Jay-Z, Diddy and Dr. Dre are some of the names that have been highlighted as the greatest executives in Hip Hop’s history.
The trio of rap deities along with many others were named as part of Variety‘s greatest executives list in no particular order, which was released on Thursday (August 3) in celebration of Hip Hop 50.
The publication along with the Black Music Coalition polled about 40 voters which included executives and journalists across the music industry.
“But Combs’ capacity for reinvention and diversification has enabled him to stay relevant for more than 30 years; he expanded into fashion spirits and wellness while setting an example for other aspiring moguls to follow,” the publication said of Diddy’s Bad Boy empire.
While Hov and Dre are magicians inside the studio, it’s their business acumen that allowed them to elevate to reach mogul status.
“To paraphrase one of his most-frequently quoted lyrics, in March 2023, JAY-Z officially became a $2.5billion business, man,” Variety said when celebrating Jigga.
“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.”
Plenty of other Hip Hop dignitaries made the cut as artists like Lil Wayne (Young Money Entertainment), 50 Cent (G-Unit/Power), Jermaine Dupri (So So Def) and Eazy-E (Ruthless Records) were honored for their contributions on the business side.
“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,” Variety penned for 50. “He kickstarted his career by creating his own G-Unit mixtape series, revolutionizing the medium while drawing Dr. Dre and Eminem’s attention.”
Powerhouse executives such as Irv Gotti (Murder Inc.), Andre Harrell (Uptown Records), Lyor Cohen (Def Jam) and Suge Knight (Death Row Records) were also among those saluted for what they were able to build and accomplish.