September 26, 1960 - May 8, 2020
Andre Harrell and Al B. Sure
Gene Griffin, Guy and Andre Harrell
Gene Griffin, Aaron Hall, Heavy D., Andre Harrell and Teddy Riley
Andre Harrell (center), Mary J. Blige, Father MC, Eddie F., Heavy D.,
Jo Jo Hailey, Puff Daddy, Christopher Williams, K-Ci Hailey,
Devante Swing and Dalvin DeGrate
Andre Harrell and Puff Daddy
Andre Harrell, LL Cool J and Lovebug Starski
Martin Lawrence, Andre Harrell and Al B. Sure
Andre Harrell was born in New York on September 26, 1960 and grew up in the Bronx.
Harrell formed the rap group Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde with Alonzo "Mr. Hyde" Brown and released their signature song "Genius of Rap" in 1981. In 1984, Harrell's friend and Def Jam Records founder Russell Simmons became Harrell's roommate, moving in with him in LeFrak City, Queens. The following year, Simmons hired Harrell away from his sales job at radio station WINS and gave him a position at his Rush Management. That same year, Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde released their one and only album, Champagne of Rap.
Meanwhile, Harrell took a job at and was promoted to vice president of Simmons' Def Jam Records within two years. In 1986, not long after being named general manager, Harrell left the legendary imprint in order to found his own company, Uptown Records. The rapper-turned-executive used his business acumen to further the career of then-up-and-coming rapper Dwight "Heavy D" Myers and signed Myers and his group Heavy D & the Boyz to the label.
Unsatisfied with one hit act, Harrell went on to sign Albert "Al B. Sure!" Brown, Guy, Father MC, Mary J. Blige and Jodeci. Harrell also hired Howard University student Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs as an intern. Combs would work his way up to A&R and talent director before being fired by Harrell in 1993 (though Harrell kept the former on his payroll until he established his own label).
The 90s saw Harrell and Uptown branch out into Hollywood, beginning with the 1991 feature-film Strictly Business. That project was followed up by the 1994 (until 1999) television series New York Undercover, which was initially titled Uptown Undercover.
In 1995, Harrell left Uptown and accepted a position as CEO of Motown Records but was fired in 1997. Meanwhile, Harrell's former protege, Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, had achieved phenomenal success as head of his own label, Bad Boy Records. In 1998, he gave his former mentor a job as president of Bad Boy. Combs, who'd also branched off into television, established the media company REVOLT in 2013 and eventually appointed Harrell vice chairman.
On May 8, 2020, Harrell passed away from heart complications in his West Hollywood, California home. He's survived by his son Gianni Harrell.
Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde - Genius Rap
Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde - Fast Life
Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde - Champagne of Rap
Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde - Transformation
Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde - Scratch On Galaxy
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