hollywood billionaire

Chapter 418 The Right Person for CEO

"What a grumpy old man."

After listening to Kara Lewis's retelling, Han Yi couldn't help laughing.

"I didn't expect him to say something like that."

"Unexpected?"

Kara's already bright grey-green eyes grew even larger.

"Do you know where he came from?"

"Compton, of course."

Han Yi condensed his brilliant smile into a shallow arc. The exaggerated upward eyebrow arch when the eyes meet, the corners of the mouth that always curl up when talking to people, and the dimples that hang on both sides of the cheeks like decorations, the hearty laughter of Dr. Dre, in Han Yi's memory, always looks so amiable. Just like a black uncle who just finished his life of working from nine to five and moved to your house to retire, got up before dawn to water the flowers and walk the dog, and always said good morning to you with full energy when he saw you.

Normally, he would not delve into it, but Han Yi's heart was clear - this peaceful and contented life was nurtured by thirty years of fame. The dazzling money and stardom lifted him to the top of Hollywood, giving him enough leisure and elegance to look down at the people at the foot of the mountain who were still struggling and had nothing to do with him with a friendly attitude.

But this is not the real Dr. Dre, it is just a statue that has been sealed and shaped for the world to comment on.

The real, rough, flesh-and-blood Andre Romell Young had never disappeared. He just temporarily hid behind the statue and fell into a deep sleep because the climbing path was too difficult and the scarred body was too terrifying, which frightened his partners who were born in the city on the top of the mountain and had never experienced darkness and chaos.

At the right time, the real Andre Young will open his eyes and look at the world again with a fierce and vigilant look. Only then will people realize that although he lives in the prosperous Beverly, Dr. Dre's roots are forever rooted in the bullet-riddled Compton.

The place that made him a man in every sense of the word.

"I know he's from Compton, but the feeling he gives me is... different from other hip-hop stars from Compton." Han Yi pondered for a moment before continuing, "Every time I chat with him, it's as if the person standing in front of me doesn't belong to South Los Angeles."

"Where does that belong? A wealthy area like Calabasas?"

"It's not that exaggerated. Andre certainly doesn't have the pretentiousness of Calabasas, but... I feel like he grew up in at least Silver Lake, West Hollywood, or at least a middle-class community like Los Feliz."

“Because that’s the truth.”

"Really?"

"Yes, Andre was a kid who grew up in a middle-class community... Compton at that time was middle class."

Unlike the Sin City in hip-hop music, which seems to have been shrouded in madness and morbidity since its creation, Compton in the 1965s was actually a peaceful and harmonious black middle-class community. Born in , Dr. Dre was lucky to enjoy a harmonious and happy family life during his crucial growth stage.

In Compton at that time, the streets were clean and tidy, neighbors supported each other, and children in the community could play freely in the streets and alleys, without being eroded by violence and poverty. People's attention was focused on the civil rights movement in full swing, and they worked hard to fight for greater rights for their compatriots. Little Andre Young ran carefree on this land, full of longing for a bright future.

"That's probably why he looks so innocent and cute."

"Innocent and cute?" Although she knew Han Yi was joking, Kara was still amused by her new boss's exaggerated words, "Are you really talking about Dre?"

"Yes, from my experience, he is like Santa Claus." Han Yi spread his hands and smiled, "He has a deep voice, laughs constantly, never gets angry, and brings a lot of gifts every time he visits. All kinds of gifts."

"That's because he doesn't have to be on his toes in your face like he did in Compton. He hasn't had to do that in a long time, especially since he and Jimi started Beats... But that doesn't mean he's not the same tough asshole he was 30 years ago on the street."

In the mid-1976s and early s, when Andre Young was gradually transforming from a child to a teenager, the landscape of Compton suddenly changed dramatically. The proliferation of drugs, the rise of gangs, and the economic recession tore the once quiet middle-class community into a hotbed of violence and chaos. Young Andre had to learn to protect himself in such an environment and learn how to survive in the gunfire on the streets. In , Andre began to attend Pioneer Junior High School in Compton, but soon had to transfer to Roosevelt Junior High School in the suburbs, which was safer, due to the increasingly rampant gang violence.

