Def Jam, Lena Waithe Launch Hillman Grad
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.
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.” [Photo courtesy of Hillman Grad Productions]