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Wayno sits down with VladTV for a wide-ranging conversation covering music industry politics, viral moments, and the realities of breaking artists in today’s landscape. The discussion opens with Vlad addressing a viral tweet about conspiracy theories involving Tory Lanez, Jay-Z, and Roc Nation, which racked up 14 million impressions and sparked debate over whether it was satire or serious commentary.
Wayno breaks down his background, growing up in the Bronx, dropping out of high school, and working his way up through Universal and Roc-A-Fella. He reflects on managing Dave East and helping secure East’s Def Jam deal, which resulted in a multi-million-dollar contract. Wayno speaks candidly about the ups and downs of artist management, the challenges of navigating label politics, and why he ultimately stepped away from that partnership.
The conversation also touches on Vlad’s time as a co-host on Everyday Struggle, why the show eventually ended, and how media profitability plays a major role behind the scenes. Wayno details his transition into executive roles at Asylum Records in 2019 and later at Quality Control (QC) in 2021, working with artists like Sada Baby and Baby Money. He discusses securing key clearances—including a major Birdman-assisted record—and contributing to QC’s growth before his contract was not renewed following the company’s sale.
Wayno offers insight into understanding record deals, publishing splits, ownership, and the difficulty of breaking artists in a saturated market. He also shares personal reflections on figures like Kanye West, Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, and Cam’ron, and discusses how lessons from Roc-A-Fella shaped his industry perspective.
Now shifting focus toward media and entrepreneurship, Wayno talks about launching his own YouTube platform and a sneaker-focused project, aiming to merge culture, commentary, and business strategy under his own control.
