Whos Beefing in Hip Hop 2017
If there's i thing that the streaming era has laid bare, it'due south that hip-hop runs popular music. For the first fourth dimension since Nielsen began tracking the U.S. music manufacture in 1991, hip-hop/R&B is the leading genre of music, pulling in a total quarter of full consumption for the showtime half of 2017, while hip-hop albums have topped the Billboard 200 for 22 weeks this yr then far, led by the biggest debut of the year, Kendrick Lamar's DAMN.
Billboard'due south countdown Hip-Hop Power Players list recognizes those who are driving and guiding hip-hop's surge correct now. To compile the list, a commission of Billboard editors and reporters weighed a diversity of factors, including simply non limited to affect on consumer behavior (as measured by metrics such as album and track sales, streaming volume, social media and radio and TV); visitor growth; career trajectory; reputation among peers; and overall touch on in the hip-hop manufacture during the past 12 months. Where required, tape-label marketplace share was consulted using Nielsen Music R&B/hip-hop market share. Unless otherwise noted, Billboard Boxscore and Nielsen Music are the sources for tour grosses and sales/streaming data, respectively.
ANTHONY "Height DAWG" TIFFITH, 47
Executive Of The Year
Founder/CEO, Top Dawg Entertainment
In the final 12 months, Tiffith released Kendrick Lamar'south most successful album yet and introduced breakout star SZA, more than doubling TDE's market share in R&B/hip-hop to 4.72 percent, Billboard estimates. But when it comes to Lamar, Tiffith is thinking about his "setup for afterward this music shit": "It'southward my task to protect him, similar, 'Let'due south get some apartment buildings over here, permit's go buy some shit back in the hood.'" (Meanwhile, Lamar but signed with Nike.) It'southward this pragmatic, take-nix-for-granted philosophy that has guided Tiffith since he congenital the TDE studio in his Carson, Los Angeles habitation, before he even had whatsoever artists or knew how to work the equipment. "Information technology'south a dissimilar listen-set," says co-president Terrence "Punch" Henderson. "He wants to build something. He's not looking for praise from people." Although Lamar is eager to give it: "We're conveying on an ideal that started with him starting time."
LABELS
CHRIS ATLAS, 45
Senior vp/caput of urban marketing, Warner Bros. Records
Atlas jumped to WBR in June after nine years at Def Jam, where he recently helped button Kanye West and Big Sean to No. ane bows on the Billboard 200. At present he's the marketing linchpin of the characterization'southward new move back into rap, highlighted by partnerships with Drake's OVO and promising labels Think Information technology'southward a Game and Tha Lights Global. "I see information technology as a claiming," he says. "I'chiliad not trying to practice what I did at Def Jam. I'yard trying to accept a new, more focused approach."
Book That Inspires Me: "The Art Behind the Tape. It'due south all most the history of mixtapes."
TUNJI BALOGUN, 34
Senior vp A&R, RCA Records
Balogun earned his stripes at Interscope, where he helped sign Kendrick Lamar. At present he'south using his position at RCA to further advocate for "left-of-middle blackness artists, and have them succeed on their own terms." So far, so good: This year, his signee Bryson Tiller scored a Billboard 200 No. 1 with True to Self, and Balogun landed a coveted placement for SZA's "Love Galore" on HBO's hit evidence Insecure.
Biggest Issue Facing Hip-Hop: "Maintaining a level of integrity and advice between the executive -community and the artistic community."
STEVE BARTELS, 54
CEO, Def Jam Recordings
Bartels has just a few months left at Def Jam before Paul Rosenberg takes over in Jan, but he helped a handful of stars tiptop the Billboard 200 during the by year, including Big Sean and Logic. "In each example, peachy artistry combined with razor-precipitous execution," says Bartels. He declined to share future plans, but every bit a keynote speaker at Midem this twelvemonth, he says he got to "learn most global, emerging-market opportunities."
Nonindustry Leader I Adore: "Shonda Rhimes. She'south in control of her ain vision."
SEAN "PUFF DADDY" COMBS, 47
CEO, Bad Boy Entertainment
Combs had a big 12 months that included his Apple Music documentary Can't End, Won't Stop, the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour and being crowned the highest-paid celebrity past Forbes after earning $130 1000000. In Nov, he sold a stake in his Sean John clothing line for roughly $lxx million. This yr, his Bad Boy signee French Montana hitting No. iii on the Hot 100 with "Unforgettable." "Hip-hop can assistance build the future of this country," says Combs. "Nosotros take power as artists and creators."
Biggest Event Facing Hip-Hop: "We take to start dealing with the bug facing our community: The violence is a man-rights consequence; nosotros are facing an education crisis. We accept to utilize our influence."
DAVE Gratuitous, 30 // TERRENCE "Punch" HENDERSON, 35
Co-presidents, Top Dawg Entertainment
Complimentary and Henderson have been with TDE since the 2000s, creating their own lanes of ability under founder Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith. Free is Pinnacle's No. ii and Kendrick Lamar's managing director and "creative partner," co–directing the video for "Humble," the MC's outset Hot 100 No. 1 every bit a lead creative person. Henderson handles A&R duties and manages SZA, whose debut LP, Ctrl, striking No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Both are working on the impending launch of TDE's film division, expected later on this year. "Our friendship comes earlier the business organization," says Free. "It's like a brotherhood."
Volume That Inspires Me Free: Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers. "It'south well-nigh the idea of constant repetition. Anything yous do often, you're going to get good at information technology."
WENDY GOLDSTEIN
Executive vp/head of urban A&R, Democracy Records
Among Goldstein's proudest contempo success is The Weeknd, whose 2016 LP, Starboy, had the fourth-biggest debut of the year. Though he "had everything in him," Goldstein began working closely with the singer in 2014, introducing him to collaborators and encouraging him to push toward pop. "He knew I had smashing taste and guidance," says the former DJ.
Nonindustry Leader I Admire: "The Dalai Lama — he has cracked the code."
AUBREY "DRAKE" GRAHAM, xxx
Co-founder, OVO
OLIVER EL-KHATIB, 33
OVO Brand Artistic
As the streaming era has solidified, Drake has emerged as its perfect star. In March, his "playlist" More Life broke his own tape — set with 2016's Views — for simultaneous song debuts on the Billboard Hot 100 (21) and about streams in a single week (384.viii meg) on its fashion to passing one billion in just 3 weeks. Toss in a Summer 16 Bout with Future that added $13.6 million to his lesser line and a sold-out eighth annual OVO Fest in August, and Drake's team is firing on all cylinders.
JOHN JANICK, 39
Chairman/CEO, Interscope Geffen A&M
STEVE BERMAN, 54
Vice chairman, Interscope Geffen A&One thousand
JOIE MANDA, 43
Executive vp, Interscope Geffen A&Chiliad
Interscope Geffen A&G has been -mining platinum recently, thanks to Kendrick Lamar's DAMN., J. Cole's 4 Your Eyez Simply and Rae Sremmurd's surprise No. ane, "Black Beatles." That run helped boost market share from eight.6 per centum to 11.5 percent (yr to date) while underscoring the executive team's collective strengths: Manda drives the partnerships with Cole'southward and Mike WiLL Made-It's imprints and handled recent deals with LVRN, 6LACK and Playboi Carti; Janick and rap vet Berman oversee the Lamar/Top Dawg relationship. "Kendrick and Summit Dawg are visionaries," says Janick. "I'm merely lucky to exist a part of it."
Dream Collaborator: Janick: "Donald Glover. The guy can do anything."
MICHAEL KYSER, 51
President of black music, Atlantic Records
Atlantic leads the pack when it comes to R&B and hip-hop — to the tune of a xv.1 percent market share as of Aug. 10, versus 10.8 percent a year prior. Fueling that growth? Gucci Mane, who had his first No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums with Everybody Looking, and well-nigh of all, breakouts past what is arguably music's most impressive roster of rap newcomers, including Lil Uzi Vert, Kyle and Cardi B, whose "Bodak Yellow" is No. 2 on the Hot 100. Kyser credits the characterization's "incredible A&R squad — they help keep me alee of the bend."
App I Can't Alive Without: "Waze. I do a lot of traveling, and it hasn't failed to get me where I demand to be nonetheless."
KEVIN LILES, 49
Co-founder/CEO, 300 Amusement
Liles' 300 continues to prove itself when it comes to breaking new acts. Migos' "Bad and Boujee" rode to the top of the Hot 100 in January, and the album information technology's from, Civilization, topped the Billboard 200 with 131,000 equivalent album units in February. Detroit rapper Tee Grizzley's Hot 100 hit, "First Day Out," shows 300 has more than in the tank, even later on the departures of co-founders Lyor Cohen and Todd Moscowitz. "Creative person development is ever going to be No. i for me," says Liles.
