11 Times Clive Davis Changed Hip-Hop & R&B History

Few music executives have left a larger mark on popular culture than Clive Davis.

The legendary record executive, who died at age 94, helped discover, develop, promote, or support some of the biggest names in music history.

While artists like Usher and Whitney Houston became stars through their own talent and vision, they also benefited from an industry landscape shaped by Davis and the labels he helped build. From launching careers to backing influential record companies and business partnerships, Davis played a key role in the rise of hip-hop and R&B.

Here are 11 times he changed music history.

1. He Took A Chance On Sean “Puffy” Combs And Helped Launch Bad Boy Records

In 1993, Clive Davis partnered with Sean Combs to launch Bad Boy Records through a joint venture with Arista Records. The label quickly became home to The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, Mase, 112, and Combs himself. Bad Boy would go on to become one of the most successful hip-hop labels of the 1990s, helping bring rap music into the mainstream.