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Kyambo “Hip Hop” Joshua makes his long-awaited first appearance on VladTV, sitting down with Vlad to tell the inside story of Roc-A-Fella Records from someone who was there from the very beginning. A longtime A&R executive, artist manager, and co-founder of Hip Hop Since 1978, Kyambo played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of Jay-Z, Kanye West, Cam’ron, Lil Wayne, Drake, and countless others.
Kyambo begins by reflecting on growing up in Harlem and reconnecting with his older brother, Kareem ‘Biggs’ Burke, before recounting how Roc-A-Fella was built from the ground up alongside Biggs, Dame Dash, and Jay-Z. He shares never-before-heard stories about the creation of Reasonable Doubt, including sitting in on the meetings where the first singles were chosen, witnessing the recording of “Brooklyn’s Finest” with The Notorious B.I.G., and helping launch Jay’s career from the earliest days. Kyambo-Jul-26-Members_v2.txt
The interview dives deep into Kyambo’s role as Roc-A-Fella’s A&R, where he reveals how he selected beats for Jay-Z’s classic albums, including Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life, The Dynasty, The Blueprint, and The Black Album. He explains how songs like “Streets Is Watching,” “Hard Knock Life,” “Big Pimpin’,” and “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” came together, while also sharing behind-the-scenes stories involving producers such as Kanye West, Just Blaze, Bink, The Neptunes, and Timbaland.
Kyambo also gives the definitive account of discovering and managing Kanye West. He explains how he first met Kanye through No I.D., why virtually every label initially passed on him as a rapper, and how Hip Hop Since 1978 ultimately helped guide Kanye’s early career. He reveals that Kanye already had the vision for The College Dropout, Late Registration, and Graduation years before the first album was released, and discusses executive producing Kanye’s landmark projects.
The conversation also explores Roc-A-Fella’s breakup, offering Kyambo’s perspective on the growing divide between Jay-Z and Dame Dash. He discusses why he left the company before the split, how the business dynamics changed over time, and what ultimately led Jay toward Def Jam while Dame pursued his own path. Kyambo also addresses the ongoing public criticism directed at Jay-Z, sharing his firsthand perspective on the label’s internal relationships and why he believes many narratives have been misunderstood over the years.
Finally, Kyambo reflects on managing Lil Wayne, Drake, and the early Young Money era, while explaining why Kanye remains the most creatively gifted artist he has ever worked with and why he still considers Jay-Z one of the greatest rap talents of all time. More than two decades after helping shape one of hip-hop’s most influential eras, Kyambo provides one of the most comprehensive insider accounts ever shared publicly.
