Music EP was not a signing announcement; it was a body of work that led to a tour slot, a festival set, and eventually a co-sign from one of the most commercially powerful artists alive. The ComplexCon booth was brand work, not a show. It seeded the BLACK PUNK aesthetic months before the formal announcement.

The structure of the deal itself, an artist-owned imprint under a major, reflects what leverage looks like when you arrive to the table with an audience already in place. If you are working on your own release campaign, you can [submit your music or project to our community at /submit](/submit) and check the [/events page](/events) for local showcases where building that proof of concept starts.

"A Girl Is A Gun" is available to stream now. BLACK PUNK releases November 27.