Rick Rubin has signed a deal that will see American Recordings releases put through Universal’s Republic Records, according to reports.

Billboard sources say that Universal Republic president and CEO Monte Lipman, and co-president and COO Avery Lipman have signed a pressing and distribution deal with American Records founder Rubin.

The agreement will see Rubin issue three or four albums a year through Republic, according to the report, while further details and other personnel involvement is currently unclear.

The first release to come out of the deal, ZZ Top’s La Futura, co-produced by Rubin and guitarist Billy Gibbons, is due for release on September 11.

Singer/songwriter Noah Gunderson is also reported to be close to a joint deal with the labels and American’s roster also boasts acts including the Avett Brothers, Howlin Rain and Johnny Cash.

Rubin formed American Records as Def American in 1988 after departing his first founded label Def Jam. He finished a five-year stint as Columbia Records co-chairman in February. [MusicWeek]