L.A. Reid is ready to spill the details on what’s it has been like to be the Epic Records CEO that we see today. In “Sing to Me: My Story of Making Music, Finding Magic, and Searching for Who’s Next,” a memoir by himself along with Joel Selvin describes the time Rihanna was first introduced to Reid.

“I first laid eyes on her in the hallway. I didn’t know she was a singer or anything, just a pretty girl standing outside somebody’s office,” says an excerpt from the book. “Then Jay Z burst into my office.”

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JaaiR (JR): Twitter | Instagram | Periscope

“You have to see this girl,” he said. We went back to his office and he introduced me.”

While he was mesmerized over Rihanna’s eyes and singing, Reid still admits that he thought Teairra Mari would blow up quicker and larger than the Bad Gal.

After signing Rihanna, Jay Z and his team did the A&R for her first album, and I had nothing to do with it. The funny thing about Rihanna’s success was that we signed two girls at that time — Rihanna and a lovely young lady named Teairra Mari. We had an in-house company showcase and Beyoncé happened to be there with Jay Z. Teairra Mari, Rihanna, a four-girl group called Black Butterfly and Ne-Yo performed. At the label, we thought Teairra Mari would be the big star. We spent more time on her, did more work on her, paid more attention to her. Rihanna already had a hit with “Pon De Replay,” but we still thought it was the other girl.”

Check out the gallery for more of “Sing To Me“.

SOURCE: Billboard