Game Changers: 5 Black Atlanta Music Industry Executives

Chaka Zulu (Disturbing Tha Peace ) Records Sold: 21 million Disturbing Tha Peace Records is most associated with the career of Ludacris, but it is manager Chaka Zulu who is the brains behind the operation. Zulu has been Luda’s longtime manager/ business partner, and he was instrumental in making DTP a prominent label by brokering a joint venture with Def Jam/Universal and becoming the first team to head up Def Jam South. Ludacris’ career has flourished under Zulu’s guidance as he’s become more than just a rapper, but also a movie star and successful businessman with ventures in restaurants and most notably with Conjure Cognac liquor. In addition to being Ludacris’ manager, Zulu has worked with Nas, 50 Cent, Jay Z, Ja Rule, Bobby Valentino and numerous others over the years to promote their work. DeVyne Stephens (UpFront Records) Records Sold: 5 million DeVyne Stephens is the owner and cofounder of UpFront Records. Stephens began his career in the early 1990s with DeVyne featuring 90 Miles an Hour. “I was one of the first artists L.A. and Babyface signed to LaFace Records,” he says. But the group broke up before it could release an album. Stephens discovered Senegalese R&B singer Akon, who just moved to Atlanta from New Jersey. He signed Akon to his own UpFront Records and secured a distribution deal with SRC/Universal. “I always believed that Akon was special,” he says. Akon went on to sell more than a million copies of his 2004 debut, Trouble, and scored hit singles like “Locked Up” and “Lonely.” UpFront Records’ roster includes Akon, R&B quartet Red Dirt, and rap group FA (Free Agents). He says there isn’t much difference between his former job at LaFace and his current duties as a record executive. He teaches his artists, “The first thing people look for is individuality. You gotta have that in the music industry. Style is definitely important.” Jason Geter (Grand Hustle) Records Sold: 12.5 Million During the course of his career, Clifford “T.I.” Harris has had many ups and downs. Throughout it all, the man that has held everything together is the hip-hop star’s manager and business partner, Jason Geter. As the co-CEO of Grand Hustle, co-owner of AKOO Clothing, owner of the Strivers Row clothing line and Grand Hustle TV/Films as well as manager of several artists—hustle is all Geter knows. T.I. is known for being the “King Of The South”, but Geter is the business brain behind Tip’s empire, making him a businessman of the south. Jermaine Dupri (So So Def) Dupri has been a music producer since he was 14. His big first success came after discovering two teenage rappers at a mall. JD would eventually christen the duo Kris Kross and produce their debut album “Tottally Krossed Out”. The album eventually went multi-platinum thanks to the singles, “Jump” and “It’s a Shame.” Even though Dupri has recently fallen on tough financial times, he’s still a pioneer in the Atlanta music industry and is responsible for the success of Da Brat, Bow Wow, Destiny’s Child, Mariah Carey and Usher. L.A. Reid (LaFace Records) A co-founder of LaFace Records, Reid has helped to bring numerous music figures to multi-platinum sales, including Toni Braxton, TLC, Mariah Carey, Avril Lavigne, Paula Abdul, Pink, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Kanye West, Usher, Ne-Yo, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Ciara, OutKast, Kerli, and Dido. He has won three Grammy Awards. Reid is also the president and CEO of Hitco Music Publishing, based in Atlanta, and was the chairman and CEO of the Island Def Jam Music Group for six years until his move to Epic in 2011.

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