S. Samuel
Def Jam Senior VP of A&R/G-Unit producer Sha Money XL has revealed his Top 5 favorite music industry executives of all time ranging from Interscope Records CEO Jimmy Iovine to music mogul Lyor Cohen.
Sha highlighted Iovine’s ability to handle pressure especially amongst rap stars like 50 Cent and Eminem.
“Jimmy Iovine is a genius. OK? He was the one who was actually a real music guy who actually gets it and knew the structure of Interscope and could really pay attention to it…L.A. Reid. You know, this guy is in multiple genres of music and [has] sold millions. I mean, one album, fifteen million, next album, ten million…I really think number three should be me…I mean, honestly, it takes a special dude that’s able to sit between Dr. Dre, 50 Cent and Eminem, all those egos, take leadership from Chris Lighty and Jimmy Iovine.” (All Hip Hop)
He also described the hustle of Universal Motown President Sylvia Rhone as a reason to induct the music executive into his list.
“I’m going to say Lyor Cohen for what he did with Warner and what he was able to do from Def Jam and go to another building and have half the staff and put out double the output, you know? … Sylvia Rhone. This woman is the most amazing woman in the music business. I mean, I seen her at B.B. King the other night! No other person on her level was there. I mean, she’s a boss, like, for real. So I’m sitting there, like, shaking her hand, she’s chilling in the club watching everything I’m watching. I was, like, all the stuff she did with Cash Money, all the other artists she signed.” (All Hip Hop)
A few months ago, Duck Down Records’ Buckshot spoke to SOHH about which music moguls he looked up to.
“One guy I would say I was really, really cool with was the owner of Priority Records, a big tool and inspiration to me. His name was Bryan Turner. Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and all of those guys would know who he is. He’s the guy who started Priority Records. He’s one. Believe it or not, Walter Yetnikoff who was actually the owner of CBS Entertainment that started years and ages ago, but his negative way of doing things, it inspired me not to go down that route. He was a business great [though].” (SOHH)
Music mogul L.A. Reid recently departed from Def Jam to take a shot at reality television.
Universal Music label boss Antonio “L.A.” Reid is hip-hopping to TV. The chairman of Universal’s Island Def Jam will leave to become a judge on Simon Cowell‘s upcoming Fox TV show “TheX-Factor,” according to people familiar with discussions. News Corp. owns Fox and The Post. Reid, who has been angling for an exit from Universal for months in order to pursue other interests, got his wish this week when the show’s producers made him a firm offer. Universal agreed to let Reid out of his contract, which expires at the end of the year. Reid has shepherded acts such as Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi and Justin Bieber in his six years with the label. (New York Post)
Check out a recent Sha Money XL interview below:
