[1] The magazine featured on its cover some of the most high-profile black celebrities of the day, including Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Biggie Smalls, Diddy, Iman, and Naomi Campbell.
[citation needed] Its cover stars have included celebrities including the models Naomi Campbell, Devon Aoki, Iman and Tyra Banks, the actresses Thandiwe Newton and Rosario Dawson, the boxer Mike Tyson, and the musicians Diddy, Common, IAM, DMX, Erykah Badu, Kelis, Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, Foxy Brown, Omega Sirius Moon, Gwen Stefani, Notorious BIG, Sean Paul, Rihanna, Mary J. Blige, Lenny Kravitz, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Sisqo, Eve and Snoop Dogg.
It is credited[citation needed] with being amongst the first publications to have discovered the artists Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Rosario Dawson and Tiffany Limos.
[1] In its early years, Trace focused principally on hip hop culture, reflected in the large number of rap, hip-hop and R&B artists featured on and within its covers.
Then, in 2004 and 2005, Grunitzky and Wayner left ATM and Laouchez was appointed chairman & CEO of the Group with the mission to develop the audiovisual and digital activities worldwide.