The Notable Influencers * Listed in No Specific Order of Importance
Abu Thiam
Despite his age, Abu Thiam has already forged a career in the music industry that many gray-haired executives would envy. Before being named to his current position as Vice President of Def Jam, Thiam, as the co-CEO of Konvict... Read More
Lonnie "Common" Lynn, Jr.
After over 15 years in hip hop, Common's visibility and cache are at an all-time high. The Chicago-born emcee has become one of the bigger crossover stars in hip hop, all the while maintaining his credibility within the genre... Read More
"DJ Vlad" Lyubovny
An ex computer programmer turned disc jockey, DJ Vlad, (aka "The Butcher") has turned VladTV.com into one of the most reputable hip hop-centric sites online. The site most notoriously helped reveal Rick Ross' past... Read More
Julia Beverly
Ozone Magazine is the South's most respected hip hop publication. Driving the publication's success is Julia Beverly, who founded Ozone when she was only 20 years old. She grew the initially-photo heavy magazine into one... Read More
Raquel "Rocsi" Diaz
As co-host of BET's "106 & Park," Rocsi is one of the most influential and beloved personalities on entertainment television. The show is one of the highest rated for its demographic and has made Rocsi a pop culture icon... Read More
Benny Boom
Any hip hop fan that rushes home to catch the latest video shows or sits on YouTube watching the vids of all their favorite rappers is familiar with the work of talented lensman Benny Boom. Nominated for the BET Hip Hop Award... Read More
"Cousin" Jeff Johnson
Since his appearances on "Rap City" in the early 2000s, "Cousin" Jeff Johnson has emerged as one of the most respected cultural commentators of the hip hop generation. The motivational speaker and activist appeared last year... Read More
Aston "Funkmaster Flex" Taylor, Jr.
Funkmaster Flex is more than just the voice of New York City hip hop radio, he's quite possibly the most respected hip hop radio DJ in the country. Flex has built a reputation for landing exclusive interviews with the biggest names in the industry... Read More
Chris "Ludacris" Bridges
As one of the few early 2000s superstars that has proved to have staying power, Ludacris managed to turn a relatively-quiet 2010 into another banner year for his musical career and business ventures. The Atlanta emcee... Read More
"Terrence J" Jenkins
The co-host of BET's "106 & Park," Terrence J is the face of urban teen culture. He and co-host Rocsi have become an indelible part of of pop culture landscape and are the personalities that are inextricably tied to BET's core... Read More
The Notable Influencers * Listed in No Specific Order of Importance
Angela Yee
With a reputation for no-holds-barred interviews and a knack for probing questions, Angela Yee has become one of the most popular personalities on SIRIUS Satellite Radio. As host of Eminem's station, Shade 45, Yee has broken... Read More
Andre "Dr. Dre" Young
With his long-awaited Detox album still among the most highly anticipated releases in popular music, Dr. Dre status as hip hop's most beloved and respected producer remains intact. For almost any other artist in hip hop, an eleven... Read More
Brian "Birdman" Williams
Cash Money Records has been a hip hop juggernaut for over a decade now. As the only late 90s rap imprint that's still standing--and arguably, stronger than ever--the New Orleans-based label has surprised many by outlasting... Read More
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell is not only one of the most respected artists and producers in hip hop, but he has maintained his high visibility through a series of shrewd artistic moves and savvy business ventures over the past year. The producer... Read More
Travis Barker
Travis Barker has emerged from his former band Blink-182 to become one of the most sought-after collaborators in hip hop. An entrepreneur, producer and accomplished drummer, Barker in the last year has become known in particular... Read More
Cortez Bryant
When Lil Wayne stepped down as President of Young Money Entertainment in 2007, he tapped Bryant to head the then-fledging imprint. As Young Money President, Bryant has presided over the label's tremendous growth... Read More
Fatima Wade Robinson
Since helping to choreograph Michael Jackson's iconic video "Remember the Time" at the tender age of twenty-one, Fatima Robinson has been the most in-demand choreographer in the music industry. Having worked... Read More
Keri Hilson
Keri Hilson's track record as a songwriter has garnered her numerous accolades and awards throughout her career. The Atlanta native has contributed her songwriting skills to hits like Justin Bieber's "One Less Lonely Girl," Trina's... Read More
Elliott Wilson
Elliott Wilson has turned RapRadar.com into the web's top sites for hip hop music and culture. Less gossip-oriented than many of its contemporaries, the site is guided by the venerable Wilson, who has been a constant fixture... Read More
William "will-i-am" Adams Jr.
Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am is both one of the most active producers in hip hop and one of the most visible personalities in pop culture. With the Peas, will.i.am won three 2010 Grammy Awards and he was was the 2010... Read More
The Notable Influencers * Listed in No Specific Order of Importance
Antoine Fuqua
Antoine Fuqua parlayed a storied career directing music videos for talents like Toni Braxton, Prince, Usher and more. He was a young video director who used savvy to ease his way into filmmaking. “When [film producer] Jerry... Read More
Dylan "Dizzee Rascal" Mills
U.K. rapper Dizzee Rascal is one of hip hop's biggest British stars. Credited with bringing British 'grime' to the mainstream music audiences in England, the East London-born emcee is still one of the biggest stars and greatest ambassadors... Read More
"Grouchy" Greg Watkins
Greg Watkins has become one of the driving forces behind the leading source of hip hop news and information online. Founding Allhiphop.com with his partner Chuck Creekmur, Watkins has guided what Chuck D once referred to as... Read More
Michael Rapino
Live Nation is the world's largest concert promotion and ticketing company, and a large part of it's ongoing success is due to the business acumen of Chief Executive Officer Michael Rapino. Rapino has guided Live Nation... Read More
"Sway" Calloway
As executive producer of MTV News, Sway has long been one of the network's most respected voices and the hip hop lifeline for much of network's programming. Sway conducted an hour-long with R&B star Chris Brown at Brown's... Read More
Big Boy
Beloved radio star (and sometimes actor) Big Boy may not be quite as physically 'big' as he once was; but Angeleno's favorite hip hop DJ is as big as ever culturally. As radio host based on Los Angeles' KPWR (Power 106) Big Boy has... Read More
Aubrey "Drake" Graham
Drake has proven to be the breakout star on Young Money Entertainment roster. After his well-recieved 2009 mixtape "So Far Gone" helped launch his celebrity, Drake’s first studio album, Thank Me Later, debuted at number one on the... Read More
Dave Mays
David Mays is one of the most ambitious figures in hip hop media. The man who founded the Source in 1988 and helped launch Hip Hop Weekly with Raymond "Benzino" Scott, Mays has helped turn Hip Hop Weekly into one of the most... Read More
Nahala "Mr. Boomtown" Johnson
Mr. Boomtown has quickly become the go-to director for many of the biggest names in southern hip hop. He has been behind the lens for some of Texas' most celebrated acts, including Bun B, Slim Thug and others. In 2009 alone,... Read More
Jay "Young Jeezy" Jenkins
In 2009, Jeezy joined Jay-Z on his "Blueprint 3 Tour" and Jeezy's Thug Motivation 103 remains one of the year's most highly-anticipated releases. He also expanding on what has been described as a 'maturing' 8732 apparel line... Read More
The Notable Influencers * Listed in No Specific Order of Importance
Antwan "Big Boi" Patton
Big Boi has been the more active member of Outkast since his former group's extended hiatus. This year was no different, with the southern rap superstar releasing new music and traveling the country for concerts... Read More
Jeff Mazzacano
Jeff Mazzacano is publisher for VIBE Magazine, one of hip hop's most iconic media sources. Coming from a background extensive in magazine advertising, having successfully lead ad sales for Vibe, Giant, Russell... Read More
Kevin Powell
A long respected hip hop journalist and documentarian, Kevin Powell put his love for community at the forefront of his campaign for Congressman in his Brooklyn district. Powell has been a vocal social activist, speaking publicly... Read More
Lee "Q" O'Denat
Any hip hop head that knows how to access the web is most likely familiar with WorldStarHipHop.com. The site was the brainchild of founder Lee "Q" O'Denat, and he has remained at the forefront of hip hop's web revolution... Read More
Toure
Toure has become FUSE TV's foremost authority on hip hop. The respected journalist has secured some of 2010s most talked-about interviews; he sat down with T.I. following the rapper's release from prison, Lauryn Hill when she... Read More
