Interview with Roc Nation Co-President Shari Bryant

Roc Nation Co-President Shari Bryant exemplifies perseverance and dedication as she ascended through the music industry. Growing up in Harlem, New York, she shared the same apartment building as Dame Dash. Shari began her journey as an intern at Roc-A-Fella Records in 1999, when she was just 16 years old. Working at the Roc fueled her passion for a full-time career in the music industry. She recently shared her inspiring journey from intern to executive on an episode of XXL‘s Inside Track podcast.

“I was just excited to be a part of what was going on,” Shari recounted to XXL about her early days at Roc-A-Fella. “I didn’t realize it was such a business behind it. I was just a fan of the videos and watching all the fly outfits. And then going into the office I’m like, Oh, this is how this all works and comes together. Just being a part of that, I didn’t realize I was stepping into history at all.”

After Roc-A-Fella Records disbanded, Shari transitioned through various marketing roles at Island Def Jam, Atlantic Records, Warner Bros., and eventually held the position of General Manager at Alamo Records. In 2019, she achieved a significant milestone when she became the co-president of Roc Nation, a role she shares with Omar Grant.

In her current role, Shari’s responsibilities include expanding Roc Nation’s talent roster and providing diverse opportunities for the label’s artists. Roc Nation’s musical talents range from global stars like Rihanna and J. Cole to respected artists such as Rapsody and Vic Mensa.

With the future of Roc Nation under her stewardship, Shari is committed to nurturing superstars from the ground up.

“That’s a big part of having an artist [over the company] that really modeled his career off of that,” Shari explained, referencing Jay-Z’s career influence on the label’s philosophy. “I think that’s why we have the autonomy to operate that way. That we can sign things that we really believe in. [Jay-Z] understands the time it takes to build a superstar because he was in that position himself.”

XXL continues to bring insight into the music industry with its Inside Track podcast. Hosted by XXL Editor-in-Chief Vanessa Satten and music executive Courtney “Courtney CL” Lowery, the podcast delves into the experiences of influential hip-hop executives and entrepreneurs. Each episode offers a unique perspective on the culture from those who have shaped it.

The third episode of Inside Track features an engaging conversation with Shari Bryant. Listeners can watch or listen to the podcast on xxlmag.com, XXL’s YouTube page, and various podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.