In order to avoid the Crips and Bloods, which were spreading like a virus, Andre's family moved frequently, including Compton, Carson, Long Beach, Watts, and South Central, covering almost all black communities in Los Angeles at the time. However, the place where Andre spent the longest time during his teenage years was the New Wilmington Arms residential area next to the Compton Woodley Airport, which was his grandmother's residence.

The reason why he spent most of his time with his grandmother was that his parents, in the drastic changes in the external environment, also lost control and balance of the internal micro-environment. After four years of long-term separation, Theodore and Werner Young completed the divorce procedures, and both parties remarried several times in the following years.

With more and more brothers and sisters, some of whom are not even related to him by blood, Andre Young, who is increasingly isolated in family life, is inevitably pushed to the smoke-filled streets of Compton, which is like a war zone. Although after becoming successful, Dr. Dre has repeatedly denied that he has participated in any gang activities, his transfer experience in black and white has revealed this side of him. In 1979, Andre studied at Centennial High School in Compton, but due to poor grades, he was forced to transfer to Fremont High School in south-central Los Angeles. There, Andre, who often missed classes, was unable to continue his studies and could only go to Chester Adult School to pursue a professional degree in radio broadcasting. However, even in such a continuing education institution where there is almost no threshold to graduate, Andre, who almost never shows up, only studied for less than a year and dropped out of school on his own initiative.

"Where has Andre been after being away from school for such a long time?" Kara briefly summarized Andre's teenage years in a few words, then looked at Han Yi meaningfully, "What do you think, Yi?"

"You want to say he's been involved in gang activity."

"I don't mean to say anything, but it's the truth. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Dre may never have been a member of any gang, but gang life made him who he is today. Don't forget what his title is - the father of gangsta rap."

Dr. Dre himself didn't say anything, and few people were willing to take the initiative to provoke this big man and let him reveal all his shameful past. The official answer from beginning to end was only one, "Andre spent the rest of his high school years focusing on social life and entertainment."

As a direct result of his series of "social life and entertainment", Dr. Dre met Ice Cube, who grew up in a gang environment, and then got to know Eazy-E, a core member of the Crips. They then jointly founded the rap group NWA, which clamored to "kill the police" and was publicly warned and monitored by the FBI.

Next, his apprentice Snoop Dogg, also a member of the Crips, was brought to court in the early 50s for his alleged involvement in a murder case. Even his apprentice's apprentice, Cent, is a tough guy from the same gang.

"The kind that remains calm even after being shot at nine times." Han Yi added at the right time.

"Yeah, he's tough... a tough and funny guy."

"Have you ever been his agent?"

"50 Cent?"

"Yes."

"Yes, I did. After all, he's part of the Eminem gang, so he needs me to help boost his profile."

"Any idea of ​​getting him back on your client list?"

"There are so many things I want to do in this world... Did you know that I used to be Rihanna's manager?"

"I know this. I read about you in a news article. I was impressed."

"Yes, in an ideal world, I hope all my clients can live happily with me. But I am an entertainment agent. I will not beg for the trust of my clients. I only win their loyalty by providing them with as many performances as possible and the highest pay." At this point, Kara took a deep breath, "Of course, there are many other factors in how clients choose agents... For example, if Dre asked him to sign with us, I believe 50 would not refuse."

"He's always had that kind of power."

So, although he usually keeps a low profile and the security guards around him don't seem as strong as him, when necessary, Dr. Dre can still use unconventional means to solve some seemingly difficult problems.

Han Yi couldn't help but think of the first time he met Snoop Dogg. The tall, thin old man looked funny, spoke softly, and appeared in comedy TV shows all day long. His shaking head was like the Flash in "Zootopia", but he had a group of gang members at home. They would pull out guns and point them at people's temples if they disagreed with them, and they were always ready to take the blame and run away.

In fact, many successful hip-hop stars are like this. Their physical lives were distorted and destroyed by gang violence, but their artistic lives were tempered and sublimated in every drop of hot blood. P. Diddy is needless to say, he has killed so many people that he can't count them with two hands. His nemesis Suge Knight on the West Coast is also a ruthless character with a lot of blood debts. There are also Drake who sent people to assassinate XXXTentacion, Lil Wayne was imprisoned for illegal possession of a gun, Wiz Khalifa was arrested for drug smuggling, and there are also those famous rappers who died in countless gang disputes...

