I could have mention more names than that. But since I want to keep the focus on the 1980's, 1990's, & 2000's, these names are very justifiable.

So which one of these veteran record label execs/CEOs that has been the most dangerous in the last 3 decades of the music industry?

[img:$uid]http://www.es.tv/files/2009/03/clive1.jpg[/img:$uid]

A.) Clive Davis

1. He damn nearly ruined the r&b/soul career of Phylis Hyman (whether or not that counts as a prelude to Phylis' considering suicide is left up to her fans).

2.He introduced the world to Whitney Houston, the chocolate covered valley girl from New Jersey that helped change the landscape of r&b/soul at the expense of hurting the The Funk.

3. He also gave start-up money to Sean Combs to created Bad Boy Entertainment, which help ruin mainstream hip-hop (especially after the death of the Notorious B.I.G.) as well as promote the staying power of hip-hop/r&b, the unholy alliance that "killed" r&b/soul.

[img:$uid]http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0PDoS6uiVlNUSIAFryjzbkF/SIG=14b86f139/EXP=1297742382/**http%3a//www.contactmusic.com/pics/l/crazy%2520love%2520premiere%25202%2520220507/crazy_love_premiere_058_wenn1327220.jpg[/img:$uid]

B.) Tommy Mottola

1. He once had (too much?) control over the career, image, & behavior of Mariah Carey.

2. He also jump started the wrath of Michael Jackson by refused to heavily promote Michael's Invincible album after learning the Michael was leaving Sony Music Entertainment as a free agent when the contract expired.

3. After the success of The Re-education Of Lauryn Hill, his high expectation for a sequel to that album was too much for Lauryn herself, hence might be the real reason why she had to stop doing music for the next couple of years.

OR

[img:$uid]http://www.exposay.com/celebrity-photos/jimmy-iovine-verizon-and-people-honor-timbaland-o1Qjng.jpg[/img:$uid]

C.) Jimmy Iovine

1. He co-founded Interscope Records, which was once home to Death Row Records, which also means that he financially benefited from gangsta rap, the bi-coastal feud within hip-hop, & the death of 2pac far more than some people are willing to admitted publicly.

2. He also allow Dr. Dre to start up Aftermath Entertainment, which is home to Eminem & 50 Cent, two rap artists that also knew how to provoke controversy to create profit.

3. He is also credited for convincing will.I.am to make Stacy Ann "Fergie" Ferguson a full-time member of The Black Eyed Peas, a group that used to be an alternative rap group with a cult following now turned into the biggest selling hip-pop acts ever, even if they are also responsible for one of the worst NFL Superbowl Halftime Shows of all-time.

Interesting that these folks.......controlling Black music.

Neither. I'd say people like Nat Tarnopol or J Prince were literally dangerous.

That depends on what you mean by dangerous because my first thought was Marion "Shug" Knight.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

That depends on what you mean by dangerous because my first thought was Marion "Shug" Knight.

A lot of the labels and the record distribution networks in the past (and the entire entertainment industry) was run by the mafia. Look at the Rat Pack. Even Motown had mob rumors, which Berry Gordy denied.

dag... lemme get back to you on that. good question. i think they all were, in different ways.

This song is about Tommy Mottola.

It's a tie between Tommy and Jimmy. I never heard anybody call Clive Davis the devil or heard of him being involved with organized crime.

HotGritz said:

It's a tie between Tommy and Jimmy. I never heard anybody call Clive Davis the devil or heard of him being involved with organized crime.

Clive was fired from Columbia Records in the early 70's for blowing money.

MickyDolenz said:

HotGritz said:

It's a tie between Tommy and Jimmy. I never heard anybody call Clive Davis the devil or heard of him being involved with organized crime.

Clive was fired from Columbia Records in the early 70's for blowing money.

Money who?

MickyDolenz said:

HotGritz said:

It's a tie between Tommy and Jimmy. I never heard anybody call Clive Davis the devil or heard of him being involved with organized crime.

Clive was fired from Columbia Records in the early 70's for blowing money.

See...that's not dangerous...just not cool.

What about these guys?

Graycap23 said:

Interesting that these folks.......controlling Black music.

Bingo!

How could you forget:

MickyDolenz said:

Neither. I'd say people like Nat Tarnopol or J Prince were literally dangerous.

J Prince was strictly hood, without question. But he wasn't controversial enough outside of Houston, Texas.

MickyDolenz said:

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

That depends on what you mean by dangerous because my first thought was Marion "Shug" Knight.

A lot of the labels and the record distribution networks in the past (and the entire entertainment industry) was run by the mafia. Look at the Rat Pack. Even Motown had mob rumors, which Berry Gordy denied.

It's funny you've mentioned that cause I'm trying to figure out who's the boss or the underboss of mafia entertainment

HotGritz said:

It's a tie between Tommy and Jimmy. I never heard anybody call Clive Davis the devil or heard of him being involved with organized crime.

But you should have learn about how Clive putting poor Kelly Clarkson in her place when she refused to stick with the same musical formula that made her a success. And let not forget about that rumor concerning about Alicia Keys receving that talk with Clive after Alicia went publicly with her views against gangsta rap.

And why was it no accident that Clive reunited with his protege Whitney Houston after she finally divorce Bobby Brown? Don't give too much credit to Whitney's mother for that.

728huey said:

What about these guys?

You should let Chuck D or Professor Griff answer THAT question. Honest!

What "talk" did Alicia get?

And what do you mean by dangerous? I put my money on Gordy and that record exec that a Sopranos character was modeled on-the one that had the horse stables. He stole a lot of royalties from some early rnb singers. Wasn't his name Mo or something?

scriptgirl said:

What "talk" did Alicia get?

The rumors has it that Clive was not happy with Alicia expressing her social views against gangsta rap when she was suppose to have been outthere promoting her third album. And Clive definitely let her know about it. These days, we don't hear Alicia expressing any social or political views since.

TonyVanDam said:

scriptgirl said:

What "talk" did Alicia get?

The rumors has it that Clive was not happy with Alicia expressing her social views against gangsta rap when she was suppose to have been outthere promoting her third album. And Clive definitely let her know about it. These days, we don't hear Alicia expressing any social or political views since.

Funny she say that when the person she married has a history being around the "gangsta rappers".

[Edited 2/14/11 19:01pm]

Gino Vannelli doesn't exactly speak well of Clive Davis.

Um, Gino Vannelli?

Mottola or Iovine

BTW, how many of you knew that Jimmy Iovine produced Patti Smith's controversal classic Rock N Roll N***er?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_Roll_Nigger

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_%28Patti_Smith_Group_album%29

I knew there was a reason I hated Patti Smith

TonyVanDam said:

BTW, how many of you knew that Jimmy Iovine produced Patti Smith's controversal classic Rock N Roll N***er?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_Roll_Nigger

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_%28Patti_Smith_Group_album%29

wth

Graycap23 said:

Interesting that these folks.......controlling Black music.

i don't even know what to say after that... i think greycap has said a mouthful there. this is probably the most correct thing anyone will ever say on this forum.

ya'll remember this one?

and i'm amazed no one mentioned david geffen... he was on the verge of ruining people's careers as well (including, but not only, cher and michael).

Graycap23 said:

Interesting that these folks.......controlling Black music.

Story as old as time. Same shit, totally different toilet.