Meet the Manager Prioritizing ‘Investing In People’ — Like Star Client Kehlani
David Ali, manager of R&B star Kehlani, has been named Billboard's 2026 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players Executive of the Year, recognised for a career built on fostering artistic freedom, trust and loyalty with his clients. As CEO of San Francisco-based Above Ground Entertainment, Ali also manages singer Destin Conrad and rapper Larry June, describing his approach as "investing in people" and tying his own success directly to that of his artists.
Ali first connected with Kehlani in 2013 after praising her early SoundCloud track "Antisummerluv" online, and she signed with him in 2014. Since then she has released four studio albums, but her 2025 single "Folded" marked a career peak, delivering her first Billboard Hot 100 top 10, a first No. 1 debut on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, a No. 4 bow on the Billboard 200 for the accompanying self-titled album, and two Grammy Awards. The article also traces Ali's own path into the music business, from learning the industry as a teenager in New Jersey to studying in San Francisco, where he began promoting parties before building his management career.
- David Ali named Billboard's 2026 R&B/Hip-Hop Executive of the Year.
- He manages Kehlani, Destin Conrad and Larry June via Above Ground Entertainment.
- Kehlani's 2025 single "Folded" brought her biggest career milestones yet.
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Artist managers help musicians make career decisions, build a team and navigate the business side of releasing music. David Ali is the chief executive of Above Ground Entertainment, a San Francisco-based company whose clients include R&B singer Kehlani, singer Destin Conrad and rapper Larry June.
Ali first connected with Kehlani through her early music online, and she became his client in 2014. Their long working relationship is one example of his stated approach of building trust and supporting artists’ creative freedom.
The story matters because a manager’s work can shape how an artist develops and reaches audiences. Kehlani’s success, including the strong performance of her 2025 music, has also brought attention to Ali’s career and management approach.