MIKE WILL Made-Information technology, 28
CEO, Ear Drummer Records/EarDrummers Entertainment
The Atlanta superproducer is already rap's most ubiquitous beatmaker, and now his executive moves are coming to fruition too. Rae Sremmurd, the breakout star of his Interscope-backed Ear Drummer Records, concluded the year with the unlikely six-week Hot 100 reign of "Black Beatles" — his first No. 1. And in 2017, betwixt performing at festivals including Difficult Summertime, Mike led his in-business firm production team to large commercial gigs, including remaking "It Takes Two" for Target with Lil Yachty and Carly Rae Jepsen, and remixing soda brand Fanta'southward theme song.
RICK ROSS, 41
CEO, Maybach Music Grouping
Ross' Maybach label still has a strong roster anchored past Wale and Meek Mill, who recently striking No. three on the Billboard 200 with Wins and Losses. Ross' Rather Yous Than Me, his kickoff album for Epic subsequently years on Def Jam, bowed at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, selling 106,000 copies. This summer, Ross partnered with Roc Nation's Lenny S and The-Dream for SIGNED, their show on VH1.
SYLVIA RHONE
President, Epic Records
Rhone arguably has had the toughest job of whatsoever label executive during the past few months. In May, Epic CEO Antonio "L.A." Reid abruptly exited the company following a claim by a female assistant alleging sexual harassment. Rhone, Epic'south No. 2, establish herself piloting the characterization through the turbulence — while maintaining a winning streak fueled past a rap-dominated, Billboard 200-topping roster that includes Travis Scott and Futurity. It's not the first time Rhone has run a label — she was the first blackness woman to head a major when she led Elektra in the 1990s — and she has aced her latest exam: Her Sony Music bosses are reportedly auditioning her to permanently supervene upon Reid. (Rhone declined to comment on this.) In the weeks afterwards Reid's divergence, DJ Khaled hitting No. ane on the Billboard 200, 21 Barbarous'southward major-characterization debut bowed at No. 2, and French Montana scored his first No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs nautical chart with "Unforgettable."
Ethiopia HABTEMARIAM, 37
President, Motown Records; president of urban music/co-head of creative, Universal Music Publishing Group
PIERRE "PEE" THOMAS, 37
CEO, Quality Control Music; co-founder, Solid Foundation Management
KEVIN "Motorcoach K" LEE
COO, Quality Control Music
Motown/Capitol Music Group's 2-year-old joint venture with Atlanta-based hip-hop characterization Quality Command Music is "making Motown a destination for some of the hottest artists in music," says Habtemariam. Migos' smash hit "Bad and Boujee" (QC/300 Amusement), featuring Lil Uzi Vert, is the 3rd-virtually-streamed song of 2017 as of Aug. 24. And Lil Yachty scored his offset Billboard 200 top five this year with debut album Teenage Emotions also as MVP guest stints on two Hot 100 elevation 5 hits, D.R.A.M.'s "Broccoli" and Kyle's "iSpy," the latter of which is the ninth-about-streamed rail of 2017 thus far.
GHAZI SHAMI, 40
Founder/CEO, EMPIRE
In describing his lean, efficient hybrid label-distributor, Shami often slips into metaphor: as well many labels focus on "habitation runs" rather than putting players "in scoring position"; others may have the "might of King Kong," but EMPIRE wins with the "precision of Bruce Lee." After grabbing six nods at the Grammys with D.R.A.K.'s "Broccoli" (No. 5 Hot 100 peak), Fatty Joe and Remy Ma'southward "All the Manner Up" (No. 27) and Anderson .Paak's Malibu, Shami's got the rest of the industry sharpening its kung-fu skills. "A lot of times the restaurant isn't about [the food], information technology'due south about the cooks," he says of EMPIRE. "We've institute a niche fashion of doing things."
KANYE Due west, 40
CEO, Yard.O.O.D. Music
West spent the past year focusing on his executive duties at Grand.O.O.D., releasing projects from Desiigner, John Legend and Big Sean, the latter of whom earned his second Billboard 200 No. ane with I Decided. In addition to launching his Yeezy Flavour five collection and expanding his mega-deal with Adidas (Yeezy-branded stores and sports performance gear are on the manner), West was a strong road human action, grossing $52.vii million from 39 shows on his Saint Pablo Tour in 2016 (despite canceling the concluding 21 shows).
BRYAN "BIRDMAN" WILLIAMS, 48 // RONALD "SLIM" WILLIAMS, 49
Co-CEOs, Cash Money Records
Despite the fact that its marquee artist, Lil Wayne, is sitting on the sidelines among a legal dispute with the label, the New Orleans-built-in, Miami-based Williams brothers' Cash Money roared to a 6.5 percent market share through Aug. 10, as Drake's More than Life shattered Ed Sheeran's record for most Spotify streams in a mean solar day with 61.3 million listens. "We never lost the focus on being successful," says Birdman.
