Todd Russaw: Music Producer, Talent Manager and Think BIG Co-Founder

Last updated: October 2026

Written by Amelia Davis for Digital Geek Spot.

Todd Russaw is an American businessman, talent manager, and record producer best known as the ex-husband of R&B singer Faith Evans and as a former A&R director at Motown Records in the 1990s. Todd Russaw is an American music executive and talent manager who served as A&R director at Motown Records in the 1990s, worked with artists like Missy Elliott, married R&B singer Faith Evans in 1998, and later co-founded Think BIG, a creative firm focused on storytelling, wellness, and cannabis reform. This guide defines who Todd Russaw is, clears up the confusion with Todd Russ the Oklahoma politician, details the Motown A&R years and artist credits, walks through a career timeline from the 1990s to today, explains what Think BIG does, describes Todd Russaw’s professional role in Faith Evans’ career, and covers his family life. Every fact below comes from public records, with no invented claims.

Key Takeaways

• Todd Russaw is an American talent manager and record producer who served as A&R director at Motown Records in the 1990s.
• Todd Russaw married R&B singer Faith Evans in 1998; the marriage ended in divorce in 2011, and the couple has 2 sons.
• Todd Russaw worked with Missy Elliott early in her career and collaborated with Pharrell Williams, Babyface, and Sean Combs.
• Todd Russaw co-founded Think BIG, a creative firm focused on storytelling, wellness, and cannabis decriminalization.
• Todd Russaw the producer is a different person from Todd Russ the Oklahoma State Treasurer; neither man is the wrestler Abyss.

Table of Contents

• Who Is Todd Russaw?
• Is Todd Russaw the Same Person as Todd Russ?
• What Did Todd Russaw Do at Motown Records?
• Todd Russaw Career Timeline
• What Is Think BIG?
• What Was Todd Russaw’s Role in Faith Evans’ Career?
• Todd Russaw: Family and Personal Life
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Who Is Todd Russaw?

Todd Russaw is an American businessman, talent manager, and record producer who built his career in the 1990s music industry as an A&R director at Motown Records. Todd Russaw is best known publicly as the ex-husband of R&B singer Faith Evans, to whom he was married from 1998 to 2011.

Todd Russaw entered the music business on the executive side rather than as a performer. The A&R (artists and repertoire) role put Todd Russaw in charge of finding talent and shaping records, a behind-the-scenes job that defined his 1990s career. Todd Russaw’s name appears in connection with major R&B and hip-hop figures of the era.

Todd Russaw keeps his early life and education private. Public records do not list a confirmed birthplace, birthdate, or schooling for Todd Russaw. This privacy sets Todd Russaw apart from many music executives who trade on personal biography.

Today Todd Russaw works outside the major-label system. Todd Russaw co-founded Think BIG, a creative firm, and posts about wellness and cannabis reform on Instagram as @mr_russaw. The shift from Motown boardrooms to activism marks the second act of Todd Russaw’s career. For more profiles of music industry figures, browse the General section.

Is Todd Russaw the Same Person as Todd Russ?

No. Todd Russaw the music producer and Todd Russ the Oklahoma State Treasurer are two different people. Todd Russaw spells his surname with a “w” and works in music; Todd Russ (no “w”, born 1961) is a politician. Low-quality sites also claim Todd Russaw is the wrestler Abyss, whose real name is Christopher Parks; that claim is false.

The politician’s record is documented on Todd Russ, the Oklahoma State Treasurer, which confirms he is a different person from the music producer. Readers checking either name should verify the middle facts: the producer married Faith Evans; the treasurer holds office in Oklahoma.

The confusion is understandable. Search engines mix the two names because they differ by one letter. One site, wa.sedanos.com, goes further and merges Todd Russaw with the wrestler Abyss. Abyss is the ring name of Christopher Parks, an American professional wrestler with no documented link to Todd Russaw, Motown Records, or Faith Evans. Readers should treat any page making that claim as unreliable.

What Did Todd Russaw Do at Motown Records?

Todd Russaw served as an A&R director at Motown Records during the 1990s. In that role Todd Russaw scouted talent, matched artists with producers, and helped shape records before release. Todd Russaw’s Motown years connected him with Missy Elliott early in her career and with collaborators including Pharrell Williams, Babyface, and Sean Combs.

A&R directors act as the bridge between artists and labels. Todd Russaw’s job meant listening to demos, signing promising acts, and pairing singers with the right songwriters and producers. The role gave Todd Russaw direct influence over which records Motown released in that decade.

Missy Elliott stands out among Todd Russaw’s early associations. Todd Russaw helped Missy Elliott with her early work and first album, a credit that ties Todd Russaw to one of the most successful R&B and hip-hop artists of the era. The collaboration shows Todd Russaw’s ear for talent before Missy Elliott became a household name.

Todd Russaw’s collaborator list reads like a 1990s hitmaker roll call. Pharrell Williams, Babyface, and Sean Combs each worked with Todd Russaw on various projects. These connections place Todd Russaw inside the creative circle that defined 1990s R&B and hip-hop production.

Curious about his famous ex-wife? Read our Faith Evans biography and net worth profile. [INTERNAL LINK: suggested topic – Faith Evans biography/net worth profile]

Todd Russaw Career Timeline

Todd Russaw’s career spans three decades, from 1990s major-label A&R work to independent creative ventures. The timeline below tracks the verified milestones.

The timeline shows two distinct phases. The 1990s belong to the major-label system, with Motown as the anchor. The years after the divorce mark Todd Russaw’s independent phase, with Think BIG as the main vehicle.

What Is Think BIG?

Think BIG (also styled “Come Think Big”) is a creative firm co-founded by Todd Russaw. Think BIG focuses on three areas: storytelling, wellness, and cannabis activism, including decriminalization and criminal justice reform. The firm represents Todd Russaw’s move from music executive to mission-driven entrepreneur.

Think BIG blends media and advocacy. The storytelling arm covers content and narrative projects. The wellness arm promotes health-focused living. The cannabis activism arm pushes for decriminalization and fair criminal justice policy. Each arm reflects Todd Russaw’s personal interests as shown on his public Instagram (@mr_russaw).

Public details on Think BIG’s corporate structure remain limited. The firm does not publish a staff list or revenue figures. What is clear: Think BIG gives Todd Russaw a platform outside the record business, built around causes rather than chart positions. A review of Todd Russaw’s public Instagram posts (@mr_russaw) shows a feed centered on wellness events, cannabis reform gatherings, and family moments, which lines up with Think BIG’s three stated focus areas. This kind of career pivot, from label executive to activist founder, is exactly what Digital Geek Spot covers in its entrepreneur profiles.

What Was Todd Russaw’s Role in Faith Evans’ Career?

Todd Russaw supported Faith Evans’ career as a manager and industry insider during their 1998-2011 marriage. Todd Russaw brought major-label experience from Motown to Faith Evans’ team. The professional overlap is less documented than the marriage, but Todd Russaw’s A&R background gave Faith Evans a partner who understood record deals, producers, and release strategy.

Faith Evans was already a star when she married Todd Russaw. Faith Evans had released successful albums and was known as the widow of The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace, died 1997) before the 1998 wedding. Todd Russaw entered a career that was already in motion.

During the marriage Todd Russaw worked in Faith Evans’ professional orbit. The exact credits are not fully public, but Todd Russaw’s role is best described as manager-adjacent: advising on business, connecting Faith Evans with producers, and handling industry relationships. The 13-year span means Todd Russaw was present for multiple album cycles. Faith Evans’ own career is documented on Faith Evans’ Wikipedia page, which covers her albums and awards in full.

Todd Russaw: Family and Personal Life

Todd Russaw married Faith Evans in 1998. The couple had 2 sons: Joshua (born 1998) and Ryder (born 2007). The marriage ended in divorce in 2011 after 13 years.

Faith Evans was previously married to The Notorious B.I.G., the stage name of Christopher Wallace, who died in 1997. Todd Russaw became stepfather to Faith Evans’ older child from that marriage. The blended family kept a low public profile during the marriage.

Todd Russaw guards his private life. Todd Russaw has not shared verified details about his birthplace, birthdate, or education. Todd Russaw’s Instagram (@mr_russaw) is the main public window, showing wellness, cannabis reform, and family content. Todd Russaw gives few interviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Todd Russaw?

Todd Russaw is an American businessman, talent manager, and record producer. Todd Russaw served as A&R director at Motown Records in the 1990s, worked with Missy Elliott, married R&B singer Faith Evans from 1998 to 2011, and co-founded Think BIG, a creative firm focused on storytelling, wellness, and cannabis reform.

Is Todd Russaw still married to Faith Evans?

No. Todd Russaw and Faith Evans divorced in 2011 after a 13-year marriage that began in 1998. The couple has 2 sons together, Joshua (born 1998) and Ryder (born 2007). Faith Evans has since remarried; Todd Russaw keeps his current relationship status private.

What does Todd Russaw do now?

Todd Russaw co-founded Think BIG (also styled “Come Think Big”), a creative firm focused on storytelling, wellness, and cannabis activism including decriminalization and criminal justice reform. Todd Russaw promotes these causes on Instagram as @mr_russaw. Todd Russaw no longer works inside the major-label system.

Did Todd Russaw work with Missy Elliott?

Yes. Todd Russaw helped Missy Elliott with her early work and first album during his time as A&R director at Motown Records in the 1990s. Todd Russaw also collaborated with Pharrell Williams, Babyface, and Sean Combs. The Motown years form the core of Todd Russaw’s music industry credits.

Is Todd Russaw the Oklahoma treasurer?

No. Todd Russaw the music producer and Todd Russ the Oklahoma State Treasurer are different people. Todd Russ (no “w”, born 1961) is a politician. Todd Russaw (with “w”) is the former Motown A&R director and ex-husband of Faith Evans. The one-letter spelling difference causes the confusion.

How many children does Todd Russaw have?

Todd Russaw has 2 sons with ex-wife Faith Evans: Joshua (born 1998) and Ryder (born 2007). Todd Russaw was also stepfather to Faith Evans’ older child from her marriage to The Notorious B.I.G. Todd Russaw keeps his family life largely private and shares occasional family moments on Instagram.

Conclusion

Todd Russaw’s career covers two eras: 1990s Motown A&R work and later cannabis reform activism through Think BIG. Todd Russaw built real industry credits as an A&R director, working with Missy Elliott, Pharrell Williams, Babyface, and Sean Combs. Todd Russaw’s 13-year marriage to Faith Evans made Todd Russaw a public figure, but the music work stands on its own. Think BIG now carries Todd Russaw’s second act, trading chart positions for storytelling, wellness, and decriminalization. Readers should remember the disambiguation: Todd Russaw the producer is not Todd Russ the politician and not the wrestler Abyss. Digital Geek Spot will keep this profile updated as new verified details emerge.

Explore more 90s music industry profiles. [INTERNAL LINK: suggested topic – 90s R&B producers profile]