The 25 Most Powerful People in Rap According to Complex

[Amaranthine]

1. Bryan 'Birdman' and Ronald 'Slim' Williams (co-CEOs, Cash Money Records Group)
2. Jay-Z (CEO, Roc Nation)
3. Joie 'I.E' Manda (President, Def Jam Recordings)
4. Jimmy Iovine and Dr Dre (Chairman, Interscope Records, CEO, Beats Electronics, Aftermath Entertainment)
5. Kanye West (Label Head, G.O.O.D. Music)
6. Sean 'Diddy' Combs (CEO, Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group)
7. Mike Caren and Michael Kyser (President of A&R, Warner Music Group; President of Black Music, Atlantic Records)
8. 'Big' Jon Platt (President of Creative, Warner/Chappell Music)
9. Paul Rosenberg (CEO, Shady Records and Goliath Artists Management)
10. Lyor Cohen (former CEO of Recorded Music for Warner Music Group, currently unemployed)

I'm too lazy to post the other fifteen, but if you're curious, check it out over at Complex

[Sam.]

I'm surprised to see Paul, and not Eminem.

[Blu]

On what planet is Kanye a powerful person in Rap?

[Fleka]

This list is based on what?

[Blu]

On what planet is Kanye a powerful person in Rap?

I hate to say it, but what he's done and accomplished in the last 3-4 years is almost unmatchable.

That may be true, but the same could be said for Em in his prime and he's not up there.

[Cube23]

On what planet is Kanye a powerful person in Rap?

It depends on how you define "power". Kanye is the head of one of the biggest labels in Hip-Hop. And on the side, he also turns heads with everything (including his own music). Kanye's fashion, his tweets, his speeches, his concerts, everything. It all makes news and turns heads. His production impacted Hip-Hop greatly and somewhat has clearly revolutionized some other producers and their styles (Words I Never Said is a perfect example of Kanye impacting others).

So if you think power is a direct control or influence on Hip-Hop, he still is pretty powerful. He's with GOOD Music and Jay-Z. Pretty good relationships to have. And if you look at his indirect influence as "power", then it's pretty clear.

[Kill You]

Lol at this list. That's funny.

Birdman seriously number one? The dude never puts out music, the rappers on his label do it for him, and I NEVER hear his name anywhere. Conspiracy. You'd think Jay-Z or someone like that would be number one but Birdman?...Come on, who gives a shit about Birdman? No one.

[Minimii]

i dun even no wat producer do but kanye suks

[EminemBase]

Lmao @ Eliot Wilson being on there and no Em, despite Em being the biggest selling rapper ever, founder of Shady records and reason we heard 50 Cent and D12, and the founder of Shade 45 which continues to influence the culture.

[Amaranthine]

Their explanation for Birdman is pretty convincing:

Money and blood do mix for brothers Birdman (pictured above, right) and Slim (pictured above, left) who made their Cash Money label, founded in 1991, a billion-dollar independent that continues to dominate the charts and the rap market share. With over 500 million units sold globally, bolstered by their Young Money Entertainment imprint with a roster consisting of Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj and DJ Khaled's We The Best group, the Williams' run looks like it won't ever stop, and in the music biz, that's some serious shit.

Also See: Their act-of-the-moment, Drake, whose crossover-hitmaking batting average has made YMCMB an unstoppable force in pop music.

[tadpole25]

Birdman is #1 powerful. He had the most influence in any one on the list on hiphop currently where it is.

Powerful doesn't mean good. Hitler was powerful.

[TRSL]

If ur comparing Birdman to Hitler u have issues.

Why? He used the comparison to say you don't have to be 'good' and powerful at the same time.There are a lot of people who have (had) a shitload of power but don't deserve it. Hitler may be the clearest example. I don't see what's wrong with that...