2006
14 // OZONE MAG
Coach K
(Young Jeezy’s manager)
Wendy Day wrote an article in OZONE recently
talking about the fact that there’s not
too many good managers in the hip-hop
game. What do you think it takes to be a
good manager?
Hard work and dedication, and believing in your
client. Believing in your artist or whatever you
manage.
In her opinion, managing an artist is “glorified babysitting.” Do
you agree with that statement?
Nah, I don’t look at it as babysitting, cause me and Young Jeezy are
more like partners than anything else. I always want him to shine, so
whatever he needs, I’m gonna go do it. I don’t look at it as babysitting,
I look at it as looking out for him. I want him to always be on top of
his game.
Do you have a background in management, or how did you get
into your current career?
I really don’t have a background in management, but I’ve been doing
it for a long time. Managing is just like being an entrepreneur. If you’re
starting a business venture, it’s in your hands to make sure everything
is right. If you’ve got an artist that you believe in, it’s the same thing.
That’s your business, and you gotta make sure your business is right.
You gotta make sure your business is taken care of, well-groomed,
everything is right.
What were you doing before you started managing Young Jeezy?
I was actually working A&R for a couple indie labels before I met
Jeezy. I met him in the studio. We just had a mutual bond. He could
see that I was a hard worker and I really believed in him. Jeezy is
probably one of the easiest people to manage because he works so
hard. We both work hard, so we work hand-in-hand. I believed in him
ever since day one.
Was he just starting out at that point?
He was at the ground level. We’ve been together for five years. We
were doing shows on dirt roads, now we’re doing shows at coliseums.
When you first met Jeezy, did you really picture it getting to this
level? Hanging out with Jay-Z and touring the world?
Yeah. I knew he was a star from the first day I met him. I knew he was
gonna make it to that level.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
Just the everyday struggle. You don’t really get to come home too
much, you always moving. Right now Jeezy’s at the top of his game
so we just stay busy.
What’s a typical day like for you?
Every day is a little different. Right now we’re on the road on tour,
so every day we’re in a different city doing shows. If we’re not doing
a show, we’re doing something with press, magazines or whatever.
Every day is something different.
What exactly is your job?
To make sure everything runs smoothly overall on a day-to-day basis.
I pretty much manage his day-to-day movements.
What about financially? Does managing an artist pay well?
It’s what you make of it. You only make what your artist makes. Managers
get paid when your artist gets paid. It’s a hustle for you. If you’re
out there making it for him, you gonna make it. If you sitting there waiting
on it to come to you, you ain’t gonna make it.
Why is it more enjoyable for you than having a regular 9-5 day
job?
Aw, man. Having control of my destiny. With a day job, I never gotta
answer to somebody. Although I work for Jeezy, at the end of the day
I don’t have to go clock in and answer to nobody.
Do you think there’s a lack of good managers in hip-hop because
too many artists hire their friends or relatives who aren’t qualified?
I can’t really knock what anybody else does, but with managing you
really gotta be dedicated and believe in your artist. Some managers
might be friends with somebody that’s hot so they feel like they could
do it, but you gotta really believe in the artist. Like I said, me and Jeezy
been together for five years. He doesn’t really consider me his manager.
I’m more like his partner. We’re like brothers, for real. We gonna
make sure it’s right for him. I ain’t gonna never let him down. I want
him to be on top of his game.
A while back, when a certain artist put out a diss song towards
Jeezy, your name was mentioned also. Do you feel like they
crossed the line by putting a manager’s name in the middle of
rap beef?
Honestly, I laughed at that shit, man. I’m good. That shit didn’t move
me at all. We on top of our game and that was just some bullshit. They
was reaching. We smashed him. It’s done. We kept it moving.
There’s been some controversy lately over Jeezy’s snowman tshirts.
Some schools are banning them because of the snow/cocaine
reference. What’s your opinion on that?
The industry is crazy, because once a person gets on top the media
has to target something to build up their ratings. They pick up on
things like that. We just keep it moving, man. We’re not tripping on
that. This man is an icon in the hood, so how can you put down what
he does?
What does the snowman represent to you?
The snowman represents the struggle. Really, the snowman shows
that you can make it out of the hood.
What would be your advice to someone trying to get in the game
as a manager?
Honestly, man, like I tell everybody, there ain’t no books out there that
can prepare you for this. I’ve read books and went through all that,
but the main thing is that it’s all about experience. Get out there and
make moves. Find something you believe in and stay dedicated to it,
for real. Dedication is gonna win at the end of the day. The day you
give up might be the day it breaks through. We go hard over here.
Look out for the USDA album, Birds Fly South, and Jeezy’s next album
coming soon.
- Words and photo by Julia Beverly
Coach K (right) plays the background for Young Jeezy
industry101
In January 2006, Jeezy’s manager at the time, Kevin “Coach K” Lee, was interviewed for OZONE’s
Industry 101 feature, reprinted below. (Who remembers the ubiquitous BlackBerries?) Coach K
went on to become the co-founder of Quality Control Music; QC has dominated 2019’s music
charts with a roster including the Migos, Lil Baby, City Girls, Cardi B, Lil Yachty, and Trippie Redd.