Dan Charnas was one of the first writers for The Source magazine, and part of the generation of young writers who helped create hip-hop journalism. His writing has appeared the Washington Post, the Village Voice and GIANT. He is a Pulitzer Prize Fellow. Charnas spent 15 years in the music business, starting in the mailroom of Profile Records in the late 80s, and later promoting artists like Rob Base, Run-DMC and Special Ed. Charnas was VP of A&R; for Rick Rubin’s American Recordings, and oversaw projects from Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” to DJ Kool’s “Let Me Clear My Throat.” Charnas ran Spirit Dance Music/Epic for actor/director Forest Whitaker, and later wrote comedy for series on MTV and BET.