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Steven Victor
Born
Steven William Victor

(1980-09-06) September 6, 1980 (age 44)
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Nationality
Alma materMorehouse College
Occupations
  • Record executive
  • talent manager
  • music publisher
  • A&R representative
Years active2003–present
EmployerUniversal Music Group
TitleFounder & CEO - Victor Victor Worldwide

Steven William Victor (born September 6, 1980) is a Haitian-American record executive, talent manager, music publisher, and A&R representative. He is chief executive officer of Victor Victor Worldwide, a record label and management agency he founded in 2016. The year prior, he was appointed as the chief creative officer (CCO) of Kanye West's GOOD Music, and later in 2016, the senior vice president of A&R at Universal Music Group—through which he reports directly to chairman Sir Lucian Grainge.[1] The following year, he was named Head of A&R at Def Jam Recordings, although he transitioned back to Universal in 2019 after leaving the label.[2][3]

Victor began his career in the music industry after attending Morehouse College. In the early 2000s, he started as an unpaid publicist for Interscope Records, later promoted to publicity assistant, through which he was assigned to work directly with the hip hop duo Clipse, for whom he first managed.[4] Through rising the ranks and cultivating partnerships with numerous artists, Victor has served as manager for high-profile acts including Pop Smoke, Pusha T, The-Dream, Ski Mask the Slump God,[5][6][7] Desiigner, and Tyga, as well as producers CashMoneyAP, YoungKio, Rico Beats, and 16yrold.[7][8]

Early life and education

Victor was born on September 6, 1980, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, where he was also raised.[3] He grew up in a multi-family home with his parents and older sister, along with his father's brother and sister's families.[9] He attended Morehouse College in Atlanta from 1998 to 2002, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in English and Psychology.[1][10]

Career

Victor began his career in 2003 with an unpaid internship as a publicist at Interscope Records, to which he was later promoted to publicity assistant in 2004, working in public relations for six years.[1][3][9] During his tenure at Interscope, he met American rapper and record executive Pusha T, which at the time was one-half of the hip hop duo Clipse. He formed a mutual relationship with Pusha, becoming the publicist and manager for Clipse, and later solely Pusha.[11] In late 2015, Pusha T became president of GOOD Music, with Victor becoming COO of GOOD.[12] In late 2016, he was appointed SVP of A&R at Universal Music Group, while simultaneously holding his position at GOOD.[13] At this time he also started to manage Tyga, The-Dream, and Desiigner, the latter of whom he formerly signed to GOOD and Def Jam Recordings.[1] He also founded his record label and music publishing company Victor Victor Worldwide as a joint venture with Universal in late 2016.[14][15] In October 2017, he was named EVP & Head of A&R at Def Jam, reporting to then-CEO Paul Rosenberg and replacing his position as SVP of A&R at Universal.[5][16][17] In August 2019, he left Def Jam and transitioned back to his previous position at Universal, focusing on his label's joint venture with them.[7]

Victor Victor Worldwide

Victor Victor Worldwide Inc.
File:Victor Victor Worldwide Logo.png
Parent companyUniversal Music Group
FoundedNovember 3, 2016; 7 years ago (2016-11-03)[18]
FounderSteven Victor
Distributor(s)
  • Various[a]
  • (in the US)
  • Universal Music Group
  • (outside the US)
Genre
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York City, New York
Official websitevictorvictor.jp

Victor Victor Worldwide Inc.[18] (formerly d/b/a as Victor Victor Records[19] or simply Victor[20]) is an American record label and music publishing company founded on November 3, 2016, in New York City by Steven Victor, who is also the CEO.[21] It is a joint venture between the label and Universal Music Group, giving Victor Victor the power to sign an artist to a joint venture recording contract with their label and any other label under the Universal umbrella. Victor Victor also has the same joint venture structure with Universal Music Publishing Group for their publishing entity, effectively making the label and publishing company subsidiaries of UMG as a whole.[7]

Notable acts signed to Victor Victor include the late American rapper Pop Smoke and rapper Ski Mask the Slump God, both of whom are concurrently signed to Republic Records. Victor Victor has also notably signed record producers 16yrold, CashMoneyAP, and YoungKio (with Cash Gang) on the publishing side (concurrently with UMPG).[22] Former notable artists signed to the label include American rapper D Savage, who was initially signed to Victor Victor and Republic and later jointly with Capitol Records and Virgin Music before departing.[23][24][25]