Nonindustry Leader I Adore: Slim: "Marker Zuckerberg. He took something that was meant to exist local and made it global."
DION "NO I.D." WILSON, 46
Executive vp, Capitol Music Group
In June, this veteran producer-executive jumped to Capitol Music Grouping after 3 years at Def Jam. Overseeing A&R and production, Wilson also assists senior management with the creative management of CMG'south collective of labels. That at present includes the relaunch of pioneering rap imprint Priority as an indie-leaning distributor focused primarily on emerging acts. Wilson also reunited with JAY-Z, producing the entirety of his offset anthology in 4 years, iv:44.
MANAGEMENT
CORTEZ BRYANT, 37
Partner, Maverick; COO, Young Money
SHAWN GEE, 45 // GEE ROBERSON, 42
Partners, Maverick
The longtime partners, whose rosters include Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, The Roots and One thousand-Eazy, proceed to win as role of Maverick'south management consortium. This past year, Minaj surpassed Aretha Franklin for the most total appearances amid women on the Hot 100 with 76, and Grand-Eazy headlined The Endless Summer loonshit bout in 2016, averaging eleven,536 tickets per testify. Gee launched Live Nation Urban, which will develop new hip-hop festivals and events, including Spotify's Rap Caviar Alive concert series.
Prized Possession: Bryant: "A hard drive I continue in a safe with hundreds of unreleased Lil Wayne records. I have some gems!"
SHAWN "JAY-Z" CARTER, 47
Founder, Roc Nation; possessor, TIDAL
JAY BROWN, 43
CEO, Roc Nation
DESIREE PEREZ, 47
COO, Roc Nation/TIDAL
TIDAL and Roc Nation'southward core squad put up big numbers from the latter's label division with J. Cole's 4 Your Eyez Only and JAY-Z'south four:44, both of which topped the Billboard 200. The management fly had a bullish year with DJ Khaled, who landed No. ane and No. two hits with, respectively, "I'yard the One" and "Wild Thoughts"(featuring fellow client Rihanna), and Big Sean, who had a No. 1 album and became Puma'south global ambassador. The company kept its eye on growth besides, launching Roc Nation Latin, beefing upward its management roster past signing Yo Gotti and Fatty Joe, and renewing JAY-Z's Live Nation partnership in a $200 1000000 bargain. TIDAL, despite shedding yet some other CEO, secured its near-term futurity by selling Dart a 33 pct stake in a $200 meg deal.
PAT CORCORAN, 27
Manager, Risk the Rapper; founder, Haight Brand
It has been a whirlwind twelvemonth for Corcoran, who helped Chance the Rapper's Coloring Volume go the first-ever streaming-but release to win a Grammy in February. Corcoran and his team — which handles publishing, trade, press and label operations for Chance in addition to management — were instrumental in organizing Chance'south Magnificent Coloring Day Festival at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago last September, which broke the venue's omnipresence record and grossed $ii.ii million. "It was one of the near special days for Chicago — ever," says Corcoran.
Nonmusic Leader I Admire: "Elon Musk. I desire to change the world similar he has."
IBRAHIM "IB" HAMAD, 33
Co-founder/president, Dreamville Records
As J. Cole's right hand, Hamad has been focused on -turning their Dreamville label into a self-sustaining company — starting with cutting a deal to get Cole'due south masters back under his command. Hamad'due south past year likewise included rolling out Cole's 4th directly No. 1 album, 4 Your Eyez Simply, which arrived with 492,000 equivalent album units alongside a documentary produced with HBO and a still-ongoing tour that grossed $9 1000000 from nine shows reported to Billboard Boxscore then far.
Biggest Issue Facing Hip-Hop: "As well many artists are chasing the money touring, forcing them to play buildings that are also large for [them]. They're overplaying."
BEYONCÉ KNOWLES, 36
CEO, Parkwood Entertainment
STEVE PAMON, 46
COO, Parkwood Entertainment
Beyoncé had erstwhile Hunt executive Pamon take over operations of her management company in late 2015, and the motion has paid dividends: Her you-had-to-be-there Formation stadium tour, which wrapped in October, took in over $256 million and sold 2.2 million tickets; activewear line Ivy Park continues to thrive; and Parkwood has primed one of its acts, teen sis duo Chloe & Halle, for a breakout with its forthcoming debut LP.
