About Nana

Nana Carmen Ashhurst is a trailblazing force in both entertainment and activism. She is publisher of the newsletter Nana's Spot, a digital salon exploring progressive politics, culture and faith. As the first female President of Def Jam Recordings, she helped launch iconic artists like LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Bernie Mac, Dave Chappelle, Martin Lawrence, Adele Givens and Bill Bellamy. Transforming the music industry and earning recognition as one of Ebony magazine’s “100 Most Promising Black Women in Corporate America” A visionary leader, Nana now serves as Chair Emerita of the The Hip Hop Museum, continuing her work to honor hip-hop’s legacy and power.  She’s also a passionate minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, using her personal testimony about overcoming depression to uplift communities and drive social justice. With a career spanning from being one of the founders of Revolutionary Grenada's first tv station, to spearheading philanthropy at Sarah Lawrence College. Nana combines cultural insight, spiritual depth, and unwavering advocacy. She holds a BA from MacMurray College, an MA from Boston University, and M.Div. from New York Theological Seminary