As of this year, Karen Kwak is the executive vice president of A&R for Universal Music Group; she formerly served as head of A&R for Island Def Jam. Kwak’s first major move as an A&R was discovering the song “Umbrella” and bringing it to Rihanna. (She went on to sign the song’s writer and producer, The-Dream.) Her album credits include Rihanna’s Loud and Big Sean’s Finally Famous. She oversees Def Jam A&R Vice President Don Cannon, the Grammy-nominated DJ and producer instrumental in signing new hip-hop acts, including Logic (whose Def Jam debut, Under Pressure, recently entered the Billboard Rap charts at No. 2). Kwak played a role in signing Iggy Azalea to Island in 2013, leading to The New Classic becoming the highest-charting female rap album since Nicki Minaj’s sophomore album and spawning five singles, including “Fancy.”

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