STEVEN VICTOR, 36
COO, G.O.O.D. Music; Senior vp A&R, Universal Music Grouping; Founder/CEO, William Victor Management Group
Victor, who got his start managing Clipse, the sibling rap duo of Pusha T and No Malice, has evolved into one of hip-hop's most dynamic leaders. In addition to managing a roster that at present includes Desiigner and new acts Ski Mask the Slump God and D Savage 3900, Victor oversees operations at G.O.O.D. Music, which released Billboard 200-topping albums past Kanye West and Big Sean in 2016. Since November 2016, he also has headed up A&R at UMG, a post that has him reporting directly to chairman/CEO Lucian Grainge.
PAUL ROSENBERG, 46
CEO, Goliath Management; president, Shady Records; incoming CEO, Def Jam Records
In August, Universal Music Group announced that Eminem's longtime lawyer and managing director would take over as CEO of Def Jam in January from Steve Bartels, who has been running the visitor since 2014. Rosenberg will go along working with Eminem, who reportedly is recording a new anthology due afterwards this year. He says the biggest challenge facing him and other rap CEOs is "finding [our] funnel. Now that there's so much access to music, you take to work extra difficult to focus your efforts."
Prized Possession: "An Adidas shell-toe I won at an auction that has Run, D.G.C. and Jam Primary Jay's signatures on it."
ANTHONY SALEH, 31
CEO, Emagen Entertainment Group
The man who manages Future and Nas knows how to multitask. In March, Future fabricated history when his 2d new anthology in equally many weeks debuted at No. i on the Billboard 200; the very next day, Mass Entreatment (which Nas helped relaunch as a record label and production company in 2014) announced a $6 million funding circular led past Universal Music Group. Toss in Future's Nobody Rubber Tour and a new media-tech venture with Jeffrey Katzenberg chosen WndrCo, and Saleh has his hands total. "Honesty, fairness and creativity" is how he describes his approach. "I honey when my artists are happy."
Biggest Issue Facing Hip-Hop "I hope a lot of these young guys exploding right now finish up having real careers — and not simply having a moment."
WASSIM "TONY SAL" SLAIBY, 37
CEO, SAL&CO
The breakthroughs keep coming for this Lebanese-Canadian director: Half dozen months after he announced a fifty/fifty partnership with the all-star Bohemian management grouping, longtime client The Weeknd proved himself a bona fide pop star via No. 1s on the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Hot 100 with Starboy and its championship track. Meanwhile, French Montana has his starting time top 5 on the Hot 100 with "Unforgettable." "The almost important thing for me," says Slaiby, "is seeing centre to centre with the artist and edifice a true friendship with trust."
First Matter I Practise Every Day: "Modify my babe daughter's diaper."
LIVE
TARIQ CHERIF, 27 // MATT ZINGLER, 29
Co-founders, Rolling Loud Festival
In just three years, Rolling Loud has get hip-hop's premier festival. The 2017 edition in Miami featured Kendrick Lamar, Future and Lil Wayne, and -starting in 2018, information technology will expand to Communist china, Japan and the United Kingdom. Though Zingler and Cherif have already worked with a who'south who in the genre, Zingler hopes the overseas events will feature i artist who has proved to be elusive: "I love how Kanye West creates this hype effectually anything that he touches. He makes annihilation into gold."
Where I Detect New Talent: Cherif: "Social media. I'm into studying the ratio of how many retweets, shares and comments -[artists] get compared to their followers."
ROBERT GIBBS, twoscore
Partner/music agent, ICM Partners
ZACH ISER, 32
Music agent, ICM Partners
CAROLINE YIM, 38
Music agent, ICM Partners
?It has been a big year for ICM, which reps Future, Lil Yachty and Machine Gun Kelly. Gibbs simply wrapped upwards J. Cole's four Your Eyez Only Bout, which grossed $1 million per show in ticket sales, and is working with Yim for up-and-coming R&B singer H.Eastward.R., who is opening for Bryson Tiller. "Nosotros look for artists capable of creating a great torso of work and not merely a song," says Gibbs. "The biggest thing for the states is rolling up our sleeves and being a role of artist development."
Stress Relief: Yim: "Eating. Specifically tacos, chips and sweets."
JOE HADLEY, 29
Agent, Creative Artists Agency
RYAN THOMSON, 28
Amanuensis, Creative Artists Bureau
This pair made noise by signing A$AP Rocky and Logic, brokering a deal with Courvoisier cognac for the quondam and staging the get-go arena bout for the latter. With a roster that also includes Kanye West, T.I. and A Tribe Called Quest, CAA has Hadley and Thomson focusing on upwards-adjacent talent: Recent signee Kyle hit over two dozen festivals this summer, and GoldLink will kick off his most all-encompassing U.Due south. tour this fall.
