Karen Civil

Civil grew up in a Haitian-American family in Elizabeth, New Jersey.{{Cite news|url=https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/karen-civil-philanthropy-giving-back-tips-secrets|title=Karen Civil On How To Embrace Your Inner Philanthropist and Give Back|last=Jackson|first=Charreah K.|date=July 26, 2017|work=Essence|access-date=2018-01-01|language=en}} She attended Elizabeth High School, then Union County College in New Jersey.{{cite web|last1=Thomas|first1=Datwon|title=Karen Civil: Supreme Clientele|url=http://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/karen-civil-supreme-clientele/30702|website=OZY.com|accessdate=18 November 2016|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215090905/https://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/karen-civil-supreme-clientele/30702/|url-status=dead}}Blackwell, Ashley. [https://www.parlemag.com/2017/06/karen-civil-live-civil-day/ "Karen Civil Receives Key To The City of Elizabeth, NJ During 'Live Civil Day'"], Parle magazine, June 28, 2017. Accessed November 2, 2019. "Civil later paid a visit to her alma mater, Elizabeth High School, on June 23rd, and gave a powerful commencement speech." She received an online degree from Harvard Business School in 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2020/11/karen-civil-ruffles-2020 |title=The Secret to Karen Civil's Success is Authenticity |work=Complex |last=Constantine |first=Brandon |date=November 23, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2022}}

Civil began her media career in college, developing fan sites for actor J. D. Williams and The Backstreet Boys; the Backstreet Boys site came in third in a national competition and the Williams site put Civil in touch with the actor after Williams' lawyer sought her out.{{Cite news|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/01/karen-civil-hustles-hard-xxl-issue-152/|title=Karen Civil Hustles Hard|last=Weiss|first=Jeff|date=January 6, 2014|work=XXL|issue=152|access-date=December 26, 2016}} After graduating from high school, Civil entered community college but left to take an internship at radio station Hot 97 with DJ Funkmaster Flex in 2002, where she worked as a staff assistant; she also began working with The Diplomats to develop e-commerce for the group. Civil later moved to Asylum Records.

In 2008, Civil founded her own website karencivil.com{{Cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/2014/02/black-history-month-spotlight-karen-civil/|title=Black History Month Spotlight: Karen Civil|date=2014-02-19|website=Vibe|access-date=2016-05-15}} and a marketing agency, Always Civil Enterprise, focused on digital strategy in the hip-hop industry.{{Cite web|url=http://www.blackenterprise.com/career/young-leaders-karen-civil-talks-fighting-female-stereotypes-in-the-hip-hop-media-industries/|title=Young Leaders: Karen Civil Talks Fighting Female Stereotypes in the Hip-Hop & Media Industries|website=Black Enterprise|date=December 5, 2014 |access-date=2016-05-15}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/living/liv-columns-blogs/jenee-osterheldt/article4371860.html|title=Beyond the bling: Karen Civil advises rap stars and the rest of us|website=The Kansas City Star|access-date=2016-05-15}}{{cite web|last1=Hall|first1=Mia|title=Karen Civil shares challenges of being a black woman in entertainment|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/karen-civil-uses-her-new-jersey-drive-create-her-own-n694976|website=NBC News|date=December 12, 2016 |accessdate=16 December 2016}} She was included in Billboard's Twitter 140.{{cite magazine |title=Twitter 140: Page 3 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/twitter-140-page-3-1084466/ |magazine=Billboard |date=26 July 2012}} Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to start Always Civil Enterprise, with Lil Wayne as her first client. Her company subsequently went on to work with artists such as Mary J. Blige,{{cite web |last1=Pressley |first1=Daron |title=Young Leaders: Karen Civil Talks Fighting Female Stereotypes in the Hip-Hop & Media Industries |url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/young-leaders-karen-civil-talks-fighting-female-stereotypes-in-the-hip-hop-media-industries/ |website=Black Enterprise |date=5 December 2014}} Young Jeezy, Lee Daniels, Dave East, Ben Baller & James Harden.{{cite web |last1=Fluker |first1=Dominique |title=Karen Civil And NFL Team Up To Host The Audible Dinner At Super Bowl LIV |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dominiquefluker/2020/02/03/karen-civil-the-audible/?sh=1279572470d4 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

