[3] He formed the short-lived East Coast hip hop duo Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde with Alonzo Brown in 1980; they signed with Profile Records the following year.

The label entered a distribution deal with MCA Records and signed artists including Jodeci, Heavy D & the Boyz, Mary J. Blige, Guy, and Al B.

[2][7] His father, Bernie, worked at a produce market in the Bronx's Hunts Point section; his mother, Hattie, was a nurse's aide.

Harrell cultivated his entrepreneurial instincts throughout high school, raising money with candy drives and picking up jobs with a local messenger service.

[11][2] After spring 1983, he withdrew from Lehman and began working full-time selling airtime on WINS radio in New York City, continuing to perform on the weekends.

The Uptown Records image was of performers draped in stylish clothing and surrounded by luxury, homes, furnishings, and cars.

After he had multiple successful releases, in 1992, MCA offered Harrell a multimedia deal, which involved film and television productions.

They developed the feature film Strictly Business and FOX's hit police drama series, New York Undercover, which aired from 1994 until 1998.

[2] He also hosted Champagne & Bubbles on Sunday nights from 6 to 9pm on Emmis Urban AC WRKS (98.7 Kiss FM)/New York.

[18] He partnered with budding Atlanta-based production company L7 Entertainment for the release of their new artists Hamilton Park and Netta Brielle.

[2] At his funeral, held on May 23, among notable attendees were singers Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey and record producer L.A.

[22] At Lehman College's Leadership Gala on September 14, 2023, alumnus Andre Harrell was awarded (posthumously) the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa.