For a year, I studied and game-planned what I wanted our R&B / Hip-Hop Power Players events to be. I went to our Latin Music Week in Miami in October 2025 and was immediately inspired. Though I’ve been at Billboard for 10 years and have been promoted four times — from freelancer to hip-hop editor, deputy director, senior director and now executive editor — I felt it was my responsibility to build something bigger than me. Throughout my 20-year journalism career, my goal was always to become “a legend.” I wanted to be the guy who interviewed all the stars and build a body of work that could stand among the best in our industry. But over the last few years, my perspective changed. My goal became to serve and be less self-serving. I want to build something bigger than me. I want my team to grow. I want this brand to grow. I want people to see our culture the way my team and I see our culture. None of this happens without the brilliant work of my Billboard team: my R&B / Hip-Hop team,...