Hip-hop generates almost $3 billion in annual CD sales and has moved from fifth to second (behind rock ‘n roll) in popularity during the last decade.
It has generated a culture that impacts both society and the economy, and its impact will be the topic of one of the hip-hop industry’s leading marketers, Leota Blacknor, director of Urban Marketing at Virgin Records.
Blacknor was former general manager of Ruff Ryder Records, where she was responsible for multi-platinum and platinum recording artists, including DMX, Eve, Drag-On and LOX. She also helped Sean “P. Diddy” Combs launch his non-profit organization Daddy’s House Social Program, Daddy House recording studio and Justin’s Restaurant.
Her “Race, Power & Money: The Economics of Hip-Hop” lecture is at 1 p.m. Saturday March 5 at the Missouri History Museum. The cost is $5 and $4 for MHS members.