Biggest Upshot Facing Hip-Hop: Hadley: "In that location aren't plenty minority execs. Not just in hip-hop, but the industry overall."
CARA LEWIS
Founder/owner, Cara Lewis Group
After 23 years at WME and a iii-twelvemonth stint at CAA, Lewis started her ain venture in 2016. This year alone, the New York-based veteran has booked 900 shows and produced tours for Chance the Rapper, Travis Scott, Russ, Khalid and Bryson Tiller, partnering with MAC Presents for branding opportunities with Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters. "Dissimilar other agents in this genre, I have helped to create the civilization and am proud to say I still live in it," says Lewis, who has worked with icons from Eric B. & Rakim to Eminem since the kickoff of their careers.
Nonmusic Leaders I Admire: "Powerful women pushing their manufacture forward: Alli Webb from Drybar, Spanx founder Sara Blakely, Tory Burch."
BRENT SMITH
Amanuensis/partner, WME
Drake and Kendrick Lamar accept Smith and his WME team to thank for their recent blockbuster treks. The quondam'south Summer Sixteen Bout with Futurity — the only rap bout to rank among the 25 highest-grossing treks of 2016, at $71 million — and Boy Meets World Tour totaled most 100 dates, while the latter's sold-out jaunt in support of his nautical chart-topping DAMN. precedes a European leg. "There was a fourth dimension when you couldn't fifty-fifty tour hip-hop," says Smith, who also works with Big Sean, Snoop Dogg, Childish Gambino and Ice Cube. "Hip-hop is at present pop. It's such a good for you place to be in."
Prized Possession: "An electric guitar Chris Cornell gave me."
MEDIA/RADIO
DEBRA LEE, 63
Chairman/CEO, BET Networks
BET's longtime president of programming, Stephen Hill, resigned in March, but the network continues to exist TV'southward abode of R&B and hip-hop. The long-running BET Hip-Hop Awards and BET Awards are TV's strongest hip-hop tentpole events: June's BET Awards, featuring Migos and Chance the Rapper, drew 5.viii one thousand thousand viewers. Says Lee, now a bicoastal resident of New York and Beverly Hills: "As BET has evolved over the years, we never lost sight that our foundation is black music."
Prized Possession: "Luther Vandross' BET Walk of Fame plaque. I bought information technology from his estate. I love his vocalization."
ALFRED LIGGINS
CEO, Urban Ane
JAY STEVENS
Senior vp programming and content, Radio One/Achieve Media
Liggins oversaw Radio 1's recent renaming to Urban I in May, reflecting the unity between the largest black-endemic broadcasting visitor in the Us (founded by Liggins' mother, chairwoman Cathy Hughes) and its sister cable TV and digital media divisions. Radio One is besides the largest radio chain targeting the R&B/hip-hop audition, operating 53 stations in markets such as Atlanta; Raleigh, Northward.C.; and Baltimore nether Stevens' spotter. The surreptitious to the company's long legacy? Says Stevens: "Compelling personalities who live the lifestyle and love hip-hop."
First Thing I Do Every 24-hour interval: Stevens: "Twitter! With all that'due south going on in the White House, it'due south a must-read."
REGGIE ROUSE
Vp urban programming, WVEE (Five-103) Atlanta
In Atlanta, hip-hop'due south unofficial cultural hub, CBS Radio station V-103 ranked No. i in July among listeners aged 18-49. Simply longtime programme director Rouse says he's near proud of what his -station has done to assistance the community during the past yr: arming listeners with registration information alee of the 2016 election, and charity efforts like helping a local parent with funeral costs for a kid. When it comes to tunes, Rouse says his team "led the style" on crossing over Bruno Mars' "24K Magic" to R&B/hip-hop radio, adding it earlier the label asked due to fan demand. "For me, it was a no-brainer," he says.
Where I Find New Talent: "In ATL, yous tin can find new talent everywhere. One nighttime, a waitress at the Waffle House gave me a CD of an unsigned artist who she said was the next large act."
RON "MILLS" TRIANA, 46
Program manager, Hip-Hop Nation/Shade 45
Ron Mills finds a manner to balance the wilder side of Eminem's SiriusXM Shade 45 channel with respected music radio/TV host Sway's weekday Sway in the Morning time show, DJ Whoo Kid's G-Unit Radio and L.A. Leakers' #Leakshow. Bated from securing sectional interviews and freestyles, the Queens native keeps SiriusXM's 32 million subscribers upwards on the latest music by leaning on regional and undercover DJs. "I wait a lot to my DJs, who are all beyond the land, for buzz artists," he says. "The DJ is still the cornerstone to me."
