Kevin Liles is a highly influential hip hop music executive who has held leadership positions at several major record labels including Def Jam Records, Warner Bros Records, and Island Def Jam. Some of his greatest achievements include helping establish and grow Def Jam South, Roc-A-Fella Records and Murder Inc. While he considers leaving Def Jam as one of his biggest failures, Liles believes mistakes should be used to motivate rather than cause self-doubt. He values passion, determination and using his platform to give back to communities.

1. Arianna Gonzalez
KevinLiles
Hip-Hop Music Mogul

2. KevinLiles’PositionsandCompanies
• NuMarx DJ group (1986)
• Co- Founder of Marx Brothers Records
• President- Def Jam (1991 started as an unpaid intern became Pres. in ‘98)
• Executive VP- Warner Bros (2004-2009)
• Executive VP- Island Def Jam (2002- merge of Island Rec./ Def Jam)
• Instrumental in the establishment and growth of: Def Jam South, Roak-A-Fella Records,
and Murder Inc.
• CEO of KWL Enterprises
• CEO- 300 Entertainment (2013-present)

3. GreatestAchievement
Kevin Liles’ greatest
achievement hasn’t been
blatantly stated my him,
but he has that, ”Some
might value a big house,
others value a big smile.
I know that for whatever
time here I have on earth,
I know that I'm to be of
service — to my family,
the entertainment
industry, the
community.”(Owens,
2014, para. 47)
Liles’ also states that, “…
philanthropy is the
backbone of his "givers
succeed" philosophy.
(Owens 2014, para. 9)
Further more he’s been
known for doing things
like, “…promoting youth
wellness”(Owens, 2014,
para.8), hosting back-to-
school donation drives’
and more

4. "One of the lowest points in my career was when I
made the decision to leave Def Jam," he says. "Def Jam
raised me. It was my family.” (Owens, 2014, para. 17)
BiggestFailure

5. Kevin Liles achievements and failures have shown me that mistakes are better used as
ammunition for motivation opposed to self doubt and that the world of philanthropy spill
greatly into the work of entertainment My research on Kevin Liles has also solidified to me that
passion and determination, can go great lengths in the industry. Something the Likes said in
an interview for the New York Time really resonated with me and conveyed this point, “I would
never fire somebody for a mistake. I would fire them because they don’t have passion, and they
let me knock them off their point of view too easily. If you love something, I’ve got to let you do
it. That’s how I came up.” (Bryant, 2012, para. 8)
WhatDidILearn?

6. Attributes from: 21 Most Compelling Qualities
Resilience
Patience Passion
Empathy

7. I think that Kevin Liles perspective on the music industry
exemplifies that the importance of passion for what yore
doing, is the biggest motivator and assist you can have in the
industry. His outlooks on philanthropy have also inspired
other artists, to give back their commentates and use their
platform and influence in positive ways.

8. Citations
1. Bryant, A. (2012, October 27). Mistakes are O.K., but never, ever lose your passion. The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/business/kevin-liles-of-kwl-enterprises-on-owning-ones-work.html
2. Owens, D. (2014, August 15). Baltimore native Kevin Liles is a big hit in music and beyond. The Baltimore Sun.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bs-xpm-2014-08-15-bs-sc-kevin-liles-profile-20140813-story.html
3. Rys, D. (2017) The veteran label executive and manager on D’ Angelo, data, and C-Suite shakeups. Billboard. 129(9), 16-17
http://web.b.ebscohost.com.oclc.fullsail.edu:81/ehost/detail/detail?vid=5&sid=48618767-7e55-44fa-a628-c4d9e0cb5b30%40sessionmgr101&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=122384892&db=bth
4. Skoroma. (2009, September 3). Executive VP Kevin Liles leaves Warner music group. Hip Hop DX
https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.9747/title.executive-vp-kevin-liles-leaves-warner-music-group
5. 300 Entertainment logo [photograph] (N/A)
https://images.app.goo.gl/4EsaHe94aRLaLEpA6
6. Warner Bros Music logo [photograph] (2016, December 15)
https://images.app.goo.gl/Hna3YFFrAn8V4ABy6
7. Island Label logo [photograph] (N/A)
https://images.app.goo.gl/CVowjaSwC3sR5XWG6
8. Garcia- Reyes, B. (2017, January 6) Collective working [photograph]
https://images.app.goo.gl/YpeL2LfADT3WmYQH6
9. Man Jumping off Cliff [photograph] (N/A)
https://images.app.goo.gl/3LQnvHm7fXeUUMk1A
10. Kevin Liles smiling [photograph] (2020, May 8)
https://images.app.goo.gl/KbhMWK7wdikm26EN8
11. GettyImages (2020, August 21) Man pushing stone [photograph]
https://images.app.goo.gl/DnRYVKnX3aJvdR4D8
12. Black and white hourglass [photograph] (2019, September 9)
https://images.app.goo.gl/S41Jyzthbzypoz2e9
13. Zupanik, M. (2016, September 13) Heart on fire [photograph]
https://images.app.goo.gl/W65t2xcpCKSj2RMx8
14. Electric fingers [photograph] (2017, January 30)
https://images.app.goo.gl/PGMdGZtdDHErzkta8
15. Ume (2020, June 19) Def Jam logo [photograph]
]https://images.app.goo.gl/EXkERbHbFWZTpY3i8