Duro Named Republic SVP/A&R

• Republic Records has hired Ken “Duro” Ifill as Senior Vice President of A&R. Based at Republic’s New York City headquarters, Duro (left) will focus on identifying, signing, cultivating, and introducing new talent throughout the worlds of hip-hop, rap, urban, and R&B.

This announcement comes from Rob Stevenson and Wendy Goldstein. Stevenson commented, “Duro knows records inside and out as he’s mixed many of the groundbreaking records influencing this next wave of artists. His experience from behind the mixing board and as an executive give him a unique insight into the creative and real-world challenges facing artists in this evolving landscape.” Ms. Goldstein remarked, “I’ve been a fan of and have worked with Duro for many years. He’s the consummate music visionary whose talent extends from creation to marketing and promotion. It’s an exciting moment for our team to welcome him to the fold.”

Duro remains a multi-faceted music industry magnate — as an in-demand engineer, he has won six Grammy® Awards for his work on “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu‘s Baduizm, Will Smith‘s Big Willie Style, Jay-Z’s Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life, Ashanti‘s Ashanti, and Usher‘s “U Don’t Have To Call.” As an entrepreneur, he co-founded Desert Storm Records in 1997 with a roster that includes multiplatinum rap luminary Fabolous and more.

“Republic is truly a powerhouse,” Duro said. “I have an immense amount of respect for [co-Founders] Monte and Avery Lipman, Wendy, Rob, and the entire team. I’d love to add that studio perspective to the label’s A&R process. I’m excited to find the next round of Republic superstars and work with them to create a new generation of classic records.”