Datwon Thomas

Datwon Thomas is the Editor-In-Chief of VIBE and Vice President of Cultural Media for Penske Media Corporation. Datwon has held positions as Founder and Editorial Director of the men’s lifestyle guide, KING Magazine, the urban car enthusiast’s favorite, RIDES Magazine and was the Editor-in-Chief of hip-hop’s street authority, XXL Magazine. In addition, he’s also presided as Founder/Editorial Director of XXL Presents Hip-Hop Soul, a publication dedicated to documenting the successful hybrid genre of R&B and Hip-Hop. These trailblazing information outlets boasted a collective circulation that climbed into the millions.

Datwon worked in the digital content space as Editor-In-Chief of the Sean “Diddy” Combs affiliated e-commerce and music news shop Hookt.com and was also the COO/EIC of Russell Simmons’ multicultural hip-pop website, GlobalGrind.com. He soon added television commentator to his list of talents as an entertainment lifestyle expert on VH1’s Fabulous Life of… series, various BET and MTV specials and numerous radio appearances. In recent years, Datwon has entered the live television space as consulting producer for Dick Clark Productions’ flagship programs including the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

A Brooklyn, New York native, Datwon lived in Japan and New Mexico and believes his many travels abroad helped shape his holistic perspective on urban/pop culture.