217:, "After some fallow years, Tommy Boy experienced a rap resurgence, in no small way attributable to the cool aesthetic of fashionable president, Monica Lynch, who opened her doors to all kinds of artistic expression." She signed Queen Latifah and De La Soul, and played a key role in the development of the careers of various artists and executives, including
151:
magazine, "Like many of the young hip-hop acts she helped turn into stars in the '80s and '90s, Lynch started out in the business with nothing more than a strong work ethic and a love of music, eventually becoming one of hip-hop's most powerful women. In the 19 years she spent at Tommy Boy, ... Lynch
141:
Lynch was born and raised in
Chicago, and moved east in the late 1970s. "I was pretty starry-eyed when I got to New York. I came from Chicago to work in a fashion show in '78 and it was one of those impetuous things — I just didn't go back," she said in a 1999 interview. "I had no money, so a make-up
203:
just getting started, success was a gamble for the hip-hop entrepreneurs." Lynch recalled: "Very soon after , we began hearing pouring out of windows as Mr. Magic broke the record. For a label that, at the time, was just two people, it was a very heavy experience. This was a period when rap itself
355:
from Tommy Boy. At WFMU she hosted a weekly show for many years, and still hosts fill-in programs. "After 16 years at , she was burned out by the music business's overwhelming commercial imperative, as well as its constant extramusical annoyances," wrote Jaime Wolf in the
298:. "You know that logo? She got Mark Weinberg to draw that logo for us. And that logo he drew at dinner on a napkin with a crayon. ... That's why the original logo has those ridges on it, that's from him pushing down on the crayon and the crayon breaking off."
288:
and being proud to be from New Jersey was not a very cool thing at the time. Of course, no matter what, a great record trumps everything else. ... nyone from a 3-year-old to a 93-year-old could sing that chorus. It had a nursery-rhyme appeal to it." DJ
360:
in a station profile from 1999. "orking at WFMU, Lynch says, has helped her reconnect to her original passion. When she talks about her fellow D.J.'s, she quickly falls into a wonderstruck tone, describing their knowledge as
264:
Lynch helped to develop the label's clothing line (which was designed and overseen by the label's Rap
Marketing Director Albee Ragusa). She also helped to produce its popular compilation and soundtrack albums, including
307:
magazine. "Otherwise it wouldn't stand alone on its two high heels." Lynch did like the music, and signed RuPaul to the label. While working on the artist's premiere Tommy Boy release, Lynch heard a demo of the song
293:
of
Naughty by Nature credited Lynch for the band's successful branding. "Monica Lynch is a marketing genius, and she's totally, totally, if not solely responsible for branding Naughty by Nature," KayGee told
798:
613:
301:
In 1992 she was given a demo tape of songs by RuPaul. "I thought the idea of a drag queen recording artist would be great if the music was there," she told
191:, not really grasping that the song would help to launch a sonic revolution whose effects are still being felt today," wrote Randy Reiss at MTV News. "With
835:
810:
388:, referred to Lynch as a "walking encyclopedia" of music. Lynch also served as A&R Director for Martina McBride's 2014 R&B and soul covers album,
380:
850:
284:" by Naughty by Nature, Lynch recalled: "Tommy Boy always did well with acts that had something different about them. And with Naughty by Nature, having
860:
407:
the first auction dedicated to vintage hip-hop art and collectibles. In 2022, Lynch curated the auction for the third consecutive year.
390:
605:
192:
557:
680:
526:
569:
626:
176:
in 1981, and Lynch was his first employee, hired in
December of that year. She was named president of the label in 1985.
855:
799:
Mamo, Heran, "Sotheby's First Hip-Hop
Auction Headlined by The Notorious B.I.G. & Tupac Shakur's Prized Possessions"
309:
845:
541:
750:
766:
423:
664:
72:
865:
840:
334:
One of her last roles at the label was as a producer of the two-volume film soundtrack compilation albums
258:
811:
Allah, Sha Be, "Sotheby's to
Auction Off Over 100 Rare Hip Hop Artifacts from 2Pac, Biz Markie, and More"
780:
374:
718:
424:"28-year-old Monica Lynch, the white, Chicago-born, Catholic school-educated president of Tommy Boy"
369:" Lynch last hosted a regular weekly show on WFMU in 2013, but continues to host sporadic fill-ins.
195:
being the only rap label with widespread acceptance at the time and other major rap players such as
732:
250:
226:
161:
123:
107:
92:
54:
39:
648:
593:, "Monica Lynch: We talk to the woman who was at the center of it all with Tommy Boy Records"
785:
558:
Charnas, Dan, "The 25 Best A&Rs in Hip-Hop
History" (#7: Tom Silverman and Monica Lynch)
503:
303:
213:
200:
153:
179:" can vividly remember the night in March when she drove with to the basement studios of
428:
246:
211:
The label did not have immediate followup success. However, as chronicled by the magazine
205:
135:
111:
68:
446:
242:
829:
477:
396:
295:
281:
234:
173:
147:
131:
50:
196:
404:
204:
was very young, very much like a cottage industry. We were just getting started,
577:
365:.' Being at the station, she says, is 'like running away and joining the circus.
