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This Issue 02/22/2007

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Pushing through the heavy glass

double doors of Hunstman Hall in a neat

business suit, Sean Koh hardly stands out from his Wharton peers. He's 5'9", with close-cropped jet-black hair, and thick framed glasses. He looks carefully put-together. "Sorry," he gestures toward the suit, "I had an interview today."

These days, Sean has more on his mind than the average Wharton student. It's 6 p.m., and he's on his way to his producer's house to record his newest single, "Touch." Sean has been touring around Philadelphia under

the stage name "Eskoh," performing his own brand of hip hop and R&B fusion.

Koh's burgeoning music career is only the latest of a string of impressive feats he's accomplished in his time at Penn. In 2003, at age 18, he founded Koherent Records - the only student-run label in Philadelphia - to give exposure to West Philly's underground artists. His artists have ranged from semi-professional rappers to dining hall cooks at Penn. He's founded Wharton Christian Group on campus; started his own high-end "urban couture" label, Ova Da Wall Apparel, which generates up to $30,000 in sales every month; he's a respected leader of the Renewal College Fellowship. And he is a mere 21 years old.

Though Sean seems the normal Penn student, his quietly confident attitude towards life sets him apart. Even as he walks through Huntsman Hall, he exudes a kind of inner peace. Chalk it up to his spiritual background: Sean attributes his tranquility about the future to his firmly rooted belief in God.

His resume begs the obvious question: how does he have time for everything? Sean only shrugs. Does he study? "Mmm. Sometimes."

Plans for next year? Now, Sean pauses. "After graduation? I don't know." He looks earnest. "Is it time for me to grow up and do serious stuff?"

* * *

Koherent isn't just a hobby. It's a full-time business with a staff of 15. At the moment, they represent Sean and local rapper Lbs.; their records are distributed online at koherentrecords.com and by local street vendors. A lot of the money is tied up in investments like equipment and studio space. Koherent draws profit from CD sales and events like parties at Shampoo, which bring in around $500 each time.

"At first I wanted to call it Seannie Boy Records. That's what my mom used to call me," he confides over pizza in the kitchen of his residence in Sansom Place West. Hidden under the textbooks and normal college boy mess are the tools of his trade: recording equipment, guitar, keyboard. "Then I talked to my cousin, and he was like 'What the hell is wrong with you?' I thought it was cool back then. But I guess it's not. So we came up with Koherent, off my last name."

He met with artists and producers and started organizing local shows and parties. The label grew faster and bigger than he expected. "People hopped on board." He sheepishly admits, "I guess I'm good at selling things to people. I could sell my smelly socks."