Hovain Hylton Teaches Upstanding Business Acumen

To thrive in the world of business, especially Entertainment Business, you have to be an individual who possesses certain qualities: superb critical thinking skills, professional integrity and above all else, great businessmen should have disciplined dedication. Hovain Hylton, one of the industry’s hardest working businessmen has all of the above– and even more.

Hovain sculpted the careers of Troy Ave, Young Lito and now a bunch of behind-the-scenes power players, such as creative director, Sickamore. Like most businessmen, his hands are in many pots, as he is now the marketing and talent manager of Fyreapp.com; which is an on-demand service that makes booking celebrities, entertainers and athletes seamless. Mr. Hylton, the career architect, is building his legacy brick by brick.

Miss Jayyiah had a significant conversation with him in regards to his past happenings and current endeavors. Read along as he gives us some knowledge about decision making, operating off of strategy, and pursuing a career in the business industry.

Miss Jayyiah X Hovain

Miss Jayy: How did you navigate through the business at the start, where did you obtain your knowledge from? Was your approach self-education, or did you learn as you went on through experience ?

Hovain: I learned as I was going on and due to the course of me learning the business I got to be around dudes that were big in management, such as Chris Lighty and Butch Lewis. (Unfortunately, they both passed away.) However, Butch wasn’t a manager he was in business, but he was self made, and he made all of his money boxing and in the promotion game. Besides being a manager, I’m a businessman, I’m into the business side of things as well.

Miss Jayy: It must have been amazing to have learned hands on from people as such, could you recite any gems they dropped on you?

Hovain: Chris Lighty taught me to always be clear in my answers. Never say “I’m not sure”, or “I don’t know”. Don’t leave nothing a guess, always leave things clear. Simply, just do not leave any grey areas with anyone.

Miss Jayy: You and Troy Ave never signed a deal and in fact turned down a few deals, now from my perspective that was based off of the results of great thinking and the want for true longevity, so could you talk a bit about your reasons for your decision to not sign your artist to a major?

Hovain: It’s all situational, it’s not for everybody. Some people come from a deprived situation or come from poverty, as most black people do. In those situations, if anybody offers them a few dollars they are going to take it. Whether it’s good or bad for you and that’s how people get caught up. You may have a hot song, and someone may say “Let me give you a 50,000 advance, but we need 80% of your publishing”. With us, we came in independent, we already had a few dollars, we didn’t have a sense of urgency or desperation. See I’m a fan of business, I’m not really a fan of music, I’m a business major, so, if your offer doesn’t make sense business wise, I’m not taking it. We’re in it to be rich, not famous. With a label, you’ll get more fame, they push to make you a bigger star, by putting you through more avenues, but on the other side, the majority of time we see how that works out with the people who take bad deals. It’s just a matter of us not being desperate and taking the deals that were there at the time.

Miss Jayy: How difficult was it on the strategic side of things such as partnerships, sponsorships, and radio play without the backing from a label?

Hovain: All of that fell into line because once you’re in a certain place and you create a certain awareness, you put yourself in those situations to take those deals. Once everything started rolling, I was out and about in those parties and meetings. Ninety percent of the time it’s just showing up, and being in the right place. A lot of times people don’t’ even know they’re looking for you. You never know what type of opportunity you can run into, that’s how I landed the deal with Adidas. Just Be prepared, be out and about.

Miss Jayy: I want to ask you about your team’s strategy behind Troy Ave’s crossover record ‘Doo Doo’, the song was lyrical, but radio ready & the video was so fitting, tell me about the behind the scenes production of that song.. was a crossover beat something you searched for? Did the beat land on your table? What’s the story behind it and was it strategic?

Hovain: That beat landed on the table! Troy recorded it, but he held onto it for a long while. We knew it was going to be big, then he let Funkmaster Flex hear it, and Flex said the same thing, then he aired it! It’s funny you mention the video because, In speaking of landing sponsorships, without a deal, we worked on the video with the Beats By Dre team. They did the video, and it premiered on a NYC billboard! It was definitely his cross over song, they played it on Z100 and 92.3 !!

Miss Jayy: So who are you currently managing?

Hovain: I’m currently managing Young Lito, and a bunch of behind the scenes movers and shakers, even a few A&R’s. I’m managing Sickamore right now, and a few others. I’m positioning them to be the best they can be.

Miss Jayy: Managing one person is a hefty task, with all of your clients do you get Overwhelmed?

Hovain: I try to keep things in perspective. We come from the streets, so I know what’s overwhelming and I know what real issues are. This is music, I’m not picking up a jackhammer or getting chased by the police. It’s a blessing to do the things you love. I’ve had real stresses, real problems and real issues. My biggest problem is time management, having clients that are bicoastal, always having to go to LA while still being a dad. That’s what gets a little overwhelming.

Miss Jayy: How tough is your skin Hovain? How resilient have you been in the face of adversity?

Hovain: I’m the youngest of five, I’m from a family that jokes on each other and always says all types of funny things, so I’m not sensitive, I have tough skin!

Miss Jayy: Please offer some business advice to those pursuing a career in business:

Hovain: Try to get as much experience as possible, it’s not all about the money, ( I know we had a hit song that chanted that) but, it’s not all about the money! You may get into a situation where you won’t make the most money, or you might have to do some things for free, take the opportunity. Also, Read up on things. With the internet, there’s never nothing you can’t know or find out. Say if you want to be a radio personality, search who’s the highest paid personality, find out where they interned at, and you can emulate the steps they took. Take heed to those before you, and use it for yourself. Take a free job if you have to, get as much knowledge as you can. There’s no excuse in 2016!!

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Tags: artist management, BSB, Business development, Hovain, Hovain Hylton, Miss Jayyiah

About the Author

Miss Jayyiah Miss Jayyiah is a NYC based writer, interviewer and freelance journalist. She is the Executive Producer of the documentary "Chinx: One Year Later", and is currently developing her second documentary project, as well as the completion of her first book.