Jay-Z has probably lived a more interesting life than most famous sports agents. The sports business world is essentially a side venture for Shawn Carter, whose 15 albums have all gone platinum. In an interview with Vanity Fair for the magazine’s November issue, Jay-Z spoke about a past profession that he believes will help him be a better sports agent which most others probably cannot relate to — drug dealing.
How will an understanding of dealing drugs help Jay-Z to score big contracts for his clients?
“I know about budgets. I was a drug dealer,” he told Vanity Fair’s Lisa Robinson. “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.”
I can’t say I really follow all of that, though that probably makes sense since I have no experience with pushing drugs. I get the whole budget thing, but he lost me when the exit strategy and going to prison talk kicked in.
As we have already seen, Jay-Z is going to have no problem scoring new clients. In addition to being an incredibly successful businessman, he’s also a hip-hop icon who many current professional athletes grew up listening to. Whether they’re willing to admit it or not, that helps. Apparently having dealt drugs does, too.
H/T Deadspin
