The behind the scenes maneuvering must have been interesting
'Retired' Rapper Finds a Job Atop Def Jam
By JEFF LEEDS and LOLA OGUNNAIKE
Proving yet again that he is the hardest-working retiree in the music industry, the rap star Jay-Z has agreed to become the president of Universal Music Group's Def Jam Recordings label.
The appointment, announced yesterday, puts Def Jam, the hip-hop label, in the hands of one of rap's biggest-selling artists. Universal, part of Vivendi Universal, will give Jay-Z, who has little corporate experience, the vacant top job at one of its biggest divisions, granting him authority over everything from album production to marketing strategies, and an artist roster that includes stars like LL Cool J and Ludacris.
"I think it sends a great message out to artists," said Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter. "If you put enough work in and pay attention, maybe one day you can run a company."
The deal was also a big win for Universal and Antonio Reid, the chairman of the corporation's Island Def Jam Music Group, who had been working feverishly to secure Mr. Carter as an executive and prevent him from lining up with the rival Warner Music Group, whose United States unit is run by Lyor Cohen, the former head of Island Def Jam.