In 2010 worked with rapper Lil Wayne to develop Weezythanxyou.com, so that the rapper could publish letters to his fans while he was incarcerated at Rikers Island. Since beginning her work with Lil Wayne, she has become involved with his company, Young Money, where she became the company's general manager and executive vice president in August 2022.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/republic-records-kids-family-label-1235347473/ |title= Music Industry Moves: Young Money Ups Karen Civil Upped to GM/ EVP; Hipgnosis Names Ben Katovsky President/COO |work=Variety |last1=Garcia |first1=Thania |last2=Ju |first2=Shirley |date=August 26, 2022 |accessdate=August 31, 2022}}

From 2011 to 2018, she worked with Beats by Dre as digital marketing manager.{{cite web|title=Hip-Hop Blogger Karen Civil Heading To Beats By Dre, Sources Say|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1178533/hip-hop-blogger-karen-civil-heading-to-beats-by-dre-sources-say|website=Billboard.com|accessdate=24 April 2017|language=en}}{{cite web|last1=White|first1=Omari|title=Karen Civil Talks About Early Days Working At Beats By Dre|url=http://thesource.com/2017/01/27/karen-civil-talks-about-early-days-working-at-beats-by-dre/|website=The Source|accessdate=24 April 2017|date=27 January 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Shalhoup|first1=Mara|title=Social Media Guru Karen Civil Helps Hip-Hop's Biggest Names Get Bigger|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/social-media-guru-karen-civil-helps-everyone-from-beats-by-dre-to-hillary-clinton-stay-cool-8175422|website=L.A. Weekly|accessdate=17 June 2017|date=3 May 2017}}

Civil has become a public speaker, hosting events at universities, media outlets like BET,{{cite web|url=http://rollingout.com/2016/06/28/karen-civil-rocks-curly-tresses-hosts-post-bet-awards-dinner-jeezy/#1|title=Karen Civil rocks curly tresses, hosts post BET Awards dinner with Jeezy|date=28 June 2016|website=RollingOut.com|last1=Caslin|first1=Yvette|accessdate=18 November 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://thesource.com/2016/06/28/jeezy-karen-civil-host-star-studded-post-bet-awards-dinner/|title=Jeezy & Karen Civil Host Star-Studded Post BET Awards Dinner|date=28 June 2016|website=The Source|accessdate=18 November 2016}} and women empowerment conferences and panels.

In 2014, Civil collaborated with Nipsey Hussle, Samiel Asghedom, and Steve-O the "Marathon Clothing" smartstore.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7840863/nipsey-hussle-marathon-clothing-smart-store |title=Nipsey Hussle Explains His Marathon Clothing 'Smart' Store on Crenshaw: 'The Goal Is to Be an Urban Sanrio' |magazine=Billboard |last=Lyle |first=Ashley |date=June 22, 2017 |accessdate=August 17, 2018}} She was very involved in planning the April 2019 memorial service for Nipsey Hussle{{Cite web|url=https://abc3340.com/news/entertainment/nipsey-hussles-legacy-endures-a-year-after-his-death|title=Nipsey Hussle's legacy endures a year after his death|last=LANDRUM Jr|first=JONATHAN|date=2020-03-30|website=ABC 33/40|access-date=2020-03-30}} and read the letter from former president Barack Obama that praised the rapper for his work in the community:

{{cquote|While most folks look at the Crenshaw neighborhood where he grew up and see only gangs, bullets, and despair, Nipsey saw potential.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/11/entertainment/obama-letter-nipsey-hussle-trnd/index.html|title=Read Barack Obama's touching tribute to Nipsey Hussle|last=Trammell|first=Kendall|date=April 11, 2019|work=CNN|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412050141/https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/11/entertainment/obama-letter-nipsey-hussle-trnd/index.html|archive-date=April 12, 2019|url-status=live|access-date=2019-04-12|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/karen-civil-reads-letter-from-barack-obama/2148592/ |title=Karen Civil Reads a Letter From Barack Obama at Nipsy Hussle's Memorial Service |work=NBC News |date=April 11, 2019 |accessdate=September 1, 2022}}}}

