TDE: 20 YEARS ON TOP

Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith now sits comfortably among the savviest entrepreneurs in hip-hop. Ever since the launch of the House of Pain studio and Top Dawg Entertainment—with Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar and ScHoolBoy Q—in Carson, California, in 2004, TDE has dominated awards shows, the charts and the culture. The next chapter of the powerhouse indie will undoubtedly be led by generational talent SZA.

Top Dawg and longtime A&R captain/TDE President Terrence "Punch" Henderson have always done things their way. The label's painstaking approach to the creative process—much to the chagrin of impatient fans—has been crucial to the ascent of Lamar and SZA. Just as the former elevated his craft with sophomore album Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City (Aftermath/TDE/Interscope), the latter's SOS (TDE/RCA) has catapulted her to superstardom. SZA is even a strong contender for a trophy that has thus far eluded K.Dot—the Grammy for Album of the Year.

Top Dawg has formed strategic partnerships with some of the biz's most trusted tastemakers: Dr. Dre via Aftermath and Interscope Records on behalf of Lamar; Peter Edge, whose RCA signed SZA early in her career; and Michelle Jubelirer, the Capitol chief who's collaborating on the development of TDE's latest breakout, Doechii.

Whether from King Kendrick or King James, there is nothing but respect for Top Dawg. Sadly, we were not able to get Top on the phone.

Top to bottom: Top Dawg and SZA; Steve Berman, Dr. Dre, Top Dawg and Jimmy Iovine; Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z and Top Dawg; Eminem, 50 Cent, Top Dawg and Dr. Dre; Lebron James and Top Dawg