Shaheem Reid

Since 2001, Shaheem Reid has stood out as the most authoritative, most respected and informative voice in hip-hop journalism. Holding down the position of Hip-Hop Editor for MTV News for just about a decade, Shaheem has created news programming, produced a myriad of MTV News shoots, and became an on-air personality. Artists such as Usher, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, T.I., Nas Diddy, Lil' Wayne, Kanye West and Mary J. Blige have opened up to the Queens, NY native first about various projects as well as some of their most personal, headline-making experiences.

Not only has Shaheem been able to break news on events that range from historic, to tragic, to just plain bizarre, he's also kept his hand on the pulse of what is going to be big. 50 Cent, Kanye West, Akon, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Young Jeezy, Chris Brown and Drake were all featured on MTV by Reid well in advance of their mainstream stardom. Along with Rahman Dukes, Shaheem also co-created the popular MTV News franchises "Mixtape Daily" and "Hottest MCs in The Game."

Shaheem Reid embarked on his historic career in journalism as a intern at VIBE Magazine. In less than a year, he advanced to Vibe's associate music editor post. Besides Vibe, Mr. Reid Hes also written for such publications and companies as USA Today, The New York Daily News, Vibe, Spin, XXL, Blaze, Rolling Stone Hip-Hop Soul, VEVO and The Source.

At the end of 2010, Mr. Reid left MTV News to pursue new ventures. He's helped create viral content for such powerhouse record companies as Def Jam and Warner Brothers as well as wrote and produced for the MTV 2 special "Yo MTV Raps Presents: Classic Cuts."

In the summer of 2011, he became Editor-At-Large of XXL. Besides writing features for XXL, Mr. Reid also has two columns that publish in the magazine every month; Murder To XXLence and Doin' Lines. In January 2012 Shaheem, along with DJ Scream, presented Hip-Hop King Rick Ross' latest mixtape, "Rich Forever." The project, which was available for free on the Internet and the streets, became the most popular mixtape ever, exceeding over 10 million downloads. In April of 2012, Reid served as co-executive producer of Def Jam artist Jadakiss' mixtape "Consignment." That street album has already been downloaded three million times in less than one month. Adding to Shaheem's busy schedule is a segment on Sirius Satellite Radio's Shade 45 station (the channel is owned by Eminem). As part of "Sway in the Mornings," Mr. Reid is the co-host of the popular "A&R Room" along with famed A&R/Producer Rich Nice.

Most recently, Mr. Reid launched Polaris, the first black-owned, free-ad supporting streaming channel, in September 2021. Alongside highly-regarded hip-hop journalists Rahman J. Duke and Sway Calloway, Reid’s (and Polaris’) primary focus are telling the stories of hip-hop and black culture by all indigenous people and people of color. After announcing their channel will debut on VIZIO’s SmartCast because of their newly founded partnership, Polaris released a news show and various documentaries covering hip-hop and black culture, with a more informed point of view.