Ī true hip-hop industry veteran, Thomas was a part of history at Loud Records where, over the course of her tenure as Vice President of Marketing and Vice President of A&R, she worked with such legends as the Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Big Pun, Lil Flip and signed and developed the Academy Award-winning group Three 6 Mafia. Currently, Thomas is developing marketing strategies for Kanye West, Big Sean, Hit-Boy, LL Cool J, 2Chainz, Jeezy and more. Over the past three years at Def Jam, Thomas has overseen the breakthrough of Fredo Bang, the unique lifestyle marketing around the Coming 2 America soundtrack, the comebacks of Fabolous and Jadakiss, and the roll-out of DMX’s posthumous album EXODUS.
As a lead marketing executive at Def Jam, my goal is to create opportunities that will continue to catapult careers and unique experiences for our artists, executives and the BIPOC community.” “Being a part of this legacy has always been my dream and I am extremely excited to add my contribution. “Def Jam continues to be a driving force that shapes the culture through a musical and artistic lens,” said Charlene Thomas.
“She has been – and will continue to be – a huge driver for some of our most important and high-profile projects, and I’m extremely proud to announce her promotion.”
“Charlene brings a distinguished and enviable track record of experience and success with some of the most foundational artists in hip-hop,” said Harleston. READ MORE STORIES ON BLACKAMERICAWEB.Octo– Santa Monica, CA – Charlene Thomas – a seasoned music business veteran who began her career overseeing marketing for the legendary rap label Loud Records and has been pivotal to Def Jam’s successes over the past three years – has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing, it was announced today by Jeff Harleston, Interim CEO, Def Jam Recordings. Stay tuned for more updates on THE ALGORITHM. In the VIDEO accompanying the announcement, Snoop characterized Def Jam as “the holy grail of hip-hop.” His main focus, he emphasized, would be “to help the artists and give them love and wisdom and guidance and understanding, teach them some tricks that I learned in the game - to diversify their portfolios to be superstars.” When Snoop Dogg joined Def Jam Recordings, a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), announced in June, he took over a new role that will allow him to strategically work across the label’s executive team and artist roster. STAY INFORMED! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER! My algorithm is going to give you a feeling, not a sound.” Right now, the algorithm is telling us you have to rap this way, you have to sound this way, but they’re not telling you how it’s supposed to feel. “There’s so much talent on this record,” said Snoop, “so many styles of music, it breaks the algorithm. It’s Snoop’s mission to change the current algorithm of what we listen to today, by putting feeling back into music with the release of his new project. “Big Subwoofer” is the first blast from THE ALGORITHM, an all-encompassing new project that features artists from the legendary Def Jam label’s past, present & future.