277:, and others. She also served as art director for many of the label's packages.
238:
188:
119:
815:
352:
222:
157:
781:
Borrelli-Persson, Laird, "Sotheby's
Celebrates Hip-Hop With a Historic Sale"
737:
635:
335:
327:
321:
254:
184:
394:. In 2015 she served as Executive Producer for the Queen Latifah HBO film
573:
385:
362:
285:
649:
Weingarten, Christopher, "An Oral
History of Naughty By Nature's 'O.P.P.
589:
751:
Parker, Eric T., "McBride
Samples 'Everlasting' for Nashville Industry"
180:
115:
290:
230:
218:
707:
627:
Coleman, Brian, "The Oral History of Naughty by Nature's 'O.P.P.
462:
372:
She served as A&R Director for Queen Latifah's 2004 release
127:
351:
Lynch joined the staff of radio station WFMU in 1997, during a
208:
was just getting started and Jive wasn't in the rap game yet."
691:
58:
733:
Coveney, Janine, "Queen Latifah: Nature of A Singer"
665:
Hershkovits, David, "Is the World Ready for RuPaul?"
130:
since 1997, and worked as an A&R consultant for
152:helped launch the careers of major acts, including
88:
78:
64:
46:
35:
25:
18:
316:, "I knew that it was going to be the single."
447:LaFreniere, Steve, Interview with Monica Lynch
343:She left Tommy Boy Records in February 1998.
126:. She has hosted radio programs on free-form
8:
708:Monica Lynch weekly WFMU playlists from 2013
681:Producer credit for release at Discogs.com
442:
440:
438:
337:54 (Music From The Miramax Motion Picture)
331:series of compilations, starting in 1994.
319:Lynch originated the massively successful
142:artist I knew let me crash on her floor."
15:
463:Monica Lynch program archives at WFMU.org
312:," and added that to the album. She told
537:
535:
527:"Rosie Lopez Named Tommy Boy President"
416:
7:
692:Wolf, Jaime, "No Hits, All the Time"
478:"Hey Get Down! Women Got Down, Too!"
472:
470:
378:, and on Latifah's 2007 followup,
836:American music industry executives
384:. The latter album's co-producer,
14:
851:American hip hop record producers
770:, soundtrack credits, Discogs.com
616:from the original on Dec 9, 2023.
529:, AllAccess.com, January 24, 2013
172:Tommy Boy Records was founded by
145:According to a 2007 interview in
110:) is a music business executive,
861:American people of Irish descent
768:Bessie (Music From The HBO Film)
595:, episode 171, October 10, 2016
183:to deliver the to hip-hop DJs
576:Became a Hip Hop Phenomenon",
403:In 2020, she co-organized for
1:
502:Tucker, Bruce (1993-10-31).
310:Supermodel (You Better Work)
71:, record company executive,
560:, Complex.com, Feb. 1, 2013
542:Reiss, Randy, "Tommy Boy's
882:
801:, MSN.com, August 25, 2020
606:"Monica Lynch Discography"
546:Documents Hip-Hop History"
114:, and former President of
719:AllMusic.com credits for
504:"Tommy Boy Can CD Future"
280:About the huge 1991 hit "
655:, Spin, December 7, 2011
548:, MTV.com, Sept. 2, 1998
580:magazine, Jan. 5, 2018
347:Post-Tommy Boy career
789:, September 12, 2020
721:The Dana Owens Album
375:The Dana Owens Album
856:People from Chicago
639:, December 16, 2015
251:Digital Underground
846:American radio DJs
741:, December 1, 2007
696:The New York Times
227:Naughty by Nature
168:Tommy Boy Records
162:Naughty by Nature
124:Tommy Boy Records
108:Chicago, Illinois
98:
97:
93:Tommy Boy Records
40:Chicago, Illinois
873:
820:
819:, March 29, 2022
808:
802:
796:
790:
778:
772:
764:
758:
748:
742:
730:
724:
716:
710:
705:
699:
698:, April 11, 1999
689:
683:
678:
672:
662:
656:
652:
646:
640:
630:
624:
618:
617:
602:
596:
587:
581:
567:
561:
555:
549:
539:
530:
524:
518:
517:
515:
514:
499:
493:
492:
490:
489:
474:
465:
460:
454:
444:
433:
421:
368:
154:Afrika Bambaataa
81:
73:A&R director
28:
16:
881:
880:
876:
875:
874:
872:
871:
870:
826:
825:
824:
823:
809:
805:
797:
793:
779:
775:
765:
761:
757:, April 2, 2014
749:
745:
731:
727:
717:
713:
706:
