Cognizant, grounded, articulate, hard-working
Lyor Cohen, CEO of Island Def Jam Records, upped his status further last year when he signed Mariah Carey shortly after her dismissal from Virgin Records and the EMI Group. But she may also prove to be the biggest challenge of his career. Carey suffered an emotional breakdown as her moview Glitter and its soundtrack tanked in September 2001.
"While it was only one project that didn't do well as the others, the perception was the Mariah had taken a fall, and now Lyor is [faced] with bringing her back," says L.A. Reid, Arista Records CEO. Now she's fighting to regain credibility with a new album, Charmbracelet, on Island Def Jam/ MonarC Music. It's a high-stakes gamble. But if Cohen is feeling the heat, he doesn't let on.
"I've got more money than anyone I know," he crows. "When they write about the last 20 years in pop culture, I have to be included. So I don't give a f**k." And he also maintains he isn't worried about Carey's well-being. "This is the most cognizant, grounded, articulate, hard-working person I've met in more that 10 years," he states emphatically. "There's not a f**king chance of any relapse or issue at all. My only worry is disappointing her." Says Carey, "He's very parternalistic - and it's not at all lascivious." (Vibe Magazine)
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