Kareem "Biggs" Burke is a man of many talents. So many in fact that he's reinvented himself several times. He's an entrepreneur first, with experience starting and running one of the most impactful record labels in history, Roc-A-Fella Records, alongside Jay Z and Dame Dash. Besides that, he's created several clothing lines, served as an HBO executive producer, manages artist SAINt JHN, runs his own media company BOLO Media and many, many other things, too.
With all of these successes, also come lessons to be learned.
"Even when we signed our first contracts [with Roc-A-Fella], we went on to sell a half a million records and probably only brought home $30,000 when that figure was supposed to be $3 million," Burke says. He encourages young entrepreneurs to "be careful with where they place their trust because not everyone is as honorable as one would expect."
Trials by fire, an incarceration bid, bad business relationships and more all helped to shape Burke, better known as Biggs, into the powerful, community-driven businessman that he is today.
ONE37pm recently caught up with Burke at the Soho, Manhattan showroom of Profound, a streetwear brand to know, to discuss all things entrepreneurship, his views on success, his management styles and how to continually reinvent yourself.