Victor Victor also runs the management firm William Victor Management Group, managing artists Pusha T, The-Dream, CashMoneyAP, and 16yrold, among others.[5] A majority of the artists signed to the label are managed by the firm itself.[8]

In June 2020, the label launched a philanthropic division titled the "Victor Victor Foundation", with Victor pledging to donate $1 million to it. Victor himself also donated $25,000 to the "Fund for Public Schools", a nonprofit organization in New York City.[26][27]

The label's logo, designed by Japanese fashion designer and label signee Nigo, features the Tosa, a rare Japanese dog breed that is mainly used for Japanese dog fighting.[28]

Roster

Current

Artists Year signed Releases (under the label) Notes
Ski Mask the Slump God 2017 4 Jointly with Republic
Pop Smoke 2019 4 (2 posthumous) Jointly with Republic; deceased, died from home invasion in February 2020; posthumous releases handled by both labels.
Weiland[29] 2020 2 Jointly with UMe
Nigo[30] 2021 1 Jointly with Republic
Reyanna Maria[31] 4 (singles)
Pusha T[28] 2022 0 Jointly with Def Jam
Yoza[32] 1
Highway[33] 2 Jointly with Geffen
Different Hits[34] 2023 22 (singles) Jointly with UMe and SunPop; record label imprint; releases reworks of older songs with newer artists as covers.
Hardrock[35] 1 (Virgin album), 3 (singles) Jointly with Republic, formerly solely with Virgin[36]

Former

Artists Years under the label Releases under the label Notes
Don Zio P[15] 2017–2018 5 (singles) Jointly with Republic
D. Savage 2017–2019 2 Jointly with Capitol and Virgin, formerly jointly with Republic
12 Honcho
(Honcho Da Savage) 		2017–2018 1 (album as Honcho Da Savage)[37]
1 (single as 12 Honcho)[38] 		Jointly with Def Jam, formerly jointly with Republic
Senta The Artist[39] 2020 1 Jointly with UMe
Summrs[40] 2021 0 Jointly with Capitol
Young Devyn[41] 2021–2022 1 Jointly with 4th & B'way and Island; moved to Def Jam with 4th & B'way
Autumn[42] 2 Jointly with Casablanca, formerly jointly with Republic
DJ Topgun[43] 2023 1 Jointly with UMe

Publishing

In-house producers
Act Years under the label Releases under the label Notes
As part of Victor Victor Worldwide (Recording)
16yrold 2017–present 5 (singles) Jointly with Capitol, formerly jointly with Republic; joint publishing with UMPG
Axl[44] 2020–present 1 (singles) Jointly with Republic; joint publishing with UMPG
As part of Victor Victor Music (Publishing)
Rico Beats 2017–present N/A Jointly with UMPG and StarLife; co-manager of Pop Smoke & 808Melo
CashMoneyAP 2 (Atlantic singles) Jointly with UMPG and Cash Gang; signed as recording artist to Atlantic Records
YoungKio 2019–present N/A Jointly with UMPG and Cash Gang
808Melo Jointly with UMPG
Swirv 2020–present
SethInTheKitchen 2020–present

