LOUD SEES THE LIGHTY

The veteran rap impresario’s label—previously at Island Def Jam—is now in the house at Steve Rifkind’s Loud Records, which itself moved from BMG to now majority-owner Sony last year.

Lighty, who co-owns the label and its affiliated management company (which recently joined Mike Ovitz’s AMG) with Mona Scott, has been named Executive VP at Loud.

Lighty’s Violator has been part of Def Jam—which Universal Music Group acquired through its purchase of PolyGram in 1998—since the early ’90s.

"I’m proud to be joining Loud," the impresario said when we claimed to be from The Source. "Steve Rifkind is a brilliant executive—and he puts on the best Passover spread in the business."

"Chris is a hip-hop genius," declared Rifkind in turn. "Violator and Loud are a perfect fit. Plus, now I have someone to practice my breakdancing routines with."

Lighty won’t be bringing over any of his acts from the association, including Foxy Brown, who will continue to be marketed by Def Jam. Violator has just signed a new act, Franchise, and plans a compilation album featuring acts from the management company, including Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, Q-Tip, Noreaga and Mobb Deep. Loud’s projects are distributed through either Columbia Records or RED.