On the Record: 21-year-old Decatur man starts entertainment company

Jahmirris Smith adjusted his tie, tugged the cuffs of his white shirt out from under the sleeves of his gray blazer and twisted the gold watch cradling his left wrist.

“I had to ask Larry Waye what wrist the watch goes on. It is very important for me to look professional. This is my business. If I look and act professional, it doesn’t matter that I am just 21. People will take me seriously,” Smith said.

And for those who don’t — for those who hear his age and dismiss him — he sets out to prove them wrong. He’s not a “kid,” as many call him, acting like a businessman. Nor is he relying on pure luck to achieve his dream of rivaling entertainment moguls such as Jay Z, Birdman, Master P and Sean Combs.

“I think people see me, a young, black man, and judge me. Not all black men are out selling drugs, robbing people and killing people. That’s not me. I want to bring a different face on the youth of the city. I want my community and my school and my family to be proud of me,” Smith said.

At 21 years old, the Austin High graduate and owner of Pyramid Gang Entertainment believes he ranks as the youngest record executive in north Alabama, if not the entire state. Since beginning the Decatur business two years ago, he added 12 employees, opened an office at the Decatur-Morgan County Entrepreneurial Center, which Waye oversees, and built a Twitter following of more than 19,000.

Sitting in his newly painted office, Smith continuously glances at the letters on the wall — “Pyramid Gang Entertainment.” He apologizes for staring at the company name. After only a month out of his home office and at the entrepreneurial center on Fourth Avenue Southeast, the professionalism of the office still amazes him.

This is what the music lover dreamed of in high school. When the naysayers voiced doubt, Smith found support from his teachers at Austin High.

“There’s something about him. He pushes himself and those around him to be the best. We have fun, but we work and we work hard,” said Tyre Owens, in-house producer and artist with Pyramid Gang Entertainment.

Tired of the tough guy image adopted by modern hip hop artists and rappers, Smith challenged his artists to channel the music stars of the ’90s, an era of storytelling and multi-layered entertainment with singing and dancing.

“I want to bring back music that makes you feel and tells a story. I want to take that old school music and give it a modern twist,” Smith said.

It is the music Smith’s mother introduced him to as a child, when every morning he would wake up to the songs of MC Hammer and Jay Z and the sight of his mother dancing.

Music transformed from a hobby to an undeniable passion in high school.

“I woke up one day from a nap and I had the name and logo for the company in my head,” said Smith, who stressed Pyramid Gang does not reference any street affiliation.

Turning the dream into a reality took years of hard work. Smith researched companies, studied business models and bought software with information on how to become a record executive.

His devotion and focus earned him the nickname Baby Diddy — a nod to Sean Combs. Formally known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, Combs formed Bad Boy Records in 1993 at the age of 24 and started Sean John clothing five years later. With a net worth of $735 million, Combs ranks in the top spot on the list of wealthiest people in hip hop, according to Forbes.

Along with producing records for pop singer Austin Hilliard, rap duo Rich Lotto and hip hop artist Mr. 747, Smith developed partnerships with Zero Gravity and Magic Touch Clothing to sell Pyramid Gang shirts.

Smith traced his success back to his family and teachers at Austin High, who dared him to follow his dream and convinced him he could accomplish what critics deemed impossible.

“Every single teacher I had made a positive impact on my life. I am where I am because of Col. (James) Walker, Sgt. (Billy) Taunton, Ms. (Deana) Olinger, Ms. (Ann) Faulk and so many more,” Smith said.

“I faced a lot of Internet bullying. At first I would respond, but not anymore. There was too much negative energy there and I want to stay positive,” Smith said.

Last week, Pyramid Gang Entertainment held an open call for rock, hip hop, R&B, soul, Latin and country artists. Smith expects to outgrow the office at the entrepreneurial center in a year and, eventually, he hopes to move the company to Birmingham, Memphis or Atlanta.

“I would love to make enough money so that my family and the families of my employees are taken care of. But, ultimately, it is not about money. Music, for me, is therapy. Music speaks for me when I have no words. Music helps me with my emotions. Music is what I was born to do,” Smith said.

Behind the Music

with Jahmirris Smith

What is the best advice you have received? “Make mistakes in your past, but enlighten your future.”

I could have taken so many wrong turns in the past and, don’t get me wrong, I have made mistakes, but I learned from them.

That is why I am here now. I keep learning. What I learned yesterday helped me with today, and what I will learn today will help me with tomorrow.

There is a disaster and you can save three records, what are they? Drake’s “Take Care,” Tupac’s “All Eyes on Me” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

What has made you most proud? The artists I work with. Each of the artists has an EP that dropped in the last month and a half.

They have more than 50,000 downloads.

That shows me I am picking the right people to back and have around me.

What is the first song that you had to listen to over and over? The first song that put me on the path of loving music was “Mo Money Mo Problems” by Notorious B.I.G. I love those ’90s songs.

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