Cardi B praises Atlantic executives
When Cardi B was searching for a record deal six years ago, the rapper remembered when several labels didn’t financially believe in her talents enough — except for Atlantic Records executives Julie Greenwald and Craig Kallman.
Cardi B paid homage on Saturday night to Greenwald and Kallman, who were honored with the 2023 Industry Icons Award at the Clive Davis pre- Grammys gala in Beverly Hills.
The Grammy winner thanked Greenwald and Kallman for supporting her career aspirations. Kallman is CEO and chair of Atlantic Records, while Greenwald is CEO and chair of Atlantic Music Group.
“Other labels were low-balling me and not giving me what I thought I deserved, but Atlantic was right there respecting me, my vision and my career,” the rapper recalled. “Craig and Julie took me under their wing.”
Well-known figures packed the room including former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, her husband, Paul Pelosi, Tom Hanks, H.E.R., Janelle Monae, Lil Nas X, Demi Lovato, Tyrese, Olivia Rodrigo, Machine Gun Kelly, Megan Fox and Chance the Rapper.
Kevin Costner kicked off the event with a speech about his relationship with Davis and the late Whitney Houston, who the actor starred with in the 1992 film “The Bodyguard.” The three of them took a “huge leap” to move forward with the film, the actor said.
“Maybe the hardest was for Clive,” Costner said. “I needed to believe I could make the movie that I was imagining. Whitney saw it as a chance to reinvent herself. But for Clive, it was a career move that had a recipe for disaster written all over it. I needed Clive. I needed his trust and his blessing. I needed one thing he was not used to doing: control.”