Agent Jay-Z uses lessons learned as drug dealer
As Jay-Z moves forward in his new career as a sports agent, he says some of the skills he learned in his past as a drug dealer will serve him well.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, the wrapper/businessman discussed how being a former drug dealer will help him in contract negotiations on behalf his his player clients.
"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."
Jay-Z's business ventures outside of music have included a minority ownership in the Brooklyn Nets, which he gave up after he founed Roc Sports, his new entertainment agency.
Among his clients are New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz and New York Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith.
