L.A. Reid Part 2: Hiring Jay-Z, Meeting Rihanna, Hits with Louis York, & the Def Jam Money Team

Join the Inner Circle.  Crazy Crew, it’s time to level up. Get closer to the show, unlock exclusive content, and stay connected with us beyond the mic. Tap in below: - Join On YouTube Memberships: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/youtubemembers - Join On Patreon: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/patreon - Subscribe to Email & SMS: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/jointhewesoundcrazy-emailandsms Listen on your favorite podcast service: https://pods.to/wesoundcrazy Stream songs from the episode on our official We Sound Crazy playlists: https://lnkfi.re/8I8Drkfz The masterclass continues in part two of this epic two-part release, as the incomparable Antonio "L.A." Reid sits back down with the We Sound Crazy crew. Joining hosts Philionaire, Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony of Louis York, and Tamone Bacon, the music mogul takes listeners even deeper into the golden eras of his career. In this installment, the conversation turns toward the hitmaking powerhouse that was Island Def Jam, an era Reid highlights as one of his most memorable and competitive chapters. He breaks down the high-stakes environment of his A&R room, recalling how he built a "money team" of brilliant music executives and trusted his inner circle so completely that it birthed a historic string of global superstars, from Rihanna and Justin Bieber to Ne-Yo and a legendary comeback era for Mariah Carey. The episode pulls back the curtain on one of the most iconic executive hires in music history: Reid’s decision to bring in Jay-Z as the president of Def Jam. In a fascinating behind-the-scenes revelation, Reid credits Mariah Carey for calling him directly with the genius suggestion to quiet the New York hip-hop community's undercurrent of skepticism. He shares his immense respect for Jay-Z, describing him as true royalty alongside figures like Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama for his ability to shift the energy of a room. The crew also reflects on how Reid orchestrated bringing Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony together in Atlanta via A&R Steve Ferrara, resulting in timeless hits like "Fragile" and "Blame It on Me" for Chrisette Michele's chart-topping number one album, Epiphany. Rounding out the legendary sit-down, the hosts honors Reid with the show's official Trailblazer Award to celebrate his monumental impact on the entertainment landscape. Transitioning from executive talk to personal passions, the conversation winds down with an exclusive peek into his high-end taste, as Reid details his love for custom craftsmanship, what his personal vinyl collection looks like, and the exact bottles of wine he’d bring to a Nashville gathering. Authentic, transparent, and loaded with music history, this concluding half with L.A. Reid serves as the ultimate blueprint for extracting greatness and fighting for the purity of the art form. We Sound Crazy is your backstage pass to all things music and culture. Special thanks to our We Sound Crazy team!  Director: Malachi Fuller Director of Photography: Neither Camera Op: Andrew Meyers, Derek Reed, Malachi Fuller, Neither Gaffer: Tyler Holmes Set Design: Gina Dorsey Producer/A2: Jerel Duren Editor: Hyyer Creative Producer:  Lamont Baldwin, Aaron Walton Show Producer/Remixer: Michael "Roux" Johnson Assistant: Brittany Guydon Talent Producer: Micha "ML6" Logan Photography: Kirk McClain   PA: Keylon Hall, Jonaye Anderson, Ryan Lee Thank you to all of our listeners and watchers! Special thanks to Antonio "L.A." Reid! Subscribe to We Sound Crazy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere you get your favorite podcast. Follow We Sound Crazy on Social Media:  ~ Facebook: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscfacebook ~ Instagram: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscinstagram ~ Twitter: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wsctwitter ~ TikTok: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wsctiktok Subscribe to We Sound Crazy on YouTube: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscyoutube-subscribe Visit the official We Sound Crazy website: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/officialwebsite #WeSoundCrazy #L.A.Reid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices