Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1184228
4 6 | M A C O N M A G A Z I N E F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 9 'LIKE A MOM TO ME' A good manager takes care of everything so their artist can focus on music. "Everything" entails making personal financial investments: "A lot of times now, it's up to the artist to cover things like studio time, paying for beats, mixing, mastering. But I'm old school and I was taught by old school people, so I used my own money to invest in Bob – and it's different when it's your own money," Pink said. It also includes booking shows and appearances, securing travel and lodging plans, and online promoting: "I wake up on the internet, go to sleep on the internet, dream I'm on the internet," she said. "And of course, the mother in me has to feed everybody!" Pink's own daughters are grown with careers of their own, but so many of the skills that make her a good manager – tough love, devotion, the ability to multitask and to run on frighteningly little sleep – were built by being a good mother. "She is like a mom to me," said Bob. "She stays on me, keeps me on track, keeps me motivated." 'CAN'T DENY BOB'S TALENT ' Although Pink has believed in Bob since day one, initially he had trouble finding his niche in Macon's music scene. He didn't always fit in at more urban venues because of his quirky look and sound, and most of the downtown bars at the time weren't booking rap acts. Bob continued to build his fan base by performing across the Southeast until eventually his perseverance and talent had his hometown's attention. "The first time I heard his music, I was pretty blown away," said Society Garden owner Brad Evans, formerly of The 11th Hour. "It just sounded different than most of the hip-hop I'd heard coming out of Macon. It has its own cadence, its own rhythm. It wasn't safe, and I liked that, too. Compared to some other hip-hop that had been adopted by townies all over Macon, Bob seemed a little dangerous, even when he was being playful. When I met him, he had that attitude, too – like he was already famous, like there was nothing that could stop him. I believed it; I still do." Bob won The 11th Hour's Reader's Choice award for Best Local Hip-Hop in 2017 and 2018 and performed at the ceremony both years, and he's since opened for Bone Thugs 'n Harmony at the Hargray Capitol Theater, been a featured artist for the Hargray's Grab Bag local showcase series, performed at Bragg Jam, and shared the stage with Waka Flocka at the Georgia Theater in Athens, among other places. Look for a performance from him this spring at The Society Garden in midtown Macon, too. Bob also performed at the iconic arts festival South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, in 2017 and 2018. In summer 2018, Bob, who has two children of his own – 4-year-old Christopher and 1-year-old Amir – stepped offstage and took the time to speak about his career to a group of kids at a Dublin summer camp, something he said he enjoyed and would like to do more of once his schedule calms down. "People have no choice but to join the movement," said Pink proudly, "because you can't deny Bob's talent." MAJOR LABEL RECOGNITION For Pink, operating in the mostly male-dominated field of artist management has come with some struggle. "A lot of people counted us out, because I'm a woman," she said. "But they learned quick, I don't back down. I like to keep it business, and when I keep it business, you feel my presence." For now, Pink is focused on working with Bob, but in the future she hopes "When I met him, he had that attitude, too – like he was already famous, like there was nothing that could stop him. I believed it; I still do." -Brad Evans