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Bryan Leach, 36

Senior Vice President of Urban Music/President

RCA Music Group/Polo Grounds Music

Born and bred in Harlem, Bryan Leach has come a long way from his days as a wannabe rapper who, he now admits, "sucked." The multimillion-dollar label partnership that he recently signed with veteran hitmaker Clive Davis puts the young executive into a prime position to create new stars. Mr. Leach developed an impressive track record as vice president of A&R; at TVT Records. He has generated more than $110 million in sales over the past five years through a roster that includes Lil Jon, the Ying Yang Twins and Pitbull, and is credited with developing a major hip-hop movement, "Southern crunk."

It's those golden ears that BMG executives are counting on as Mr. Leach assembles a brand-new stable of talent.

"Bryan was the one exec that decided to take a chance on me," Lil Jon says. "Now, after 7 million [units] sold, people are thinking maybe these guys did know what they were doing."

The budding mogul discovered his passion for music while growing up in the Polo Grounds Projects--his new label's namesake. He joined the Boys Choir of Harlem to escape life in the streets during the height of the 1980s crack epidemic. Though no amount of singing practice could prevent the 9-year-old from witnessing bodies being thrown from the roof of his building, music became his refuge.

When he was 16, Mr. Leach joined a local rap group called Smooth & Easy. But, stepping in to manage the act, he quickly realized that his talent lay behind the scenes.

Mr. Leach insists that his single mother, who worked double nursing shifts to pay for Catholic school for him and his brother and sister, taught him the most about success.

"I got my hustle from her," he says.

- Samantha Marshall

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