REPUBLIC ADDS DURO

Republic Records has hired Ken “Duro” Ifill to focus on identifying, signing, cultivating and introducing new talent throughout the worlds of hip-hop, rap, urban and R&B.

With the title of SVP, A&R, the engineer/Desert Storm Records co-founder will report to Rob Stevenson and Wendy Goldstein and be based in New York.

“Duro knows records inside and out as he’s mixed many of the groundbreaking records influencing this next wave of artists,” Stevenson said. “His experience from behind the mixing board and as an executive gives him a unique insight into the creative and real-world challenges facing artists in this evolving landscape.”

Duro is a six-time Grammy winner for his work on “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu’s Baduizm, Will Smith’s Big Willie Style, Jay-Z’s Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life, Ashanti’s Ashanti and Usher’s “U Don’t Have To Call.” He co-founded and has run Desert Storm Records since 1997.

Duro, Goldstein said, is “the consummate music visionary whose talent extends from creation to marketing and promotion. It’s an exciting moment for our team to welcome him to the fold.”