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Mentor-Mentee Executive Spotlight


Chivon Dean
President, Ruff Ryders

 

"People don't really know our position and who we really are", asserts Chivon Dean, Ruff Ryders president, who along with her two brothers, Dee and Waah have in six long years taken their company to the top of the music industry. "DMX is signed to us through Def Jam, but the fact is that we were a small company next to a big company, we werent fully recognized. No disrespect to Def Jam, but its time for us to continue growing."

 

After studying business administration at new Jerseys Bergen Community College, Chivon decided to follow the lead of her uncle and moved to join him in his party throwing exploits. Down in Atlanta, the duo threw functions that showcased R&B/Dance giants like Jody Watley and Colonel Abrams, but then a call from her brothers led her back to Yonkers. With their insistence, the trio along with a few others started a label called Exclusively Hype. Chivon incorporated her experiences and collaborated with her brothers who at the time were working on getting rap trio, The Lox signed. When the Deans got The Lox signed to Sean "Puffy" Combs Bad Boy Entertainment, Ruff Ryders foundation was built.

 

As a hard nosed negotiator, Chivon works long hours as she knows that in any thriving business, there is always room for improvement. And despite the attention she and her siblings are beginning to receive, Ruff Ryders maintains a down to earth approach thats a rarity in the music industry and appreciated by outsiders and colleagues. Hard-working, staying true to the streets and quietly building an empire, Chivon Dean and company won't be satisfied until they control their own destiny. "In the future, we hope to become more independent and create and distribute our own product," Chivon reveals. "But no matter how much we grow, we know it's important to stay in close contact with our artists and producers. We are a family and that's how we function."




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