Chris Lighty was one of the most successful Hip Hop CEO and artist managers of all time. Born Darrel Steven Lighty in the Bronx, New York City, New York and raised in the Bronx River Housing Projects. His mother was single with five other kids. Chris did not end up attending college.
He got his start in the music business by carrying vinyl record crates for DJ Red Alert. Ultimately, his big break came when Russell Simmons hired him to work for Rush Artist Management. With relative success in the business, Chris took a chance In the early 1990s and started his own management company called “Violator”. The company devoted itself to Hip Hop and R&B artists. Clients included: Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, Mobb Deep, LL Cool J, 50 Cent, and many others.
Lighty also worked for Def Jam, Jive and Loud. He was chief executive of the Brand Asset Group. In 2004, Lighty brokered the largest brand endorsement deal in hip hop to date. This deal was 50 Cent’s partnership with Vitamin Water. 50 Cent received $100 Million from the partnership when Coca Cola bought Vitamin Water’s company, Glaceau, for 1.4 Billion. Needless to say, Chris received a good chunk of those earnings.
On August 30, 2012, Lighty was found dead on the patio of his home in the Bronx from an apparent suicide.The New York Daily News reported that “a gun shot was heard and Lighty was found lying face-up with a 9mm pistol next to his body”. His suicide was highly speculated especially by close friend, 50 Cent. 50 hired a private investigation team to look into other possibilities of Chris’s death, but with no results. Chris left behind his wife Veronica and 2 children.
50 Cent, Diddy, Mary J. Blige, Nick Cannon, Lauryn Hill, Lloyd Banks were among many stars that attended his funeral in NYC in 2012.
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