DJ Envy is proof that you can use your leverage to create multiple streams of passive income
“I enjoy radio. I mean, it’s one of those things where, it’s kind of like I go to the barber shop, but when I went to the barber shop, you might go for the haircut, but you stay because of the conversation”
(Taken from The Breakfast Club Radio Show, Syndicated Show of the Year, Power Play List Magazine)
The one thing that I find really impressive about DJ Envy is his ability to do it all. It was hard to convince him, as an entrepreneur myself, that he needs to bring other people on board. He says, “I know but I’m not there yet.” Envy likes to lead and is very ambitious and it appears he’s just scratching the surface. I’ve heard over the years that he is a brilliant real estate mogul and while we were talking, he was telling me about how he just demoli
As far as radio, Tracy Cloherty, the former program director for Hot 97, gave me my break. They used to do a segment called “Taking it to the Streets,” where they got street DJs to DJ every weekend. So maybe the first weekend it’d be DJ Kay Slay, the second weekend it might be Green Lantern, the third weekend it might be another DJ. There was a position open and there was a DJ by the name of “Threat,” that got it. Threat passed away, he died. And when he died, they needed another DJ to take his spot, and, they gave it to me, and I kind of never looked back.
So, you’ve actually seen two phases of radio in New York. You’ve seen it when it was a bit more risqué, and now it’s sort of winding down to, I guess, adhere to social media and being more subdued. It’s not as wild as it used to be. Which one do you prefer?
I would say a mix between both. You know, radio back then was really risqué. You were able to say what you felt and pretty much whatever was on your mind, you were able to talk about it — good, bad or ugly. Now it’s a little different. You know, there are so many sensitive topics that you have to, kind of, go around. You know? And you have to be very, very careful of what you talk about. Back then it was kind of the Wild, Wild West and you know, that was good and bad. I kind of like the middle.
I’ve always been curious about this. When you do your announcement in the morning, you know, “Welcome to The Breakfast Club Radio Show,” and you always move the mic around, is that a nervous habit, or are you actually adjusting the mic?
Neither. You’re talking to somebody that ran the boards for close to fifteen years, so when I’m moving the mic around, I’m actually looking at the board to make sure that a pot (audio levels) that’s not, you know, needs to be up, or that we’re not going to get feedback or anything else. It’s just something that I’ve always done, even though I’m not the board op anymore. I’m used to board op-ing my own shows. It still something that sticks with me, and I always double and triple check.
So you’re a successful entrepreneur but you still work for a corporation?
Absolutely. And, you know, for somebody like myself, who’s owned, you name it — from car wa