In 2016, Civil became involved in music producing, co-producing a Wale song featuring Lil Wayne.{{Cite web|url=http://thesource.com/2016/08/03/media-maven-karen-civil-produced-a-song-on-wales-shine-feat-lil-wayne/|title=Media Maven Karen Civil Produced A Song On Wale's 'SHiNE' Feat. Lil Wayne|last=Cosse|first=Shaq|date=2016-08-03|website=The Source|access-date=2016-12-26}}

In addition to her role at Young Money, Karen Civil co-founded the Marathon Agency.{{cite magazine |last1=Diep |first1=Eric |title=Karen Civil & Steve 'Steve-O' Carless Talk Consulting Firm Marathon Agency's 'Out-of-the-Box' Strategy |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/karen-civil-steve-steve-o-carless-marathon-agency-7550118/ |magazine=Billboard |date=28 October 2016}}

In November 2015, Civil self-published a self-help book,{{Cite news|url=http://www.vibe.com/2015/12/interview-karen-civil-be-you-live-civil/|title=Digital Media Entrepreneur Karen Civil Discusses New Book 'Be You, Live Civil'|date=December 4, 2015|work=Vibe|access-date=January 6, 2016}} Be You & Live Civil: Tools for Unlocking Your Potential & Living Your Purpose.{{Cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ahrif-sarumi/entrepreneur-karen-civil-_b_5982134.html|title=Entrepreneur Karen Civil Is Touring the Country to Deliver Positivity|date=2014-10-15|website=The Huffington Post|access-date=2016-05-15}} Organized into four chapters called "Understanding Motivation", "Self Motivation", "Positive Attitude" and "Living Civil", Civil describes her approach to her career path.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2548737/karen-civil-book-unlock-potential-tips/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229184158/http://www.mtv.com/news/2548737/karen-civil-book-unlock-potential-tips/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 29, 2015|title=Want To Carve Your Own Path? Karen Civil Urges You To 'Be Your Own Superhero'|website=MTV News|access-date=2016-05-15}}

In 2015 Civil begin building a playground in Haiti,{{Cite web|url=http://thesource.com/2016/03/03/digital-divas-to-watch-karen-civil/|title=Digital Divas To Watch: Karen Civil|last=Daniels|first=Jamisha|date=2016-03-03|website=The Source|access-date=2016-06-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sidneedouyon/2015/10/26/from-media-maven-to-philanthropist-karen-civil-builds-the-livecivil-playground-in-haiti/#42bfce923647|title=From Media Maven To Philanthropist, Karen Civil Builds The LiveCivil Playground In Haiti|last=Michelle|first=Sidnee|website=Forbes|access-date=2016-05-15}} and for Christmas in 2015 she worked with Lil Wayne and Andre Berto to donate clothes, toys and books to 500 students at her Live Civil School.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/2015/12/lil-wayne-karen-civil-give-back-haiti-holiday/|title=Lil Wayne And Karen Civil Give Back To Haiti For The Holidays|date=2015-12-21|website=Vibe|access-date=2016-05-15}}

In April 2017, Civil opened her Live Civil Computer Lab at the House Of Hope Orphanage in Haiti and donated 20 computers to the children.{{cite web|title=Karen Civil Opens New Computer Lab For Haitian Orphanage|url=http://www.vibe.com/2017/04/karen-civil-opens-computer-lab-haiti/|website=Vibe.com|accessdate=17 June 2017|date=11 April 2017}} In August 2017, Civil worked with shoe company K-Swiss to produce a line of shoes.{{cite web |url=http://www.nottinghamla.com/news/2017/8/13/k-swiss-taps-karen-civil-for-new-shoe-campaign |title=K-SWISS TAPS KAREN CIVIL FOR NEW SHOE CAMPAIGN |work=The Nottingham Group |date=August 13, 2017 |accessdate=August 17, 2018 |archive-date=August 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818115349/http://www.nottinghamla.com/news/2017/8/13/k-swiss-taps-karen-civil-for-new-shoe-campaign |url-status=dead }} Civil had, as of December 2017, hosted an event called "Karen Civil Day" three times.{{cite web |url=https://respect-mag.com/2017/12/scoop-b-karen-civil-hosts-3rd-annual-karen-civil-day-explains-barclays-center-angela-yee-snafu/ |title=Scoop B: Karen Civil hosts 3rd annual Karen Civil Day & explains Barclays Center, Angela Yee snafu |work=Respect |last=Robinson |first=Brandon |date=December 13, 2017 |accessdate=August 17, 2018}}

Civil has spoken as a host for Hillary Clinton sponsored Democratic rallies.{{cite magazine|last1=Marikar|first1=Sheila|title=The Woman Making Hillary Clinton Cool|url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/11/14/the-woman-making-hillary-clinton-cool|magazine=The New Yorker|accessdate=18 November 2016}} In 2016, BuzzFeed found tweets from 2009 by Civil that used anti-gay and anti-Jewish slurs. The Clinton campaign responded that they had no control over the speech of non-campaign staff.{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/meganapper/emcee-of-african-americans-for-hillary-event-used-anti-gay-s|title=Emcee Of African-Americans For Hillary Event Used Anti-Gay Slurs On Twitter|website=BuzzFeed|date=February 4, 2016 |access-date=2016-05-15}}

Civil has been outspoken about women's rights in the workplace and in hip hop. Appearing on the Scoop B Radio podcast in 2017, Civil told Brandon Scoop B Robinson that she's glad that the MeToo movement was created because it shows that women are not going to take it.{{Cite web|title =Scoop B: In wake of Matt Lauer & Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment allegations, strategist Karen Civil shares importance of women using their voice |url = http://respect-mag.com/2017/12/scoop-b-in-wake-of-matt-lauer-harvey-weinstein-sexual-harrassment-allegations-strategist-karen-civil-shares-importance-of-women-using-their-voice/|website =TMZ| date=December 27, 2017 |access-date = May 14, 2018}}

