Make It Happen

Kevin Liles rose from intern to president of Def Jam Records in only nine years. Today, at age thirty-seven, he is executive vice president of the Warner Music Group and has helped discover and direct the careers of stars such as Jay-Z and Ludacris. Liles' meteoric climb from urban street kid with hip-hop aspirations to one of the most successful and influential executives in the music industry is far more than a rags-to-riches story. It is a tribute to Liles' incredible work ethic, wisdom and confidence in doing his thing his way -- the hip-hop way. "e;Every real success story in hip hop comes down to the same thing: someone who finds the will, focus and drive to achieve,"e; Liles writes in Make It Happen: The Hip-Hop Generation Guide to Success. "e;It doesn't matter if you are male or female. It doesn't matter what race or religion you are. It doesn't matter what hustle you choose."e; What does matter, Liles says, is that you fight against the odds to realize a dream and be the best that you can be. You empower yourself and make it happen. Kevin Liles presents ten rules of business success, which range from "e;Find Your Will"e; and "e;The Blueprint"e; to "e;Don't Let Cash Rule"e; and "e;Play Your Position."e; As he outlines his philosophy, Liles shares how he put his principles to work, chronicling his journey to the top and the stories of others -- executives, artists, mentors and friends -- he has worked with along the way. Make It Happen is both an American success story and a guidebook for the road to having a career and a life you love.