Smoothest Hip Hop Execs 10
The Hip-Hop Executive: No I.D.
His Credentials: The superproducer has worked with everyone from Kanye West and Drake to Young Jeezy and Rihanna in recent years. He was recently named Vice President of Def Jam Recordings.
What Makes Him So Smooth: By all accounts, No I.D. doesn't have much experience as an executive. But, that seems to be alright. Def Jam thinks somuch of him as a producer that they tasked him with the job of running certain aspects of their label. No I.D. is no stranger to multi-tasking—he's been producing for dozens of artists at a time for years now—so we expect nothing but greatness for him moving forward. Just like all of the other hip-hop execs on this list, he's just that smooth.
Smoothest Hip Hop Execs 9
The Hip-Hop Executive: Todd Moscowitz
His Credentials: After serving in different executive capacities for Warner Music Group, Moscowitz was named the Co-President and CEO of WMG last year.
What Makes Him So Smooth: Although he has a wide range of artists on his label—everyone from Rick Ross to Waka Flocka to Cam'Ron reports to him—he has managed to keep track of all of their personalities and turn WMG into a really powerful record label over the course of the last few years. Case in point: He was instrumental in bringing Ross and his Maybach Music Group into the WMG fold in early 2011. You've gotta be smooth to do that!
Smoothest Hip Hop Execs 8
The Hip-Hop Executive: Lyor Cohen
His Credentials: After introducing the world to the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Run-DMC, Nas, and countless others during his early years at Def Jam Recordings, Cohen jumped ship to Warner Music Group where he currently serves as North American Chairman and CEO of Recorded Music.
What Makes Him So Smooth: If you were starting a company tomorrow—no matter what kind of company it was—you'd want Mr. Cohen at the head of it. The guy exudes confidence and bravado without necessarily coming across as arrogant. That's an important trait in a leader and something that's made him so successful over the course of his career.
Smoothest Hip Hop Execs 7
The Hip-Hop Executive: Nick Cannon
His Credentials: Outside of doing music, acting, and hosting a daily radio show, he also serves as Chairman of TeenNick and heads up his own N'Credible Entertainment record label.
What Makes Him So Smooth: Why don't we ask Mariah Carey? (wink, wink!) Just kidding. He's smooth because he's managed to reinvent himself time and time again during his career. Not content with being known as "just a singer" or "just an actor," he's taken on a variety of different roles and he's now one of the hottest young execs in the game. Smooth, right?
Smoothest Hip Hop Execs 6
The Hip-Hop Executive: L.A. Reid
His Credentials: He currently serves as a judge for Simon Cowell's The X Factor, but he made a name for himself serving in executive positions for LaFace Records, Arista Records, and Def Jam Recordings.
What Makes Him So Smooth: Reid has signed some of the most important musical acts of the last 25 years and he's had no problem working his magic over and over and over again. From Mariah Carey and Kanye West to Rihanna and Justin Bieber, he's helped record labels sell millions upon millions of records over the years and he continues to show a great eye and ear for talent.
Smoothest Hip Hop Execs 5
The Hip-Hop Executive: Mike Kyser
His Credentials: A longtime exec who has worked alongside everyone from Jay-Z to Public Enemy to Warren G, he was named the first-ever President of Black Music for the Atlantic Records Group earlier this year.
What Makes Him So Smooth: Creating your own place in the world is smooth. And that's exactly what Kyser has done at Atlantic. He's done such a good job harvesting talent like T.I. and Trey Songz that the company entrusted him with a new title that he has more than earned through years of hard work.
Smoothest Hip Hop Execs 4
The Hip-Hop Executive: Steve Stoute
His Credentials: A former music executive at Interscope/Geffen/A&M Records, he founded the company Translation and currently serves as the CEO of it.
What Makes Him So Smooth: Want to know why Steve Stoute is smooth? Because he says so! Well, maybe those words have never came out of his mouth. But Stoute has done such a good job of showing the world that hip-hop can be used to sell just about anything, that he's subliminally told us all that he knows just how smooth he is—and he's not afraid to show it!
Smoothest Hip Hop Execs 3
The Hip-Hop Executive: Russell Simmons
His Credentials: The Def Jam Recordings co-founder has also founded a number of other companies, including Phat Farm, Rush Communications, Run Athletics, and Global Grind.
What Makes Him So Smooth: Even after more than 25 years in the game, Mr. Simmons still works harder than ever to get what he wants in life. That hard work is what has made him relevant for such a long time and what makes him the perfect candidate for the title "smooth."
Smoothest Hip Hop Execs 2
The Hip-Hop Executive: Kevin Liles
His Credentials: He served as the President at Def Jam Recordings in the late 1990s and early 2000s before becoming the Executive Vice President at Warner Music Group. He's currently pursuing a handful of different entrepreneurial endeavors.
What Makes Him So Smooth: At the height of Def Jam's popularity, Liles was the guy pressing the buttons and leading the show. In recent years, he revealed how he did it by writing a book and he's now setting his sights on establishing his own legacy. And nothing says "smooth" like refusing to rest on your laurels.
Smoothest Hip Hop Execs 1
The Hip-Hop Executive: Jay-Z
His Credentials: After discovering Roc-A-Fella Records in the late 1990s, he went on to serve as the President of Def Jam Recordings before eventually founding and helming his most recent venture, Roc Nation.
What Makes Him So Smooth: A better question: What isn't smooth about Jay-Z? From the clothes he wears to the songs he makes, Jay isn't just one of the smoothest executives in the game. He's one of the smoothest guys, period. And we dare you to say otherwise.
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