Warner Records’ President of A&R, Steven “Steve-O” Carless, is giving fans a rare look into his decades-long influence on hip-hop and R&B.
On the latest episode of Won of One: A PLLRS Podcast, hosted by Reginald Calixte, the Grammy-winning executive recounts some of the industry’s most defining behind-the-scenes stories—including how he and Blue Ivy Carter helped sway Beyoncé to embrace “Brown Skin Girl,” now one of her most celebrated anthems.
Carless, who’s worked with icons like Nipsey Hussle, Jeezy, YG, and 2 Chainz, recalled that Beyoncé wasn’t initially sold on the song while developing The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack in 2019. “We kept playing the song,” Carless said. “And she’s like, ‘No, that’s not it. Stop playing me that shit,’ in so many words.”
Despite her reaction, Carless kept pushing for the track, encouraged by Beyoncé’s trusted A&R partner, Mariel Gomerez. Weeks later, during a high-level meeting with Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Disney executives, and members of her creative team, the breakthrough came from her daughter, Blue Ivy.
“Blue Ivy’s in the meeting,” Carless recalled. “She starts singing the hook: ‘Your skin’s just like pearls. The best thing in the world.’ Beyoncé turns and says, ‘Play it again.’ We end up listening for 15 minutes. Then she’s like, ‘Alright, I like it. I’ll take it. It’s the single.’”
Steve Carless & Blue Ivy Convinced Beyoncé To Like “Brown Skin Girl”
That decision turned “Brown Skin Girl” into a Grammy-winning record celebrating Black beauty, womanhood, and generational pride—an anthem that still resonates years later.
The Won of One conversation highlights Carless’s journey from interning at Pharrell’s Star Trak label to A&Ring at Def Jam. In the interview, Carless shares how he helped Jay-Z’s American Gangster gain viral attention by producing the “Blue Magic” trailer with director Rik Cordero through his company, Best of Both Offices.
Through Won of One, a production of PLLRS, Carless and Calixte strip back industry gloss for one-on-one storytelling that celebrates resilience, creativity, and collaboration—the very elements that define the culture’s enduring pulse.
PLLRS was co-created by Keith Nelson, Jr., Reg Calixte, and Rose M. Mercado, M.A.Ed., a trio of cultural curators and storytellers committed to elevating narratives that shape legacy. Together, they bring editorial expertise, cinematic storytelling, and strategic vision to Won of One. This will ensure each episode delivers both depth and impact.
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