Corentin "Frenchy" Villemeur
Serving as the general manager for, not only one of the most popular hip hop sites online, but also a site that bears the name of one of rap music's biggest stars, is no simple task. For Corentin "Frenchy" Villemeur, general manager... Read More
Julie Greenwald
Julie Greenwald, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of an of industry powerhouse, Atlantic Records Group, is one of the industry's most influential executives. Having developed artists like DMX, Jay-Z and LL Cool J from her days... Read More
Onika "Nicki Minaj" Maraj
Nicki Minaj has been the most talked-about artist in hip hop this year. Her unique style and persona have made her a permanent fixture on blogs and gossip television, but more than that, Minaj has single-handedly revitalized... Read More
Sandra Rose
With posts ranging from politics to fashion to scandals to news, SandraRose.com is a blog where gossip and culture collide. As the fearless brain behind the brand, Sandra Rose is always divulging juicy tidbits about tastemakers... Read More
Vanessa Satten
XXL is the most respected print publication in hip hop, and online, the brand is no less iconic and influential to urban audiences. Vanessa Satten guides the title, taking over as editor-in-chief at XXL after Datwon Thomas resigned... Read More
The Notable Influencers * Listed in No Specific Order of Importance
Marve Frazier
Bossip.com is the boldest and most fearless site for urban gossip online. Headed by the mysterious Marve Frazier, the website has become synonymous with salacious news and frank gossip that speaks to the African American... Read More
Keith "DJ Kay-Slay" Grayson
An avid hip hop head since he was a young graffiti artist in the 1970s, Kay-Slay is one of hip hop's most amicable DJs. The personality who served as a go-between in numerous hip hop feuds over the years (from Nas vs. Jay-Z, to 50 Cent... Read More
Gregory "DJ Greg Street" Polk
Atlanta is a hotbed of hip hop music and culture, and no one is arguably more respected on hip hop radio in Atlanta than DJ Greg Street. One of the most recognizable voices in radio, with a career spanning decades, Street also was a... Read More
Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus
Snoop Dogg, undoubtedly one of the most recognizable hip hop stars in the world, continued to expand his considerable presence over the past year. The iconic West Coast rapper appeared on Katy Perry's #1 hit "California Gurls," and... Read More
Vashtie Kola
Vashtie Kola is a hip hop renaissance woman. A designer, video director, party promotor and model, the New Yorker is already an iconic figure in design circles. An alumnus of the Manhattan-based School of Visual Arts, Vashtie Kola... Read More
Debra Lee
As CEO of BET Networks, Debra Lee oversees one of the most influential and recognized institutions in urban entertainment. This year BET's award shows, in particular the 2010 BET Awards and the 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards,... Read More
dream hampton
One of music journalism's most respected voices, the former Source editor that documented the ascensions of 2Pac, the Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z remained a potent voice and named after Martin Luther King's iconic speech, Hampton... Read More
No ID
Currently president of the GOOD Music label founded by Kanye West, No ID’s reputation as one of hip hop's most respected producers stretches back to the early 90s. Today, his immense talent is recognized amongst artists and... Read More
Faheem "T-Pain" Najm
T-Pain is one of the most well-known and seemingly omnipresent personalities in hip hop. The AutoTuned singer continues to not only be one of the more successful artists in urban music, but he also has become a go-to artist for... Read More
Necole Bitchie
Blogger Necole Bitchie has found her niche online staying somewhere between straight-forward information and juicy gossip--all the while, delivering it without the expected levels of venom most associate with gossip sites. Her... Read More
