(The Loop 21) — When Bryan-Michael Cox started writing music at 12-years-old, he had no idea that seven years later it would turn into his own business,Blackbaby, Inc. “When I started my business I didn’t have any money,” the GRAMMY Award-winning producer said. Now, his company helps shape and define the careers of R&B’s greatest singers including Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Chris Brown, Trey Songz and Monica.  Cox wants to ensure that future entrepreneurs have the same opportunity he did to see his dream into fruition. So he’s teamed up with 100 Urban Entrepreneurs to give students a chance to compete for $10,000 in start-up capital to start a business.  theLoop21 chatted with Cox right before he judged over 200 students’ business pitches at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The songwriter shared why it’s important for African Americans to teach entrepreneurship, how the music industry has changed and how he balances being an award-winning producer with being a father to his month-old son Abrice.

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