Today, Billboard released its 2024 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players list, highlighting executives across the genre for their contributions to the industry and in the world of R&B and Hip-Hop. Reservoir congratulates our President and COO Rell Lafargue and our Executive Vice President of A&R and Catalog Development Faith Newman, who have both been recognized on the list.

Rell Lafargue oversees all of Reservoir’s operations and deals, including the $100 million acquisition of the influential hip-hop catalog of Tommy Boy Music and the integration of that catalog. Rell led the charge on the Reservoir’s landmark move in hip-hop of bringing the entire back catalog of seminal hip-hop trio De La Soul, including Posdnuos, Maseo, and the late Trugoy the Dove (aka Dave), to streaming platforms for the first time ever. The campaign received industry-wide recognition as a significant moment in the genre and an innovative marketing campaign.

Faith Newman, who has been with Reservoir for 13 years, was also a driving force in executing the De La Soul release. Faith worked closely with the iconic group to bring this massive effort to fruition. Specifically, she worked hand in hand with the group throughout the intricate process as the Reservoir team helped parse through the complex samples quintessential to and pervasive in the group’s music to prepare it for streaming. In addition, Faith continues to many of Reservoir’s myriad R&B/hip-hop signings. In the last year, Faith has ushered in several other important catalogs, with announcements including hip-hop producer-artist Mannie Fresh and beloved R&B/pop vocal group The Spinners. She also notably oversees Killer Mike, who swept the rap categories at the Grammy’s this year.

Billboard featured Newman’s remarks on Killer Mike, saying, “Mike is such a powerful voice in hip-hop and in his community through his activism and charity work.” On Reservoir’s international hip-hop roster, she added, “[We’re] proud to have acts on the roster like Indian rapper DIVINE and Egyptian rap duo El Sawareekh,” Newman says, “who prove just how global and commercially and critically viable hip-hop is across the world.” In addition, Newman spoke about sitting on the Board of Directors for the Hip-Hop Museum, which will open next year. She said, “I have built my career nurturing talent in this genre, and it means so much to be a part of preserving and sharing the legacy of hip-hop.”

Reservoir writer-producer Khris Riddick-Tynes was also named to Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players List, recognized for his role as SVP of A&R/Co-Head of Urban Music at Arista Records.

The full list of Billboard’s 2024 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players can be found here.