Civil won a 2009 Black Web Award from Essence magazine.{{Cite web|title = 2009 Black Web Awards|url = http://photos.essence.com/galleries/2009-black-web-awards#127992_20917|website = Essence.com|access-date = 2016-02-19|archive-date = July 21, 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140721003755/http://photos.essence.com/galleries/2009-black-web-awards/#127992_20917|url-status = dead}}{{Cite web|title = Black Blogger Month: Karen Civil|url = http://www.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/black-blogger-month-karen-civil-the-peoples-voice/|website = Black Enterprise| date=May 3, 2012 |access-date = 2016-02-19|language = en-US}} In 2010, the staff of MTV News thanked her for contributions she made to their urban journalism.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2494739/2010-hip-hop-mvps-a-irapfixi-salute/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226055122/http://www.mtv.com/news/2494739/2010-hip-hop-mvps-a-irapfixi-salute/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 26, 2016|title=To Our 2010 Hip-Hop MVPs: A RapFix Salute!|website=MTV News|access-date=2018-12-19}} In 2012, Civil was named to the Ebony Power 100 list.{{cite news|title=EBONY Reveals 2012 Power 100!|url=http://www.ebony.com/entertainment-culture/ebony-reveals-its-2012-power-100-list-100#axzz4TrgBj0FY|accessdate=25 December 2016|work=Ebony|date=November 1, 2012}} On September 15, 2015, Civil was a guest speaker at the White House "Champions of Change" event honoring young women and their contributions to their communities.{{cite news|url=http://www.blackstarnews.com/us-politics/white-house/white-house-honors-%E2%80%9Cchampions-of-change%E2%80%9D-young-women.html|title=White House Honors "Champions of Change" Young Women|date=14 September 2015|work=Black Star News|last1=Abdi|first1=Asha|accessdate=28 December 2016}} She has been compared to Oprah Winfrey for her influence in the rap industry. Black Enterprise named Civil "social influencer of the year".{{cite web |url=http://elmnt13.com/portfolio-item/karen-civil-receives-social-influencer-year-black-enterprise/ |title=Karen Civil Receives "Social Influencer of the Year" From Black Enterprise |work=ELMNT13 |accessdate=August 17, 2018 |archive-date=August 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818115245/http://elmnt13.com/portfolio-item/karen-civil-receives-social-influencer-year-black-enterprise/ |url-status=dead }}{{year missing|date=December 2018}} In 2014, Civil was honored at both the 2014 BET Awards and the Salute 2014 Dinner.{{cite web |url=http://livingcivil.com/civil-living-karen-civil-honored-bet-awards-weekend/ |title=Civil Living: Karen Civil Honored During 2014 BET Awards Weekend |work=Live Civil |last=Imani |first=Kia |date=June 30, 2014 |accessdate=August 17, 2018}}{{dead link|date=May 2024}} LA Weekly writer Mara Shalhoup wrote an article discussing Civil's various accomplishments, particularly her work with campaigning for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election and her social media work.{{cite web |url=https://www.laweekly.com/music/soul-queen-aretha-franklin-is-dead-but-her-spirit-lives-on-9768918 |title=Social Media Guru Karen Civil Helps Hip-Hop's Biggest Names Get Bigger |work=LA Weekly |last=Shalhoup |first=Mara |date=May 3, 2017 |accessdate=August 17, 2018}} She was awarded the Key to the City from the city of Elizabeth, making her the youngest (and fourth) recipient of that key.{{cite web |url=https://onmogul.com/stories/karen-civil-receives-the-key-to-the-city-of-elizabeth-nj |title=Karen Civil Receives the "Key to the City" of Elizabeth, NJ |work=Mogul |last=Davis |first=Judith |accessdate=December 30, 2019}} In 2017, she was named “Social Influencer of the Year” by Black Enterprise.{{cite web |url=http://elmnt13.com/portfolio-item/karen-civil-receives-social-influencer-year-black-enterprise/ |title=Karen Civil Receives "Social Influencer of the Year" From Black Enterprise |work=ELMNT13 |accessdate=December 30, 2019 |archive-date=August 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818115245/http://elmnt13.com/portfolio-item/karen-civil-receives-social-influencer-year-black-enterprise/ |url-status=dead }} Civil featured on 2020 LA weekly cover{{cite web |title=CIVIL ENDEAVORS: LOCAL MEDIA MAVEN KAREN CIVIL IS NO COOKIE-CUTTER EXEC |url=https://www.laweekly.com/civil-endeavors-local-media-maven-karen-civil-is-no-cookie-cutter-exec/ |publisher=Laweekly.com}} and in 2023, Civil was recognized in Billboard magazine's HipHop/R&B Power players for 2023.{{cite magazine |last1=Mitchell |first1=Gail |title=R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players: Billboard's 2023 List of Executives Revealed |url=https://www.billboard.com/h/billboard-rb-hip-hop-power-players-list-2023-executives/ |magazine=Billboard |date=8 August 2023}}

Civil served as an associate producer of the 2016 documentary film The Last Ride: A Philadelphia Story{{Cite web|url=http://theshaderoom.com/the-last-ride-a-philadelphia-story-sheds-light-on-the-inner-city-bike-life/|title="The Last Ride: A Philadelphia Story" Sheds Light On The Inner City Bike Life|date=2016-05-05|website=The Shade Room|language=en-US|access-date=2016-05-15}} about Kyrell "Rell" Tyrel and bike culture.{{Cite web|url=http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2016/05/29/phillys-underground-dirt-bike-community-exposed-in-new-documentary/|title=Philly's Underground Dirt Bike Community Exposed In New Documentary|last=Gregg|first=Cherri|date=May 29, 2016 |access-date=2016-12-25}}

In May 2018: "Good Looking Out" - Host (Complex Networks) - Karen Civil hosted the series "Good Looking Out" on Complex Networks for two seasons.{{cite web |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2018/05/karen-civil-good-looking-out-show-announcement |title=Complex Networks Announces New Show 'Good Looking Out' Hosted by Karen Civil |work=Complex |date=May 7, 2018 |accessdate=August 17, 2018}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.karencivil.com Official website]
• {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0001923825|label=Karen Civil}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Civil, Karen}}

Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:Internet marketing people

Category:American Internet celebrities

Category:American people of Haitian descent

Category:Elizabeth High School (New Jersey) alumni

Category:People from Elizabeth, New Jersey

Category:Union College (New Jersey) alumni

Category:20th-century Haitian people