Contributed By Scott Lipscomb
Filmmaker Leana Waithe is showing her versatility by taking her talents to the music industry. Teaming up with Def Jam Records, she plans to launch Hillman Grad Records.

Waithe told Rollingstone ““As I got older and more into my career, I think people really started to pick up on the music choices in the film or TV that I was doing, and that really spoke to me.”

With musical inspirations of Prince, Erkyah Badu, and Brandy, she appears to have a love and respect for the 90s sound.

She plans on promoting artist storytelling and wants to promote the personality and growth of the artist over just releasing tons of albums as the Jasmine Brand reported.

“I don’t want to do the typical thing. We are not going to come out with 10 albums a year. It’s about finding really interesting artists who have a real drive and sense of wanting to figure out who they are over time. We really want artists that can grow. Yes, it includes albums and singles, but to me it’s about personality and moments.”

While no artists are signed yet, artist such as H.E.R., Miguel, Lil Nas X, Summer Walker, and Jazmine Sullivan.

She wants each album to show growth or a reflection of where the artist are in their life.

“I think there is this desire to have artists do the same thing again and again. I really miss watching an artist and their albums shift and change with each one. But I want to bring back some of that old vibe and nostalgia and rollout of actual singles.”