Music Executive and R&B Icon Andre Harrell Has Passed Away at 59

Andre Harrell, the music exec who discovered P. Diddy (aka, Sean Combs,) died late Thursday *May 5) in his West Hollywood home. He was only 59 years old. 

Andre was the one who founded Uptown Records and became a big name in the R&B and hip hop world in the 1980s. Not only did he help build P. Diddy's career, but thanks to Harrell, artists like Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, and Al B.Sure saw success under his wing. 

According to The New York Times, his ex-wife Wendy Credle claims that his cause of death was heart failure, and that "Mr. Harrell had had heart problems for some time." 

The response to Andre's death has been tremendous, with celebs, politicians, and journalists flocking to Twitter to express their condolences. Andre was a huge name in the R&B and hip hop world — not only did he introduce the world to many artists, but he innovated the genre of music itself.

According to the NYT, "... his vision for the music wasn't always in line with his peers' — he preferred a splash of sophistication and an approach that would speak to older and younger generations alike." To lose such a person in the industry hurts.

Even before finished high school, Andre had his first big break as a rapper. He was half of Dr. Jeckyll & Mr Hyde (he was Dr. Jeckyll and his friend Alonzo Brown was Mr. Hyde). Their singles like "Genius Rap," "A.M./P.M." were big hits in the '80s. 

They released one album 1988 titled The Champagne of Rap. Andre went on to become an account executive at two radio stations in New York, and he rapped on the weekends. He then started to work for Rush Management and became VP and general manager, overseeing Run-DMC and LL Cool J.

After this, he created his own label, Uptown. "I'm promoting the whole spectrum of black lifestyle, from teenage street hip-hop lifestyle to an adult, upwardly mobile black lifestyle," he said to Upscale magazine, per the NYT. 

In 1992, he told the NYT, "I don't try to recreate black artists. I reflect the image an artist has already created." Andre later produced films such as Strictly Business and Honey.

Andre had hired P. Diddy as his intern in the early '90s. "I told him I'd wash cars, quit school — anything — a priceless chance to be in your presence," P. Diddy told the NYT in 2005. He ended up becoming a major player in Andre's world. 

However, the Times says that Andre fired P. Diddy in 1993 after "power dynamics between Mr. Harrell and Mr. Combs [shifted]." P. Diddy stated, "I guess Andre didn't want two kings in the castle. I had obtained some success, some notoriety, and I didn't realize it wasn't my house." 

Luckily, the two reconciled. Andre became President of P. Diddy's Bad Boy Records and in 2013, he was Vice Chairman of the rapper's Revolt TV

Andre is survived by his father, brother, and son, Gianni Credle-Harrell. He will be very much missed.