Coach K (Kevin Lee) and P (Pierre Thomas) of Quality Control have recently shared their story about running a record label, and it turns out it wasn’t always easy.
Appearing on a new episode Lil Yachty‘s A Safe Place podcast that was released on Thursday (December 15), the QC bosses said that they operated at a loss for “years” — at least five, they clarified — before the label became profitable.
“When you in a place of independence, and you don’t have budgets, or you don’t have capital that you can use for these artists, you might go into [debt],” Coach K said. “I remember there was times me and P was like down almost to zero, but we had a record going. So we had to promote. We had to double down. If we double down, that’d take us back to zero. It’s ebbs and flows. It’s peaks and valleys.”
P weighed in: “You might have one artist that’s making money, that you making profit with, but you got nine other artists that’s not making no money. But you dreaming big and you trying to expand and make everybody grow because you’re thinking big.”
The entrepreneurs’ big gambles eventually paid off, and back in March, the pair were honored with their own day in Atlanta.
The Georgia House of Representatives Office honored Coach K and P with a ceremony officially celebrating QC Day throughout the ATL on March 15.
“Quality Control’s expansion into sports, film, and investment with several new wings of the media empire — QC Sports, Quality Films, and Quality Ventures. Spearheading their way through culture, Quality Control has become the modern-day blueprint for success in the industry,” Representative Park Cannon wrote in a letter.
“You have been chosen to be honored on QC Day because you have worked diligently at your craft and brought millions of dollars in revenue along with notoriety to the City of Atlanta.”
Coach K and P were presented with plaques at the Georgia Capitol building, where they were surrounded by friends and family. QC superstar Lil Baby was also present to support his mentors.
“March 15 Is Officially ‘QC Day,’” he wrote on Instagram while sharing footage from the ceremony.
“Thank You Parker Cannon, Dexter Sharper and The Georgia House Of Representatives. It’s Always A Blessing When Your Hard Work Gets Acknowledged. #KeepGoingForward.”