J-Pragmatic is not just a radio personality — he's "a business man." As CEO, founder and first official talent of Tiger Eye Management Group, the burgeoning entrepreneur is quickly gaining a rep around the nightlife scene for hosting hot events and managing hotter talent. When the street-savvy native of Charleston, S.C., isn't lighting up the airwaves at WPEG, he's also getting paid to be the life of the party.
Creative Loafing: What makes a J-Prag-hosted event unique and why do you think you're booked so consistently?
J-Pragmatic: People feel my energy and know that I'm genuine. I'm not faking or trying to promote — I'm just me. I think that's what's kept me going. I take the title of being a host seriously. A host's job is to make sure everybody is having a good time and that's what I do. The people have spoken and I'm the people's champ. [laughs]
It took you awhile to get an on-air radio spot — what kept you motivated?
It's funny because that's actually what allowed me to start Tiger Eye Management Group. Initially, I did promotions and I wanted to be on air so bad, but the Lord works in mysterious ways because the fact that I was being shunned away allowed me all this extra time and energy to start something I didn't even know I could start.
Tell us more about Tiger Eye. What makes the company stand out?
I think we bring originality to the game. We're trendsetters and most importantly, we conduct business in such a way that we are professional.
You wear many hats; what influenced your drive?
Watching my mother grind .... no sleep, no dinner, no food. She was very influential in my mentality. I also have to say growing up in Charleston played a big part because a lot of cats were doing negative things, but I incorporated that hustle into a grind; and that grind into a business. I was brought up from a hustler's mentality — but I'm not a hustler, I'm a business man.