In the world of hip-hop music, it is not enough to just have strength, reputation and money. Sometimes even official support from the administrative level is not enough. If you want to really make a living in this circle and gain a "street name" that everyone admires, you must form an absolutely loyal dark army.

Hide in the dark and help your boss solve problems at any time.

This is the fundamental reason why Han Yi repeatedly told people around him that he would keep a distance from hip-hop concerts, and even tried every means to help Yuzhen separate from it, and not get too involved in the specific management of rappers under Renyu Management. They cannot control the career and life trajectory of these artists. This is a task that is impossible for outsiders to complete, and it is also a forbidden zone where no matter how you get involved, you will end up with a dead end.

That's why he tried every means to get Snoop Dogg involved, set up the Temple label, and use the prestige and connections of the old predecessors to suppress these new bloods. If there were no big predecessors like Snoop Dogg, who would have caused a big trouble like 21 Savage who used the prison as a hotel.

But then again, Han Yi was not a purely kind person. In other words, he at least didn't care how far and deep these evil factors spread in the United States. As long as he didn't get involved in these things, it didn't matter at all. Anyway, this was not his country, and whether the people here lived in Utopia or Sodom had nothing to do with him.

Han Yi even hoped that, while ensuring that he would not be implicated, he could also possess this kind of hidden power. Not to harm others, but only to avoid being hurt by evil people. After all, as the business map advances closer and closer to the core area, many mixed forces will be alarmed.

Some are principled, some are not.

For those who talk about principles, he has huge wealth to make them lose on paper.

As for those who have no principles... he will use the same incalculable wealth to put them in coffins.

In a commercial sense, and in a physical sense.

So, when Han Yi heard Kara say that Dr. Dre was going to solve the problems of Travis Scott's management company in his own way, he felt surprised, cautious, and worried, but also a little bit of positive emotion that he didn't know how to describe.

Han Yi understood that this was the goodwill shown to him by Dr. Dre with his keen insight before he was officially invited to serve as the CEO of Han Music Group.

Andre didn't say it himself, because he knew that Han Yi would definitely have an in-depth exchange with Kara Lewis. No matter what the intention was, whether it was to get closer to Han Yi, to help Andre and make the latter owe him a favor, or to reassure the new boss and let him see the bright future of Kara Lewis's star-studded team so as to gain stronger support in UTA's internal competition, or all three... No matter what purpose Kara was preparing to achieve, she would undoubtedly tell Dr. Dre's promise.

The good things you have done are most impressive and effective only when they are spoken of by others.

"So, my point is... I'm not one to be the judge of other people's affairs, but, Yi, I firmly believe that you made the right decision to bring in Dre as CEO. It was a bold move, an innovative move, but it was the right move, regardless."

"I've always known this, Kara. This is not an impulsive move, this is something I've been evaluating since the beginning of the company. He's the best candidate, by far."

We definitely made the right choice in choosing the CEO of our group.

Having said this, Han Yi turned his gaze back to the main stage, and carefully looked at the music mogul he would work with for many years. At this moment, Dr. Dre stood behind the DJ booth specially prepared for him, lowered his head, and carefully played the accompaniment he produced for Eminem and Snoop Dogg who were performing in the front. Occasionally, he would raise his head, with his usual kind smile, to look at his disciples, and also at the sea of ​​flashing lights below the stage, aloof from the world, but confident.

In front of Han Yi, Dr. Dre used a trivial matter to fully demonstrate his deep and broad network of contacts and influence, and very clearly outlined his unique character portrait again: a grassroots strongman who came from a humble background, struggled in the slums for many years, but finally climbed up from the bottom to the top of the mountain step by step through his own efforts. This formed a sharp contrast with Han Yi - or at least the impression of Han Yi in everyone, including Dr. Dre - an academic who had no worries about food and clothing since childhood and used the huge wealth passed down from generation to generation to directly knock on the door of Rome.

In other words, from experience to cognition to resources, Han Yi and Dr. Dre are two types of people who complement each other completely like pieces of a puzzle.

John D. Rockefeller, the son of a fraudster, and Henry Flagler, the descendant of a Presbyterian minister, teamed up to found the world's first multinational group, Standard Oil. The Lockheed engineers who followed the rules gave birth to Steve Wozniak, who specialized in technology. And the real estate agent who was good at sales cultivated Steve Jobs, who was determined to change the world with conceptual marketing.

