David Ali Accepts Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Executive of the Year Award: ‘It’s a Dream, It’s an Honor’

His Above Ground Entertainment manages Kehlani, Destin Conrad and Larry June.

David Ali accepts the Executive of the Year Award at the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players 2026 event on Sept. 9, 2026, in New York City.

Kristina Bumphrey/Billboard

David Ali, CEO of Above Ground Entertainment, was named Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players’ Executive of the Year. His award was presented (Sept. 9) by Gail Mitchell, Billboard’s Editor at Large, R&B/Hip-Hop. In her remarks, Mitchell drew from Ali’s profile featured in Billboard’s 2026 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players issue, underscoring his “investing in people” philosophy. “With this job,” Ali notes in the profile, “you’re signing up to be the person who’s got to be there for your artist through thick and thin. And I love it.”

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