Steve Stoute

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Steve Stoute is Founder and CEO of the industry-leading brand development and marketing firm Translation, and author of The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy. Previously, he worked in the music industry as an American record executive and artist manager.

From 1990 to 1999, Stoute was an executive at several leading labels in the music industry. At Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Stoute served as President of the Urban Music division and executive vice president, producing best-selling albums from U2, Eve and Limp Bizkit, as well as Eminem’s debut album, “The Slim Shady LP.” Stoute has also produced several major motion picture soundtracks. Prior to joining Interscope, Stoute was president of Urban Music for Sony Music Entertainment, where he played an instrumental role in launching the music careers of Mariah Carey, Will Smith and Nas. Stoute was also former manager to Nas and Mary J. Blige.^{[citation needed]}

Stoute is the founder of Translation, a full service "transcultural advertising agency". In 2008, Stoute expanded Translation’s footprint by partnering with Shawn Carter (aka Jay-Z) to co-found Translation Advertising, which specializes in the multicultural market. Translation believes that its ability to manage ‘cultural’ nuances allows consumers to know the difference between marketing communications intended to relate to them versus those that intend to ‘sell to them.'^[1]

In 2009 the American Advertising Federation inducted Stoute into their Advertising Hall of Achievement, the industry's premier award for outstanding advertising professionals age 40 and under.^[2] In 2010, Steve was recognized as “Innovator of the Year” at the ADCOLOR awards ceremony, an initiative launched by the ADCOLOR Industry Coalition, to promote increased diversity in the advertising, marketing and media industries. Most recently, Stoute was named "Executive of the Year" by AdAge, the leading publication for the advertising and marketing industries.^[3]

In 2005, Stoute became the Managing Director and CEO of Carol's Daughter, a line of hair and body care products made with natural ingredients. He formed a board of investors including Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Jay-Z, Jimmy Iovine and Mary J. Blige.^[4] His leadership has enabled the company to grow and has brought partnerships such as Disney's "The Princess & The Frog" via a collection of hair and body products for children and HSN via an exclusive fragrance launch with Mary J. Blige.^[5][6] Today he serves as the brand's Lead Investor & Chairman.

He has appeared in the HBO series and book “The Black List Project,” featuring interviews and portraits with leading African American figures on being black in America.^[7] He was also chosen as one of four extraordinary Americans featured in Target’s dare.dream.do national multi-cultural campaign in honor of Black History Month.

Steve Stoute released his first book The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy on September 8, 2011 (Gotham Books).^[8] In the book, Stoute draws from his diverse background in the music industry and brand marketing to chronicle how an upstart art form – street poetry set to beats – came to define urban culture as the embodiment of cool. Stoute's understanding of how hip-hop morphed into mainstream culture enabled him to relate to a new generation of thinking.

Steve Stoute is involved in a variety of civic causes. He is currently searching for a cure for gout, a disease which he suffers from. In 2008, he joined forces with Mary J. Blige to co-found the Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN), whose mission is to educate, and empower women through scholarships, grants and career development opportunities. In 2009 they opened their first facility, the Mary J. Blige Center for Women in Yonkers, New York.^[9]

In addition, Steve has also played a key role in the development of minority recruitment campaigns for both the Fire Department of the City of New York and the New York City Police Department. Stoute received a 2004 Humanitarian Award from the FDNY for his work on their “Heroes Wanted” campaign. In 2003, he served as the co-chairman of the New York City Fresh Air Fund, a non-profit program offering minority children an opportunity to experience life outside the confines of the inner city.^{[citation needed]}

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