Shenseea’s New Manager Now Also Manages Diddy: Who Is Wassim ‘Sal’ Slaiby?
Shenseea’s new manager Wassim ‘Sal’ Slaiby has just signed rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, according to a Billboard.com report today. Diddy’s hiring of Slaiby comes after Dancehall star Shenseea revealed two days ago that the Lebanese-Canadian hitmaker would be at the helm of her international debut.
Wassim Slaiby, famously known as Sal, is a music industry executive, talent manager, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. While many cut their losses due to economic fallout in the entertainment industry over the last year, Sal reached new heights with his main XO Records signee, The Weeknd. The Canadian singer closed out 2020 with the year’s biggest debut week on Billboard, and a record-breaking, 7x platinum single Blinding Lights, the best performing single of the year across all digital platforms.
Things kicked into gear, in 2012, when he and his cohorts Amir Esmailian, La Mar Taylor, and The Weeknd co-founded XO Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Keeping it in the family, Shenseea’s new A&R, Donny Flores, is also a Universal Music boss, the executive producer of their Latin Entertainment unit. He and Sal have been seen with the Blessed starlet at outings, appearances, and recording sessions in the months following her move to Florida.
For his work in the music industry, Sal was recognized as Billboard 40 Under 40 Music’s Top Young Power Players in 2015, Billboard’s Power 100 in 2017 and 2018, Variety Magazine’s Manager Of The Year in 2020, and a Billboard International Power Player in 2021.
Known for her tenacity, it’s no surprise Shenseea’s team tends to include go-getters and heavy-hitters. “I’m happy to have one with such dynamic character on my team! We’re about to unfold a new chapter!,” she captioned the post officially introducing Slaiby to her 4.2M Shenyengs. The range of projects he dabbles in, as well as the billboard-charting acts he manages, gives weight to Shenseea’s statement but Sal’s work isn’t just limited to music.
Like Shenseea, Sal’s story is a rags-to-riches survival tale. The 41-year-old father of three escaped war-torn Lebanon at age fifteen, later enduring refugee status to become the mogul that he is. As such, he’s noted for his tireless philanthropy, especially in matters concerning the Middle East. In the past, he’s worked with entities such as Global Citizens to raise over $100K in 1 day for Lebanese communities fighting hunger amid COVID-19.
For his philanthropy, Sal and his wife earned a visit with the Pope in 2017. “I was fortunate enough to receive an invite,” he told Billboard. “The head of the Vatican had heard about my wife and I, and the great difference our love was making in the world. Without recognition, we always offer help to our church and any child in need.”
He also made the cut on Billboard’s inaugural list of “Change Agents” — key players changing the business “both by advocacy and by example” — highlighted back in January. According to Billboard, its Change Agent column is a nod to those who not only drive the industry, but also transcend traditional confines with innovative initiatives aimed at extending and broadening artist’s reach.
The salute couldn’t have been more timely. Sal kicked off 2021 with a growing roster of top-tier talent, including producers Metro Boomin and London on Da Track, and artists The Weeknd, Doja Cat, French Montana, Swedish House Mafia, Ty Dolla $ign, and now Shenseea and Diddy.
Sal told Variety earlier this year, “Our company has grown fast, but we’ve been grinding for almost 20 years.” He added, “My experience was very focused on the Canadian market, and at the time it was difficult to be taken seriously in the US, but when we started working with Abel (The Weeknd), we cracked that code and crashed through the door.”
It’s a door that Shenseea hopes to enter as she leverages her new management relationship with Sal. He welcomed her with a comment on her post, “I’m blessed to be by your side sis! Let’s Go”.