Steven Carless
- Producer
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Steven "Steve-O" Carless is the founder and impresario of the Steven Carless Company. As a music executive, film producer and entrepreneur, Carless has defined the careers of multi-platinum selling artists like Jeezy and YG, Nipsey Hussle, Dave East and many more.
After co-founding and operating as managing partner of Best Of Both Offices, an artist development company designed to market, develop and brand music talent in 2005, he began scaling web audiences for major label artists on top of the dot com boom. The company distributes through UMG urban independent distribution arm, Priority Records.
He also founded independent film production company Rik Cordero Company with award winning critically acclaimed urban guerrilla filmmaker, Rik Cordero in 2007. Their debut independent coming of age drama film "Inside A Change," won a Best Picture award at HBO's Latino Film Festival in New York 2009.
In December of 2012, he was appointed A&R for Atlantic Records Headquarters in New York City and newly named label President, for Jeezy's Atlanta Based music Imprint CTE World, which was distributed through the Warner Bros subsidiary company. He was overseer for YG's 2014 Def Jam album debut, "My Krazy Life." In February 2015, he resigned and was later appointed Sr Director of A&R for Def Jam Recordings. Later that same year he also executive produced Jeezy's "Church In These Streets," his follow up to his 2014 #1 Hip Hop album "Seen It All."
In 2016, he executive-produced LA based Rapper YG, sophomore album "Still Brazy," where he was contributing party on the controversial street anthem "FDT," with frequent collaborator Nipsey Hussle. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hip Hop Charts.He also signed NYC based street rapper Dave East in collaboration with Nas' Mass Appeal label to Def Jam Recordings later that summer.
In 2017, he launched The Marathon Agency, with partners Nipsey Hussle, Karen Civil and Jorge Peniche; a marketing firm dedicated to strategic branding of artists and their products. In August, he was named Senior Vice President of A&R and Artist Relations for Def Jam Recordings, New York division.
After co-founding and operating as managing partner of Best Of Both Offices, an artist development company designed to market, develop and brand music talent in 2005, he began scaling web audiences for major label artists on top of the dot com boom. The company distributes through UMG urban independent distribution arm, Priority Records.
He also founded independent film production company Rik Cordero Company with award winning critically acclaimed urban guerrilla filmmaker, Rik Cordero in 2007. Their debut independent coming of age drama film "Inside A Change," won a Best Picture award at HBO's Latino Film Festival in New York 2009.
In December of 2012, he was appointed A&R for Atlantic Records Headquarters in New York City and newly named label President, for Jeezy's Atlanta Based music Imprint CTE World, which was distributed through the Warner Bros subsidiary company. He was overseer for YG's 2014 Def Jam album debut, "My Krazy Life." In February 2015, he resigned and was later appointed Sr Director of A&R for Def Jam Recordings. Later that same year he also executive produced Jeezy's "Church In These Streets," his follow up to his 2014 #1 Hip Hop album "Seen It All."
In 2016, he executive-produced LA based Rapper YG, sophomore album "Still Brazy," where he was contributing party on the controversial street anthem "FDT," with frequent collaborator Nipsey Hussle. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hip Hop Charts.He also signed NYC based street rapper Dave East in collaboration with Nas' Mass Appeal label to Def Jam Recordings later that summer.
In 2017, he launched The Marathon Agency, with partners Nipsey Hussle, Karen Civil and Jorge Peniche; a marketing firm dedicated to strategic branding of artists and their products. In August, he was named Senior Vice President of A&R and Artist Relations for Def Jam Recordings, New York division.
