Forget about the Kevin Liles who helped shape hip-hop history and
culture as the Def Jam intern-turned-label-president and a best-selling
author. That is only the beginning. Get acquainted now with the man who is less preoccupied with the glitterati and has committed himself to branching out and changing lives.
As the founder and CEO of KWL Enterprises, the Baltimore native and
Morgan State grad has positioned himself for global dominance. Three
years ago, Liles launched a management firm (KWL Management) boasting a
roster of artists that includes D’Angelo, Trey Songz and Estelle, among
others. Recently, he expanded the management company’s by launching MMW Entertainment, a strategic practice group under MWW Group, a global communications firm that will continue to enhance the relevance of KWL’s clients. Through his telecommunications company (TrueComm), Liles’ has initiated his worldwide reach through technology by partnering with the president of Tanzania to provide 1.5 million tablets to the country’s youth. He even created a pharmaceutical parts company that supplies parts for large machinery and devices used for pharmaceutical products (KevDar).
But that’s business. For Liles, it’s his commitment to education that allows him to pay it forward. NextGen, his educational company, has teamed with CareerMotivations.com to help students assess their skills through the “Kevin Liles CareerMotivations Challenge” in hopes to discover their potential future careers. His organization, the Make It Happen Foundation, hosts the Make It Happen Summer Academy which encourages, nurtures and grooms young people into future entrepreneurs.
Blackenterprise.com caught up with the multi-tasking visionary to talk about the artist who help re-ignite his passion for the music biz, why D’Angelo “disappeared” for years, and how education has helped him effect change.
Blackenterprise.com: KWL Enterprises celebrates its junior year in August. How has the transition from label executive to artist manager been?
Kevin Liles: I’ve always been in management and had a relationship with my artists. Throughout my entire career, I was with many of them when they bought their first car, house, insurance, had their first child. One of the things I asked myself was ‘where do you want to go?’ Then ‘how much do you want to do entertainment?’ I got my first client because my former intern was managing Trey Songz and they decided to go their separate ways. Trey came to me. I told him to go talk to everybody out there to find a new manager; but he came back to me and said ‘they don’t love me, they don’t care about me.’ So I said, ‘let’s see how it goes.’
Trey got me excited about the business again. I love helping talent. I’m in the life-changing business—taking artists’ dreams and vision and making sure that they continue to evolve. In return, I will be the best at what I do. We all push each other.
Blackenterprise.com: We can’t believe your thrill for this biz was ever gone. What made you lose your passion?
Kevin Liles: I came up during the time when a rapper was a rapper and an R&B singer was an R&B singer. I didn’t come up with disposable music. I worked with such greats as Jay-Z, a rap star who worked everyday to secure his credibility, and then he became a rock star. I think about artists like Prince and Earth Wind & Fire, LL Cool J and Lil Wayne. I’m into brands not just records. People are signing [talent] but not making a full investment in artist development. I don’t
want to sign one flimflam winner, I want my artist to have multiple wins. That’s what we need. Where’ the next Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Gerald Levert or Bon Jovi? I believe they are out there, but we have to invest in them.Blackenterprise.com: Well another major investment you’ve made has been through your Make It Happen Foundation Summer Business Academy. What’s its purpose?
Kevin Liles: My educational company NextGen’s philosophy is that education should be attainable and as easy as going to buy anything online or offline at Walmart or Target. Through [the foundation, my wife and I created] the “Make It Happen Challenge,” where we’ve partnered with careermotivations.com to provide a million career assessment tests ($129) at no cost to youth nationwide. This assessment helps you assess yourself and the skill you have by offering some professional guidance. It’s like your virtual handbook to your life. Why do you think we have business plans? But we don’t do our own personal business plans. When you go to school, this is your life, and all forms of education should be an education of experience. We need to help these kids find their passions and then have employment for these kids.
This past week Oprah had the graduation of her first class from [her school in South Africa]. I was there when she opened the school. Oprah made an investment in their education, in their life, how they dress, walk, talk. When I saw these young girls come up and speak and say Stanford had her name on it it’s because someone invested the time and energy in her future. We all can make a difference and give them opportunity. My focus is on young America. I want to be at the forefront of education.
Blackenterprise.com: Your roster of talent includes pretty well-established artists and new talent, including D’Angelo, who has not been on the scene for a while. What challenges do you believe he might face as a reemerging artist?
Kevin Liles: It’s about legacy. Here’s a guy, arguably one of he most talented, who hasn’t performed in 10 years. He calls me up and says, “Kev, I’m ready.” He’s a young man who has been through hell. Idolized by women and respected by man. He didn’t know how to handle it, so he retreated. I care about him as a person and will help him fight whatever demons he has so he can share his God-given gift with the world. We made a commitment and tested to see if we were ready by giving a few shows in Europe. They all sold out. I can’t discuss what we have planned just yet; but it’s going to blow your mind over the summer.
Blackenterprise.com: What is the best/worst money advice you’ve ever received?
Kevin Liles: The worst: “Don’t worry about your money, I got it.” The best? From my mom: That everything matters, so listen and learn.
What advice do you have when it comes to growing wealth and investing your money, especially for those who think they might not have enough to start growing wealth?
Kevin Liles: You can save a dollar a day, which is $7 dollars a week. Over the course of 10 years, imagine what you could have saved. You have to make saving as much of a ritual as eating food. Put a system in place that makes sense for you. I started investing when I was young and was able to retire my parents and help put my sisters through school.
Blackenterprise.com: What’s the one mistake you made during your career that you’d never repeat?
Kevin Liles: We have a responsibility to do more than just be successful, and with success comes responsibility. Early on, I wanted success so bad I would do anything for it. You couldn’t tell me no because I believed that’s how you achieve success. Now, I believe that sometimes “no” is the right answer, even if you don’t understand the reason at the time. If I could say there’s anything that I would have done differently, I would have thought through a lot of my today-actions for tomorrow-results.
Blackenterprise.com: What’s your secret to longevity and fulfilling legacy?
Kevin Liles: Relevancy. It’s our job to continuously reinvent ourselves. If I was still living off of that period of time when I worked at Def Jam, I’d never challenge myself. You should access yourself. God woke me up today so I have to invest in me in order to do better things. I don’t think He’s finished with me yet or that he’s utilized everything He’s given me. I have so much to give and share with the world. When I’m out hanging with these kids, they call me O.G or Kevin Liles the Legend. The funny thing is, I don’t feel like I’ve done anything yet. I’ve worked to be a great husband, father and orator for our culture; but if you call that legendary, wait for the second half of my life! The first 25 years of my life I made great music, the next 25 I’d like to spend making a difference.