Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre & Diddy Named In Variety’s Best Hip-Hop Executives Of All Time
Some of the names that have been mentioned as the greatest executives in the history of hip-hop are JAY-Z, Diddy, and Dr Dre.
The list of the greatest executives by Variety, which was published on Thursday, August 3, 2023, in honour of Hip Hop 50, included the trio of rap gods among many others. About 40 people were polled by the newspaper and the Black Music Coalition, including journalists and executives from the music business.
A well-rounded breakdown was achieved by including non-artist characters like Lyor Cohen, Irv Gotti, Suge Knight, and Andre Harrell on the list. They polled about 40 voters, who were journalists and other business executives, for each mention, and gave a brief description of each business mogul’s accomplishments.
“To paraphrase one of his most-frequently quoted lyrics,” Variety said of Hov. “In March 2023, Jay-Z officially became a $2.5 billion business, man.
The Brooklyn native has earned that rep, not only as one of the top-selling rappers of all time but by launching Roc-A-Fella Records, amassing a diverse portfolio including clothing, spirits, a streaming service and a stint as president of Def Jam.” Furthermore, Dr Dre earned similar respect for his work in both music and business, as did Diddy, 50 Cent, and many others.
“Combs’ capacity for reinvention and diversification has enabled him to stay relevant for more than 30 years,” Variety penned for Diddy’s write-up. “He expanded into fashion, spirits, and wellness while setting an example for other aspiring moguls to follow.” For Fif, they shared: “The man born Curtis Jackson was already one of the world’s biggest rappers when he co-created Starz’s ‘Power’- a fitting title, since he’d long used it. He kickstarted his career by creating his own G-Unit mixtape series, revolutionizing the medium while drawing Dr. Dre and Eminem’s attention.”
Variety also recognized other underappreciated female actors, including Julie Greenwald, Ethiopia Habtemariam, Cathy Hughes, Debra Lee, Sylvia Rhone, Sylvia Robinson, and Mona Scott-Young. Nevertheless, given the lengthy history of the genre, they undoubtedly missed several notable figures. In light of this, tell us in the comments which rap executives you believe to be the most influential or underappreciated. Additionally, keep an eye on HNHH for the most recent information about your favorite hip-hop industry titans as well as additional news.
