Singer and actor Rain took a major step towards the comeback stage on Monday, signing a deal with Cube Entertainment's affiliate label Cube DC.

He joins a Cube roster that includes top K-pop acts 4minute, BEAST and BTOB and is about to get a lot bigger. 

The 31-year-old "Speed Racer" star was released from the South Korean Army back in July, but his new record deal had reportedly been in the works for much longer.

Back in May, Cube Entertainment CEO Hong Seung Sung told the website allkpop that he hoped to have the deal inked with Rain last spring, who has been his longtime confidant.

"[Rain and I] have offered strong support for each other, and didn't hesitate to give each other advice, becoming supportive friends," Hong said.

"We were happy to see each other growing and becoming successful. And coming in spring 2013, Rain and Hong Seung Sung will embark on a new journey together [with the singer signing with Cube Entertainment]."

The CEO may have a good reason for being too distracted to ink a deal with his longtime friend for several months.

On Tuesday, Cube executives announced they had merged with management company iHQ.

"Cube Entertainment sold 9,001 shares [50.01 percent of company stock] worth [roughly $15,000] to iHQ, forming the partnership," read a statement from the record label to the publication eNEWS on Tuesday.

According to Cube Entertainment president Park Choong Min, the merger will be a game changer for the company.

"With a strong music company like Cube, and a strong drama, movie production and management company like iHQ, we will create an opportunity to become the number one company in the business world," Park said.

"This partnership will be a stepping stone to helping Cube Entertainment set up a new plan for the music industry and grow to be a global entertainment company [in several mediums]."

But iHQ CEO Jeon Yong Joo doesn't intend to waste any time reflecting on the big merger.

The entertainment mogul already has his first project planned out.

"iHQ's first major project will be to strengthen the global music business with Cube Entertainment and become Korea's front man for content syndication groups," he said.

Make it Rain.