I'm a Boss: Artists-Turned-Executives
Congrats on the new gig, Mr. Beatz.
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Beatz With Bacardi - It’s remarkable when artists transition from the career we’ve known them for into something totally new and exciting. Swizz Beatz joins a long list of artists who turned their record-making careers into executive positions. It was announced this week that the artist/producer got a new gig with liquor company Bacardi as global chief creative for culture. What will he be doing exactly? The producer clarified in a press release that he “will be involved in all aspects of the product — from brand marketing and advertising to innovation and selling platforms.” As we congratulate Swizz on the new executive switch, let’s look back at other artists-turned-executives and their boss moves. – Jon Reyes(Photo: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Brooklyn Museum)
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Pusha T - Rumors swirled, and after months of deliberation, Pusha T was named president of G.O.O.D. Music in November 2015. After talks with label figurehead Kanye West, the decision was made final for the rapper to take up the G.O.O.D. Music corner office.(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for BET)
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J. Cole - J. Cole's 29th birthday went something like this: get surprised by Jay Z, who gave him his original Roc chain on stage at Cole's headlining concert at Madison Square Gardens, plus drop a new mixtape, Revenge of the Dreamers, and announce that his label, Dreamville Records, has signed a new distrubtion deal with Interscope. Man, only a rapper can unwrap a gift like that. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for VH1)
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Drake - Drake has come a long way from shooting in the gym. The Toronto rapper had signed his October's Very Own label to a deal with Warner Bros. The imprint, which Drake co-owns with his go-to producer Noah "40" Shebib, is already behind the successful annual OVO Fest, and sells branded clothing as well. (Photo: Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images For Park City Live)
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Jeezy - Jeezy is known for his hustler's mentality, so it's no surprise that he parlayed that into a senior vice president of A&R role at Atlantic Records, where he's also picked up a distribution deal for his CTE imprint. (Photo: John Ricard / BET)
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Ne-Yo - Ne-Yo's moves are so sophisticated. The always suited-and-booted Grammy-winning singer-songwriter was given the executive suite when he was named senior VP of A&R at Motown Records in January 2012.(Photo: David Becker/Getty Images for Tryst Nightclub)
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Dr. Dre - Dr. Dre first made history as N.W.A.'s pioneering rapper-producer, but he's arguably had just as much impact as a label executive behind some of hip hop's biggest icons: He co-founded G-funk stronghold Death Row Records, which launched Snoop's career and was a home to Tupac as well. He then started Aftermath Entertainment, home to Eminem and 50 Cent.(Photo: Fernando Leon/Getty Images)
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Rick Ross - Not only has Rick Ross been consistently dope with a string of excellent albums and singles, but his Maybach Music Group has emerged as a center of gravity for emerging talents, including Wale, Meek Mill, and Omarion.(Photo: Arnold Turner/Getty Images for BET)
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50 Cent - When 50 Cent made his almost mythical comeback after being shot nine times in 2000, he brought an army with him: Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks and, later, exiles Game and Young Buck, all of whom broke out via Fif's G-Unit Records.(Photo: Dario Cantatore/Getty Images)
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T.I. - When he's not killing it on the mic, T.I. heads up his own Grand Hustle Entertainment, which boasts B.o.B., Young Dro, Killer Mike and other trap stars fit for a southern king's roster.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Eminem - Eminem followed his mentor Dr. Dre's lead by starting Shady Entertainment, which broke 50 Cent and D-12, and now boasts Slaughtahouse and Yelawolf.(Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
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Jay Z - Jay Z's been making boardroom moves ever since he founded Roc-A-Fella Records with Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke to put out his 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt, when the major labels were rejecting him. The Roc went on to launch the likes of Kanye West and Beanie Sigel, and a successful clothing brand. Jay eventually became president of Def Jam before starting his new Roc Nation imprint, which expanded even further -- into the sports agent arena -- in 2013.(Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images)
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Birdman - Birdman has had some solo hits and killed it with Mannie Fresh as one half of the Big Tymers, but he secured his true place in hip hop history when Cash Money, the label he co-founded with his brother Slim, inked an unprecendented $30 million deal with Universal. The label's gone on to take over the game, breaking Juvenile, Lil Wayne, and many more.(Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)
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Lil Wayne - In between recording dozens of mixtapes and albums, performing across the world, and doing eight months at Rikers, Lil Wayne somehow found the time to turn Young Money into the most successful hip hop label of the past few years, responsible for the chart-topping mega-success of Drake and Nicki Minaj and prepping for similar big things with Tyga and Lil Twist.(Photo: Kristian Dowling/PictureGroup)
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Master P - Percy Miller used to live in the Bay Area, the original home of hip hop's independent, from-the-trunk, artist-entrepreneurs. He credits their hustle with inspiring him to start his own hometown label, New Orleans' No Limit, which stacked major paper thanks to acts like Silkk tha Shocker, Lil Romeo, Mia X, Mystikal, and, of course, P himself.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)