When Jay Z announced he was leaving the Brooklyn Nets to become a sports agent last year, he faced a lot of questions about what would make him qualified to take on such a tough job, because his expertise seemed to really be in music and making things (like the Nets) popular. He countered with evidence of his experience and success in business, ranging from Roc Nation to the Nets and his ability to innovate and change businesses.

But in an interview published this month in Vanity Fair, he said it’s not just his recent business experience that will make him a successful agent.

In fact, he’s drawing on the business lessons he learned much earlier in life, he said.