Azim Rashid ('94) has gone from entertainment director of UNT's University Program Council as a student to senior vice president at Capitol Music Group.

Through two decades in the music industry, Rashid has worked for Motown, MCA, Universal and Atlantic and artists Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Wiz Khalifa, New Edition, Katy Perry, Tyrese and others. And that career took root during his days at UNT.

Rashid grew up in Dallas, where he was a member of the rap group NEMESIS, which recorded several albums in the 1980s and 1990s. After the group split up, he studied radio, television and film at UNT.

He landed an internship at then-100.3 JAMZ. He also was active in fraternity life on campus and was voted the 1994 Homecoming King. In his work with UPC, he helped diversify UNT's entertainment selections and considers his biggest coup bringing rapper KRS-One to campus.

During Rashid's senior year, he earned an internship at Motown Records, where he was able to soak up the culture of various genres and work behind the scenes. He landed a job there after graduation and has worked his way up to his current position as senior vice president of urban promotion at Capitol, which now owns Motown, and handles artists such as Sam Smith. But Rashid can't pinpoint one highlight of his career.

"It just keeps getting better," he says. "I work with the biggest names in music."

He says he remains professional but occasionally -- such as when he's in the same room with Jay-Z -- he's taken aback.

"Those moments come and I take a deep breath," he says.

Rashid is in a business that has changed significantly since he began back at the advent of the digital age, but he remains devoted to it.

"I think that having witnessed the transition, I have a perspective that a lot of guys wouldn't have," he says. "Music has never really changed as an expression of an art form. The way we consume has changed, but good music is good music."