702:
690:
686:
679:
675:
663:
659:
650:
647:
643:
628:
625:
621:
604:
603:
599:
588:
584:
568:
564:
556:
552:
540:
533:
525:
521:
512:
510:
501:
500:
496:
487:
485:
476:
475:
468:
461:
457:
445:
436:
429:Chicago Tribune
422:
418:
413:
381:Trav'lin' Light
366:
349:
275:Nothing to Lose
267:MTV Party to Go
247:Soulsonic Force
170:
136:Martina McBride
112:record producer
101:
79:
69:Record producer
26:
21:
12:
11:
5:
879:
877:
869:
868:
866:A&R people
863:
858:
853:
848:
843:
838:
828:
827:
822:
821:
803:
791:
773:
759:
743:
725:
711:
700:
684:
673:
657:
641:
619:
597:
582:
562:
550:
544:Greatest Beats
531:
519:
494:
484:. 6 April 2017
466:
455:
453:magazine, 1999
434:
432:, Oct. 9, 1986
415:
414:
412:
409:
358:New York Times
348:
345:
169:
166:
100:Musical artist
99:
96:
95:
90:
86:
85:
82:
76:
75:
66:
62:
61:
48:
44:
43:
37:
33:
32:
29:
23:
22:
19:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
878:
867:
864:
862:
859:
857:
854:
852:
849:
847:
844:
842:
841:Living people
839:
837:
834:
833:
831:
818:
817:
812:
807:
804:
800:
795:
792:
788:
787:
782:
777:
774:
771:
769:
763:
760:
756:
752:
747:
744:
740:
739:
734:
729:
726:
723:
722:
715:
712:
709:
704:
701:
697:
693:
688:
685:
682:
677:
674:
670:
666:
661:
658:
654:
645:
642:
638:
637:
632:
623:
620:
615:
611:
607:
601:
598:
594:
592:
586:
583:
579:
575:
571:
570:Gordon, Calum
566:
563:
559:
554:
551:
547:
545:
538:
536:
532:
528:
523:
520:
509:
505:
498:
495:
483:
479:
473:
471:
467:
464:
459:
456:
452:
448:
443:
441:
439:
435:
431:
430:
425:
420:
417:
410:
408:
406:
401:
399:
398:
393:
392:
387:
383:
382:
377:
376:
370:
364:
359:
354:
346:
344:
341:
339:
338:
332:
330:
329:
324:
323:
317:
315:
311:
306:
305:
299:
297:
296:Spin magazine
292:
287:
283:
278:
276:
272:
268:
262:
260:
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
236:
235:House of Pain
232:
228:
224:
220:
216:
215:
209:
207:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
177:
175:
174:Tom Silverman
167:
165:
163:
159:
155:
150:
149:
143:
139:
137:
133:
132:Queen Latifah
129:
125:
121:
117:
113:
109:
105:
94:
91:
87:
83:
77:
74:
70:
67:
65:Occupation(s)
63:
60:
56:
52:
49:
45:
41:
38:
34:
30:
24:
17:
814:
806:
794:
784:
776:
767:
762:
754:
746:
736:
728:
720:
714:
703:
695:
687:
676:
671:, April 1993
668:
660:
644:
634:
622:
609:
600:
590:
585:
565:
553:
543:
522:
511:. Retrieved
508:Fast Company
507:
497:
486:. Retrieved
481:
458:
450:
427:
419:
402:
395:
389:
379:
373:
371:
357:
350:
342:
336:
333:
326:
320:
318:
313:
302:
300:
279:
274:
271:Jersey Drive
270:
266:
263:
243:Force M.D.'s
212:
210:
178:
171:
146:
144:
140:
104:Monica Lynch
103:
102:
84:1981–present
80:Years active
31:Monica Lynch
20:Monica Lynch
578:Another Man
391:Everlasting
259:Prince Paul
239:Stetsasonic
189:Marly Marl
120:dance music
830:Categories
816:The Source
591:The Cipher
513:2019-03-25
488:2019-03-25
411:References
353:sabbatical
223:Dante Ross
193:Sugar Hill
158:De La Soul
27:Birth name
755:Music Row
738:JazzTimes
636:Thrillist
405:Sotheby's
328:Jock Rock
322:Jock Jams
255:808 State
185:Mr. Magic
614:Archived
574:Carhartt
482:bust.com
386:Ron Fair
363:Talmudic
286:cornrows
201:Priority
610:Discogs
572:, "How
214:Complex
206:Profile
181:WHBI-FM
116:hip-hop
55:R&B
51:Hip hop
397:Bessie
291:KayGee
282:O.P.P.
257:, and
231:Coolio
219:RuPaul
122:label
106:(born
89:Labels
47:Genres
42:, U.S.
786:Vogue
669:Paper
451:Index
314:Paper
304:Paper
325:and
199:and
197:Jive
187:and
148:Bust
134:and
128:WFMU
36:Born
164:."
160:,
59:Rap
832::
813:,
783:,
753:,
735:,
694:,
667:,
633:,
612:.
608:.
534:^
506:.
480:.
469:^
449:,
437:^
426:,
400:.
340:.
273:,
269:,
261:.
253:,
249:,
245:,
241:,
237:,
233:,
229:,
225:,
221:,
156:,
138:.
57:,
53:,
653:"
651:'
631:"
629:'
516:.
491:.
367:'
361:'
308:"
118:/
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.