Leading the REVOLT: COO Detavio Samuels Speaks on the Evolution a Hip Hop Media Empire

Emerging from the pack of Hip Hop media, REVOLT has firmly and resolutely established itself as a leader in the culture. With a steady hand, the burgeoning empire has risen from upstart status to the gold standard and 2021 promises to be a banner year for the enterprise. The year opens seeing the outlet with a full slate of programming including the return of REVOLT Black News, the Drip Report and Big Facts as well as the massively important REVOLT Summit. We can also look forward to a branded content studio being rolled out in quarter one as part of the all important task of bringing new talent into the fold and opening the doors for emerging creatives.

Here’s the official line: The voice of the next generation of Hip Hop, REVOLT is the leading Black-owned and family operated multimedia platform with rapid evolving content for today’s youth culture. Handpicked by Diddy himself, REVOLT’s star-studded executive team is continuing to make moves throughout Hip Hop, entertainment and beyond.

Deeply rooted in the culture, REVOLT’s leadership comes from diverse backgrounds that creatively intertwine for an unapologetically Hip Hop experience.

Among this elite team is Detavio Samuels who currently works at REVOLT Media & TV, the nation’s leading creator & distributor of Hip Hop content. Detavio holds the position of Chief Operating Officer overseeing all aspects of programming and content including original development, content acquisitions, physical production and post-production, as well as responsibility for video content and strategy for REVOLT’s digital platforms and more.

The Hype Magazine got Detavio to weigh in on a few things:

What is the role of a Hip Hop based media company today as the genre cements its tier 1 status?

Move culture forward. It’s that simple. Hip Hop is the #1 driver of culture. Diddy is one of the culture’s all-time greatest influencers. And our audience is largely composed of influencers, movers & shakers. Our role is to take these three ingredients and combine them into a cultural force for good. That’s the job. And when, not IF, we do it well, there will be no mistaking our place in the story of Hip Hop and Black culture.

What’s the playbook like for a team at an outlet such as REVOLT to have so many moving parts work in cohesion?

The #1 play in the playbook is to recognize that there is strength in numbers. We are much stronger as a united team than we are as individual contributors or operating in silos. The key to moving in the same direction is alignment on the plays we need to run to get us the win—and we’ve spent the last few months making that happen. We have a clear vision, a clear strategy, and a team that is committed to a flawless execution of the plan.

What type of vision must the team have in order to make it all click and how far down the line must one look into development?

If you’re in a Diddy system, there is only one type of vision allowed: one that is big, disruptive and culturally impactful. Everyone from the C-suite to the janitor needs to be on board with that truth, if they are going to be successful here.

From a development standpoint, we move at the speed of culture—fast and steady—based on the time window that is available to us. Some things you have more time to make happen, so you can work and refine them over months. Other things, have a faster turnaround to get established and in those instances we need to move quickly to get a win. Part of the benefit of being smaller than many other cable networks is that we are faster, more nimble and free of bureaucracy in decision making. We would be leaving too much on the table if we weren’t willing and able to move at the speed of light, when the culture demands it.

As an industry leader, what is the most courageous part of stepping to the forefront in such a mercurial industry?

Making bets and willing them to win. In life, you have to be at peace with the fact that you can only control what you can control. And when it comes to business, we are all just making a series of bets based on how we see the world. The courage comes with accepting what may be out of your control, making those big, scary bets and doing whatever is required to push those risks to payoff.

From the outside looking in, give us the rundown on REVOLT as a growing empire?

This is a new REVOLT. It’s a new brand, with a new focus, vision and leadership team that is ready to take the brand to new heights. At the end of the day, this is what you can expect to see more of from REVOLT in the future – more large, culturally impactful tentpole experiences like the REVOLT Summit. More shows featuring our audiences favorite celebrities—like the Drip Report featuring Jim Jones. After all, Diddy has a superpower when it comes to spotting dope talent early. And more continued focus on social justice; the brand has found new life with our decision to be a catalyst in the fight for Black liberation and so, if anything, we will only be doubling down on that fight. After all, the revolution will be televised by somebody. Let there be no mistaking it, that somebody will be REVOLT.

Revolt has been a champion for change not just within the Hip Hop realm but across a wide spectrum of topics, what is one of the company’s most diehard mottos?

FSO. Fly Sh*t Only. If you’re going to do it for the culture it has to be fly. Period.

Why does the team at REVOLT do what they do?

As mentioned earlier, we do what we do in order to move the culture.

Where do you see Hip Hop as a culture in the next 5 to 10 years, how much further can we go?

The beauty of Hip Hop right now is that no one knows the answer to that question. 15-20 years ago, most people would’ve been telling you that Hip Hop was a fad that would disappear in 5 to 10 years. Fast forward to today, Hip Hop knows no bounds. Not only is Hip Hop influencing music in the US, but also it’s impacting the globe across all categories, including fashion, sports and entertainment. The beauty of this moment is that the future of Hip Hop is up to us, meaning those who are real players in the Hip Hop space, to decide what the future looks like. And that’s an exciting place to be.

Personally, I believe Hip Hop will further its reign as the #1 driver of culture and it will penetrate any and every space that has kept it at arm’s length to date. In addition, I believe that Hip Hop will dominate video content in the same way it dominates audio content. That’s why I’m here at REVOLT. Now is the time for Hip Hop’s domination on the video frontier and REVOLT is uniquely positioned to help bring that possibility into reality.

What’s coming down the pipeline for REVOLT in the near future?

It would take a whole new interview to discuss ALL of the things we have planned in 2021 but know that we are in the process of bringing back newly launched shows like REVOLT Black News, the Drip Report and Big Facts. We’re developing new shows that tap into Hip Hop nostalgia; signing new talent and working collaboratively with them on shows; launching the REVOLT app across mobile and all other connected devices; and rolling out a branded content studio to help brands navigate Black culture & Hip Hop. Oh yea, and all of that is happening in Q1.

About REVOLT

REVOLT is unapologetically Hip Hop, leading and living Hip Hop culture. REVOLT is the voice of the culture across platforms, engaging Millennial and Gen Z audiences, on REVOLT.TV, across social, TV and live events, through original and live content. Attracting over 50 million young people, REVOLT is accessible 24/7 on digital, TV and on demand. Founded by Sean “Diddy” Combs, REVOLT launched on broadcast in October 2013 and continues to influence and empower black communities globally with its innovative content, community and ongoing commitment to supporting and raising its viewer’s voices.

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Tags: Business, Detavio Samuels, Diddy, Hip Hop, Revolt, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Sean Combs

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.