1 / 17

Although we like to think we celebrate our musical legacy all year, this June is Black Music Month. Black artists have undoubtedly made indelible contributions to music, but our impact hasn't only been felt on the mic or the stage. Black music executives have shattered glass ceilings, helped guide the culture and provided new blueprints for success. Here, to celebrate Black Music Month, we look at the most powerful, important and influential Black music execs.

Photo By (Photos from left: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy, Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

2 / 17

Before his tragic 2012 suicide, Chris Lighty was arguably hip hop's biggest mega-manager. Rising through the ranks from DJ Red Alert's crate carrier to reputed road manager, he went on to found Violator Management, which guided the careers of 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J and many other rap superstars. (Photo: AP Photo/Jim Cooper, file)

3 / 17

Master P brought rap independent labels to new heights in the mid-‘90s, when his New Orleans-based No Limit imprint oversaw his own multiplatinum success, as well as a deep stable of talent that included Mystikal, Silkk the Shocker and others. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

4 / 17

When major labels fronted on signing Hov in the early ’90s, he took matters into his own hands, co-founding Roc-A-Fella Records. The label not only propelled his own legendary career, but also those of Kanye West, Beanie Sigel and others. In 2004, he became the first rapper to be president of Def Jam, where he signed Rihanna. Four years later, he launched Roc Nation, a dynamic label and management company that expanded into a sports agency. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS)

5 / 17

As the founder of Motown records, Berry Gordy is the alpha and omega when it comes to music executives — of any race. His historic label not only launched the careers of icons including Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross, it also played a key role in helping Black music crossover to white audiences. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

6 / 17

The co-founder of Sugar Hill Records, Sylvia Robinson is not only one of the most renowned women music executives of all time, she's also a hip hop pioneer, releasing two of the genre’s biggest, earliest breakthroughs, Sugarhill Gang’s "Rapper’s Delite" and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “The Message,” and also helping elevate the careers of the Treacherous Three, the Crash Crew and other important old-school groups. Robinson passed away in 2011. (Photo: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

7 / 17

Suge Knight's strong-arm street tactics are the stuff of legend, but his real impact on the game came through his partnership with Dr. Dre to found Death Row Records, which dominated the '90s with Snoop Dogg, Tupac and others. (Photo: David Becker/WireImage)

8 / 17

The co-founder of Ruthless Records, Eazy-E is one of rap's first prominent artist-executives, overseeing his pioneering gangsta-rap group N.W.A.'s shocking late-'80s breakthrough to mainstream America. Eazy also discovered Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. (Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

9 / 17

In between establishing himself as perhaps the best, most successful hip hop producer of all time, Dre founded two of the most influential, successful labels of the past 20 years, Death Row and Aftermath, and helped turned Snoop, Eminem, 50 Cent and others into stars. (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Beats by Dre)

10 / 17

Diddy has ruled hip hop from his throne as founder and leader of Bad Boy Records, where he's broken acts including the Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans and French Montana. He also parlayed his music success into other profitable ventures, including Sean John and Ciroc. (Photo: Thunder Kick Photos/Splash News)

11 / 17

Sylvia Rhone made history in 1990 as the first Black woman to head a major record company when she was named CEO/president of Atlantic's East/West Records. She later headed up Elektra and Motown, playing a key role in shaping music over the past two decades. (Photo: Trago/WireImage)

12 / 17

Smokey Robinson stepped up from his position as one of Motown's top artists, songwriters and producers to serve as vice president of the company for two decades, where he added to its growing legacy as the most important and influential Black-owned music label of all time. (Photo: Steve Mack/Getty Images)

13 / 17

One of the most successful managers of all time, Joe Jackson oversaw the careers of his ultra-talented children — the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson — as they each became superstars. Jackson passed away in 2018. (Photo: Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup)

14 / 17

Mona Scott-Young co-founded Violator Management with Chris Lighty, where she oversaw stars like LL Cool J and Missy Elliott, but in recent years she expanded to reality TV, creating the Love & Hip Hop series and more. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

15 / 17

Kedar Massenburg was one of the most important players in the neo-soul explosion of the late '90s: He discovered Erykah Badu, managed D'Angelo and later served as president of Motown from 1997 to 2004. (Photo by Thos Robinson/Getty Images)

16 / 17

Cathy Hughes rose from single mom to leading radio executive, founding Radio One, with 55 music and entertainment stations in 16 markets across the U.S., and more than $400 million in revenue a year. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

17 / 17

As the head of So So Def Records, Dupri oversaw the multiplatinum success of acts including Kris Kross, Da Brat, Jagged Edge, Xscape and Bow Wow. He's also served as a top executive at Arista and Virgin. (Photo: John Ricard / BET)