Lo) has made him an industry legend.
He sat down with EW to revisit his triumphs, tribulations, and one or two regrets.
Auspicious beginnings
The music bug bit Reid early on.
Courtesy L.A. Reid
(And a drum kit.)
But they werent some empty, mindless pop band.
Not just Look at my booty!'
Courtesy L.A. Reid
People didnt know, they just speculated, and it was painful for them.
Pink
It was instant, he says of meeting the singer.
She signed to a black-owned record label that made black pop music…. ## Mariah Carey
Shes so quick with her words, so witty and smart.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
She has that presence.
Theres no one else in the industry who embodies her level of glamour.
couldve come from a punk band in Europe, you know?
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
he says of the pairs 2003 smash.
I never questioned their songs or their choices.
How can they not be my favorite act?
Courtesy L.A. Reid
Her subsequent album, Rated R, was darker and more credible, he tells EW.
Every artist has that coming-of-age moment.
Justin Bieber
He came in at 15 with his guitar and piano and sang for me.
Courtesy L.A. Reid
Hes a real musician.
It has to be organic.
I regret that, Ill always regret it, he admits.
Johnny Nunez/WireImage
Its really that simple.
Kanye West
Kanye is a different guy than the one people think they know.
A guy whos filled with ego, pure ego, wants to do it all.
L. Busacca/WireImage
He can step back and allow someone to produce him.
It takes confidence, but you have to be humble to do that.
Michael was that way also: Every song is a work in progress.
Johnny Nunez/WireImage
So he chose to walk away.
Would he do it again?
Of course, he laughs.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Island Def Jam
Im an entertainment person!
Ill do TV, Ill do music, Ill do everything.
Courtesy L.A. Reid
Michael Becker/Fox