Notes

  1. ^ Victor Victor Worldwide is a joint venture between the label and Universal Music Group, giving Victor Victor the power to sign an artist to a joint venture recording contract with their label and any other label under the Universal umbrella. Victor Victor also has the same joint venture structure with Universal Music Publishing Group for their publishing entity.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Steven Victor Named SVP A&R at Universal Music". Billboard. November 9, 2016.
  2. ^ "'Come Watch the F*cking Sharks': Def Jam's Rap Camp Experiment". Complex.
  3. ^ a b c "40 Under 40: Music's Top Young Power Players Revealed (2018)". Billboard. October 18, 2018.
  4. ^ "RAINMAKERS' BACKSTORIES: STEVEN VICTOR". HITS Daily Double.
  5. ^ a b c "Steven Victor named EVP, Head of A&R at Def Jam". Music Business Worldwide. October 17, 2017.
  6. ^ Olsen, Patricia (July 14, 2017). "An Office Built Around Hip-Hop". The New York Times.
  7. ^ a b c d e Aswad, Jem (August 14, 2019). "Steven Victor Shifts From Def Jam to Focus on Joint Venture at Universal (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  8. ^ a b Ivey, Justin. "Steven Victor Named Senior Vice President of A&R at Universal - XXL". XXL.
  9. ^ a b "Steven Victor on managing Pusha T, mourning Pop Smoke and building VVW | IDEA GENERATION Ep.10" – via www.youtube.com.
  10. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-victor-4165306 [self-published source]
  11. ^ Jones, Biz (September 6, 2019). "Pusha-T Salutes The "Shot Caller + Play Maker Of" His Music Career: "It's Only Right You Drown In Success"". SOHH.
  12. ^ "Pusha T is the new president of G.O.O.D. Music". Fact. November 9, 2015.
  13. ^ "Steven Victor Named SVP A&R at Universal Music". Yahoo Finance.
  14. ^ "MC Don Zio P reveals new single "Hallelujah" featuring Déjà Vu • WithGuitars". www.withguitars.com.
  15. ^ a b "DON ZIO P RELEASES NEW SINGLE "SWITCH"". 360 Magazine | Art + Music + Design + Fashion + Auto + Travel + Food + Health + Tech. September 1, 2017.
  16. ^ "Steven Victor Joins Def Jam as EVP, Head of A&R". Billboard. October 17, 2017.
  17. ^ Ivey, Justin (October 18, 2017). "G.O.O.D. Music's Steven Victor Named Def Jam Executive VP & Head Of A&R". HipHopDX.
  18. ^ a b "VICTOR VICTOR WORLDWIDE INC. :: New York (US) :: OpenCorporates". opencorporates.com.
  19. ^ "Victor Victor Records Archives". 360 MAGAZINE | ART + MUSIC + DESIGN + FASHION + AUTO + TRAVEL + FOOD + HEALTH + TECH.
  20. ^ "Victor - Republic Records - Download and listen to albums". Qobuz.
  21. ^ "REPUBLIC RECORDS NAMES JIM ROPPO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER". Universal Music Group. January 5, 2018.
  22. ^ "Steven Victor: Hip-Hop Power Players 2017". Billboard. September 14, 2017.
  23. ^ Ju, Shirley (October 8, 2018). "D Savage Prepares to Unleash D Phoenix at Union (Now Called Catch One)". LA Weekly.
  24. ^ Ju, Shirley (September 9, 2019). "Music Pick: D Savage". LA Weekly.
  25. ^ Baker, Jonas (August 14, 2019). "D Savage: The Young Megastar". Kazi Magazine.
  26. ^ "UMG Executive Steven Victor Pledges $1 Million For New Philanthropic Venture". Billboard.
  27. ^ Halperin, Shirley (June 9, 2020). "Universal Music Executive Steven Victor Pledges $1 Million to Launch New Foundation (EXCLUSIVE)".
  28. ^ a b "About".
  29. ^ "Weiland by Weiland" – via music.apple.com.
  30. ^ "Nigo Signs to Steven Victor's Victor Victor Worldwide, Plans Release for New Album". Complex.
  31. ^ "So Pretty - Single by Reyanna Maria" – via music.apple.com.
  32. ^ "Fine By Me - Single by Yoza". June 17, 2022 – via music.apple.com.
  33. ^ "Highway by Highway". November 9, 2022 – via music.apple.com.
  34. ^ "OTHER". SunPop.
  35. ^ "BREAKOUT ATLANTA RAPPER HARDROCK DROPS HYPNOTIC NEW SINGLE "kingtut" OUT TODAY – East Portland Blog".
  36. ^ "Hardrock, BNYX®, F1LTHY - WA\VE Song Stats & Data". chartex.com.
  37. ^ "Parallel Universe by Honcho Da Savage". March 9, 2018 – via music.apple.com.
  38. ^ "Depressed - Single by 12 Honcho". December 14, 2018 – via music.apple.com.
  39. ^ "Metamorphosis by Senta the Artist on Beatsource".
  40. ^ "Undiscovered Gems: Peep These 5 Amazing Artists". February 13, 2020.
  41. ^ "Baby Goat by Young Devyn" – via music.apple.com.
  42. ^ "One Way! - Single by Autumn!" – via music.apple.com.
  43. ^ "City Of The Freaks - EP by DJ Topgun on Apple Music". March 31, 2023 – via music.apple.com.
  44. ^ "Motorbike (feat. Jackboy) - Single by AxL". October 6, 2021 – via music.apple.com.
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