After Jay Z sold his minority share in the Brooklyn Nets earlier this summer, it became clear that he was all in on becoming a sports agent with his new representation firm, ROC Nation Sports. The rapper is obviously facing a lot of questions regarding his knowledge of the industry and ability to be successful as an agent, though.
But Hove isn’t worried, and he’s got his reasons. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, he stated that he thinks his past history of dealing drugs will help him in his new career path as a player representative.
“I know about budgets. I was a drug dealer,” he told the magazine. “To be in a drug deal, you need to know what you can spend, what you need to re-up. Or if you want to start some sort of barbershop or car wash—those were the businesses back then. Things you can get in easily to get out of [that] life.
At some point, you have to have an exit strategy, because your window is very small; you’re going to get locked up or you’re going to die.”
It’s a strange connection to make but it actually does make a little bit of sense. With that being said, my criminal history probably wouldn’t be my first go-to strategy when trying to convince people to trust in your company. I’m thinking Jay’s past successful business ventures – such as Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella Records, Rocawear, The 40/40 Club or, hell, even the Nets – is a better play given the situation.
Guess you can take the man outta the streets but never the streets outta the man, I guess.
About Pete Blackburn