Song Stuck In My Head: "'Butterfly Issue' by Travis Scott. I pressed for [putting] that record into rotation."
Doctor WYNTER, 56
Senior vp urban programming, iHeartRadio
As head of urban programming at the largest radio group in the Usa, Wynter is arguably hip-hop's most powerful developer. He has launched over 20 stations in the past 10 years, including WMIB Miami and KRRL Los Angeles. In 2017, he's most proud of finding and molding new talent and "continuing to grow the urban brain trust" at iHeartRadio, citing DJ A-OH and Angela Watson, on-air talents who have taken on executive programming roles at iHeartRadio under Wynter's watch.
Stress Relief: "Staying in shape."
STREAMING
TUMA BASA
Global head of hip-hop, Spotify
Nether Basa'due south purview, Rap Caviar, Spotify's most pop hip-hop playlist, has grown from over four million to 7.v million subscribers in just a year's fourth dimension, and added original video to the mix. Beyond that, the New York-based tastemaker launched Rap Caviar Live in Atlanta with special guests Gucci Mane and Rae Sremmurd while managing the service's hip-hop hub with roughly 30 playlists. "We're a platform — we call information technology an 'enhanced' playlist," he says. "It'southward non something that tin be duplicated."
Stress Relief: "Prayer, multiple times a day. Information technology works!"
JUSTIN BOLAND, 44
Head of hip-hop and R&B programming, Pandora
When he'southward non busy DJ'ing, Boland runs hip-hop and R&B programming at Pandora. He'south got a penchant for breaking new artists including Lil Pump, XXXTentacion and Smokepurpp, whom he cites as inspiration for Pandora's new Gunshine State station focused on Due south Florida's buzzy rap scene. "Seeing the younger artists blow up on Pandora and go from nil to 60 is a huge accomplishment for me," he says.
Favorite Non-Hip-Hop Act: "Kaytranada."
CARL CHERY, 38
Head of artist curation, Apple Music
LARRY JACKSON, 36
Head of original content, iTunes/Apple Music
In June, Apple Music announced that its subscriber base of operations had risen to 27 million, thank you partly to high-profile exclusives similar Gamble the Rapper'south Coloring Book and Frank Ocean's Blonde. Chery has become one of rap's most powerful hit-breakers with Apple'southward A-Listing: Hip-Hop playlist — Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow" was streamed 46 million times on the platform. "I've discovered new artists through beau curators, managers or A&R [reps]," says Chery of his approach. "I hear nearly them earlier they get any kind of online coverage."
Dream Collaborator: Chery: "I want to A&R the showtime collab between Nas and Kendrick Lamar to remake Nas' 'Life Is Like a Dice Game' and make information technology a full song."
DR. DRE, 52
CEO, Aftermath Entertainment; unknown role, Apple tree Music
With the 2015 Northward.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton and the HBO docuseries The Defiant Ones, Dre's storied past has recently taken middle stage. But he remains one of the near powerful people in the business. Aftermath has released ii chart-topping albums from Kendrick Lamar since March 2016, and Apple tree Music has grown from twenty million to 27 million subscribers since December 2016. His official function with the company is unknown, only he's reportedly working on Apple'southward starting time scripted video series, Vital Signs, also as Eminem's upcoming anthology.
PUBLISHING
JENNIFER DRAKE, 35
Senior manager of A&R, Sony/ATV
IAN HOLDER, 36
Vp artistic, Sony/ATV
These performing rights system vets each arrived at Sony/ATV during the by eighteen months and gave it a quick cred boost, with Drake signing Kendrick Lamar to ASCAP and Holder inking Frank Ocean to BMI. Drake landed a win by signing Khalid and pairing him with fellow Sony/ATV signee Joel Petty for "Young, Dumb and Broke" (eighty meg Spotify streams). Her talent discovery tip: "The internet and social media are great, but staying connected to people is still the all-time way."
Biggest Result Facing Hip-Hop: Drake: "Staying authentic to its origin: a form of expression for oppressed people. We still have an obligation to uplift the culture."
WALTER JONES, 36
Vp artistic, Universal Music Publishing Group
STERLING SIMMS, 35
Managing director of artistic, Universal Music Publishing Group
UMPG muscled up by hiring A&R reps Simms and Jones in 2016, and information technology paid off, with Jones signing Lil Yachty (whose Teenage Emotions striking No. v on the Billboard 200) and buzzy R&B singer H.Eastward.R. (he likewise co-produced her debut EP). Simms, who previously had a career as a singer, inked Charlie Handsome, who produced "Madiba Riddim" off Drake'south More Life. "It'due south so rewarding when you lot discover a new writer," says Simms. "Those hidden gems are the difference betwixt genius and just putting points on the board."
Stress Relief: Simms: "Meditation. I take 10 minutes, close my optics and breathe."
RYAN PRESS, 37
Co-head of U.S. A&R, Warner/Chappell Music
"I don't retrieve A&R is a lost art," says Press, who in the by year signed producer Murda Beatz, PnB Stone and Lil Uzi Vert (who striking No. 7 on the Hot 100 with "XO Tour Llif3"). Signees PartyNextDoor and Swae Lee earned credits on DJ Khaled's "Wild Thoughts" and French Montana's "Unforgettable," respectively, both top 5 hits. "Our goal," says Press, "is putting songwriters first."
Dream Collaborator: "Missy Elliott. I'd love for her to make an all-R&B album."
Concern & BRANDING
MARCIE ALLEN, 43
Founder/president, MAC Presents
The sponsorship veteran joined forces with Cara Lewis in 2016, handling partnerships and endorsements for the mega-agent's roster, and has since seen her "hip-hop business explode," says Allen. In the past year, MAC Presents brokered deals between Chance the Rapper and Kenzo x H&M, Khalid and Forever 21, and Ludacris with both AT&T and Twitter. "Hip-hop artists are very easily-on," she says. "That is what'south making these partnerships stronger than ever."
Outset Thing I Do At Piece of work: "Read the news and listen to music. I'm a news junkie."
JON COHEN, 49 // ROB STONE, 49
Co-founders/co-CEOs, Cornerstone
This pair's magazine The Fader is well-known, just Cornerstone's brand partnerships are only as notable. Contempo highlights include Sprite's Obey Your Verse entrada (featuring J. Cole, Missy Elliott and Tupac Shakur), JAY-Z and Budweiser's Made in America and partnering with Atlantic to produce videos for the label'southward rap acts. "Companies come to us for our cred," says Cohen, citing Stone'due south piece of work with The Notorious B.I.G. "We have a deep history."
Biggest Issue Facing Hip-Hop: Stone: "Making certain the cream rises to the peak. In that location'due south and so much slap-up music out at that place."
DEBORAH CURTIS
Vp global experiential marketing and partnerships, American Express
Curtis has made hip-hop a central focus of AmEx's marketing, negotiating a deal with Kendrick Lamar to star in the Shop Small campaign, handling presale tickets for three of the year's biggest tours (Beyoncé, Kanye Westward, J. Cole) and introducing Pharrell Williams as creative managing director of the Platinum Card. What makes hip-hop acts then perfect for brands? They "share a common value around innovation," says Curtis.
Favorite Artist: "Kendrick. He's raw, unapologetic and forward-thinking."
STEVE STOUTE, 47
Founder/CEO, Translation
The onetime characterization executive spent the past year lamentatory up brand partnerships for his JAY-Z-co-founded Translation bureau, including work on HBO'south The Defiant Ones and Google'due south interactive hip-hop doodle. After a head-turning Apple Music ad with Mary J. Blige, Taraji P. Henson and Kerry Washington in 2015, Stoute worked with Timbaland for a 30-second NBA spot and invested in media brand Mass Appeal by contributing to a $6 one thousand thousand round of Series A funding.
JON WEXLER, 46
Vp global entertainment influencer marketing, Adidas
Adidas doubled its U.South. market place share from 2016 to 2017, co-ordinate to NPD Group, and a huge function of that was Wexler's deals with rap stars. He launched sneakers with Pharrell Williams and extended Adidas' pact with Kanye West, which will grow into clothes and Yeezy retail stores. "When nosotros work with hip-hop, it burns brighter," says Wexler, citing the brand's history with Run-D.1000.C.
Stress Relief "The merely time I really sleep is on airplanes — that'south my me fourth dimension."
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Contributors: Dave Brooks, Alex Gale, Lyndsey Havens, Steven J. Horowitz, Dan Hyman, Hannah Karp, William E. Ketchum 3, Carl Lamarre, Gail Mitchell, Dan Rys, Datwon Thomas
Source: https://www.billboard.com/pro/hip-hop-power-list-2017/#!
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