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