The great business cases in history are nothing more than this, just like a marriage that has gone through decades of ups and downs. What makes them last is not the sharp confrontation between spear and shield, but the mutual complementation like a lock and a key.

From this perspective, Dr. Dre is indeed the right person for the CEO position of Han Music. With him in place, Han Yi can focus more on the two questions of "what to do" and "why to do it".

As for the question of "how to do it", just leave it to Andre who has both resources and execution capabilities to think about.

Han Yi believes that the method Dr. Dre will use must be the one that best fits Hollywood thinking.

The stable environment in his childhood laid the foundation for the peaceful core of Dr. Dre's character, which enabled him to remain firm in self-control and rationality when he experienced the turmoil later. This self-control and rationality also made him know how to build and maintain a stable environment for sustainable development, which formed the key characteristics of his work style in the later period, especially after he entered the business world in cooperation with Jimmy Iovine.

The experience of dancing on the edge of a knife during his growth period also helped him to forge the decisiveness to break through the siege in countless desperate situations. After the disbandment of NWA, Andre encountered the lowest point in his life. He was questioned by the outside world, betrayed by his former friends, and even nearly collapsed in his personal finances. However, he was not defeated by these difficulties, but quickly adjusted his state and redefined the pattern of hip-hop music with "The Chronic". That album not only brought him back to the peak personally, but also laid the foundation for the entire West Coast rap that followed.

This ability to turn the tables quickly is not only a manifestation of talent, but also stems from his inherent toughness and execution. When tolerance and compromise are needed to solve problems, Andre can use his innate peaceful personality to resolve conflicts. But when encountering inevitable confrontation, his swift and resolute actions can deter opponents.

"I read a story... a little anecdote about Dre that happened in '96. I don't know if you were involved in that, Cara."

"what story?"

"I heard that Andre had just left Death Row Records and founded Aftermath Entertainment. At that time, Death Row was led by Suge Knight and was almost an lawless gang-like organization. When Andre left, he not only faced contract disputes, but also had to face personal threats from Suge."

"True." Kara pursed her lips and nodded, "I was there the whole time, standing on the sidelines. I must admit, even I was afraid to get involved in that conflict."

"I heard that Suge told him: 'If you dare to betray me, you know the consequences.'"

"That's exactly what happened. Through letters, phone calls, and once in person."

"I also heard that Andre did not back down. He just calmly issued a brief statement: 'I am leaving. I don't want any of my assets. I just want a clean future.'"

"Yes, the statement was all over the media at the time."

"Not only that, I also heard some... information that was not in the statement." Han Yi lowered his voice, and his words were almost inaudible in the deafening music. "I heard that Dre asked someone to pass a message to Suge once."

"He said……"

"'You were once the king of the West Coast, but now you are long dead.'"

"'Keep it dead.'"

"'Otherwise, you will see real death, knocking on your door in the middle of the night.'"

"I..." Kara opened her mouth, wanting to say something in defense of the client she had worked with for many years.

"Is this true, Kara?" Han Yi asked softly, "Have you heard of this anecdote? This interesting quote?"

"I can't say I've heard of it." Kara, who was always decisive, rarely showed a brief hesitation, "But, this is Andre... This is Andre."

When she deals with her negotiating opponents, Carla Lewis uses a variety of methods: blackmail, intimidation, extortion, coercion, inducement. Beg and borrow and steal, the whole nine yards.

But she also understood one thing - when facing a conversation partner who is one level higher than herself, honesty is the most effective self-defense tool.

Han Yi, who can spend more wealth than she has earned in her entire life with a wave of his hand, buy the world's third largest entertainment agency, and then take out some "pocket money" to merge CLG into UTA, is not an opponent she can defeat, but an employer she needs to cheer up to serve.

It was vital to make sure every word she spoke was the truth and only the truth.

"Great, I'm glad to have confirmed that."

"I think that although you have different backgrounds, you and Andre do share a lot of qualities, Kara."

"These advantages will make you the most powerful cornerstone of Han Music Group's future."

Han Yi nodded and looked deeply at Dr. Dre who was smiling on the stage and fiddling with the turntable with his fingertips.

He knew that the seemingly gentle man in front of him was exactly the double-edged sword that Han Music Group needed most in the future melee among the four major music groups.

A double-edged sword that can produce classics but can also destroy classics.

(End of this chapter)