The Story Of Chris Lighty
I was privileged enough to be A&R manager at Primary Wave, one of the largest independent talent management, music publishing and marketing & branding companies in the United States.
Founded in 2006, they create marketing and branding strategies through Music Publishing, Talent Management, Recorded Music, Television/Film Development, Brand Marketing and Digital Marketing.
In 2011 Larry Mestel, head honcho at Primary Wave partnered with Chris Lighty and his company’s Violator rosta (the list of artists they had worked with in some capacity included CeeLo Green, 50 Cent, Cypress Hill, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, A Tribe Called Quest, Eric Benét, Missy Elliott, Tank, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Ginuwine, Goodie Mob, Big Gipp, Eric Benet, Fat Joe, Nas, Mariah Carey to name a few).
Primary Wave’s publishing repertoire included an interest in the Beatles songs written by John Lennon, the catalogs of Kurt Cobain/Nirvana, Steven Tyler/Aerosmith, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Chicago, Maurice White (Earth, Wind & Fire), Lamont Dozier, to name a few.
Chris was synonymous with the evolution of Hip Hop’s organic roots to its modern engagement with corporate boardrooms and branding. Alas in August 2012, the world received the sad news that ‘Baby Chris’ had passed away.
listen to the 1xtra Documentary