True, Top Dawg Entertainment is an independent record label as well as a management company, but it has emerged in the last few years as a preeminent incubator of superstars, having fostered the careers of SZA, Doechii and Kendrick Lamar. Founder Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith and his team have demonstrated a remarkable ability to discover and nurture artists with compelling points of view and guide them to the spotlight.

The Carson, California-based shop was launched in 2004 by CEO Top and is overseen by his son, Anthony “Moosa” Tiffith Jr., and Terrence “Punch” Henderson. TDE clients are repped by a staff that includes such managerial hitters as Akeem Smith, Dann Gibuena, Matt Miller and Keaton Smith.

In 2005 TDE inked Lamar—its second signing after fellow rapper Jay Rock—and helped him become one of the most powerful, influential voices in hip-hop.

SZA signed up with Top in 2013 and has proven a similarly transformative force in R&B. Her SOS (via TDE/RCA) is the #3 album YTD. Kendrick-SZA duet “luther,” meanwhile, is one of the year’s biggest songs, with north of 1 billion global Spotify streams. The two stars are currently smashing the box office on their joint stadium trek.

Doechii, inked in partnership with Capitol in 2022, saw explosive growth on the way to a Rap Album Grammy (and a slam-dunk performance on the telecast) and then a #1 streaming and radio smash with “Anxiety.”

It’s worth pointing out that TDE artists have seen huge success in tandem with three different major labels.

Other acts on the roster include acclaimed rapper ScHoolboy Q and up-and-comers Alemeda, Ab-Soul, Isaiah Rashad, Lance Skiiwalker, SiR and Ray Vaughn.

In addition to management, label, publishing and merch, Top and team also oversee a film group and sports agency. What will they break next? Given TDE’s track record, we’ll be watching closely. As both Kendrick and Doechii have reiterated on their records, “Get Top on the phone” is more than a slogan—it’s a career-making mantra.