Lena Waithe launches Hillman Grad Records in partnership with Def Jam Recordings

Def Jam Recordings has entered into an exclusive joint venture partnership with Emmy Award-winning writer, creator, producer and actor Lena Waithe to launch Hillman Grad Records, as announced by Waithe and Jeff Harleston, Interim CEO, Def Jam Recordings.

Joining Hillman Grad to sign and develop talent is Tebs Maqubela as Head of A&R and Albert Cooke as GM. Maqubela segues from an A&R post with Columbia Records, and for Cooke, this is a homecoming — he previously spent years at Island Def Jam as an Artist Development exec before joining Soundcloud. Maqubela and Cooke will report to Lena Waithe (CEO) and Rishi Rajani (President of Film & TV) of Hillman Grad Productions.

“Music and storytelling have always gone hand in hand. And I think that’s because musicians are the storytellers we love the most,” said Waithe. “They can take complex emotions and simplify it in four minutes; the same artist can sing about the revolution and falling in love. Music is a part of us. It’s so often connected to our fondest and sometimes our darkest memories. Musicians tell our story. At Hillman Grad Productions we believe in identifying and amplifying new talent, and we want to continue to do that in the music industry. Jeff Harleston and his phenomenal team at Def Jam have given us their trust and their resources to help develop artists that not only have potential, but staying power. We look forward to the journey ahead.”

Harleston commented, “Lena Waithe has established herself as one of the most artistically and commercially successful creators and storytellers at work today. Lena has a profound understanding of and appreciation for music. After making her mark on television as an actor and writer, then smoothly shifting gears into her role as a film producer and CEO, it follows that she would now spread her wings at the helm of this exciting new record label. Def Jam is the perfect partner for Lena Waithe’s new Hillman Grad venture, and we look forward to bringing her musical vision to life.”