Dame Dash recently opened up about his falling-out with Jay-Z, attributing their split to Jay-Z’s decision to collaborate with R. Kelly.
In a candid interview on The Art of Dialogue, the former Roc-A-Fella Records executive reflected on the controversial partnership, citing Kelly’s past marriage to Aaliyah as the tipping point. Aaliyah, Dash’s late ex-girlfriend, was just 15 years old when she wed R. Kelly, a fact that left Dash appalled by Jay-Z’s willingness to work with the embattled singer.
“The fact that Jay was messing with him just blew my mind,” Dash said. “I never understood why he wanted to work with that guy so badly.”
He revealed that he confronted Jay-Z at the time, questioning his decision to collaborate with someone tied to such serious allegations. “Everybody knew R. Kelly married Aaliyah when she was 15. It wasn’t a secret. So yeah, we had that conversation,” Dash recalled. “I asked him straight up, ‘How are you gonna do a project with a guy who raped my girl?’ That alone was enough for me. It was the final straw.”
Dash didn’t mince words about the fallout, describing it as a breaking point in their relationship. “That was a burned bridge,” he stated. “I left Roc-A-Fella. Nobody pushed me out—I walked away. I said, ‘Forget the money, forget everything. I’m done.’ I wanted no part of that mess. I saw where it was heading.”
The split marked the beginning of a tumultuous chapter for Dash, who recently sold his share of Jay-Z’s debut album Reasonable Doubt for $1 million. The sale was orchestrated by the state of New York to satisfy Dash’s mounting debts, including $8.7 million in back taxes, an $800,000 lawsuit settlement, and $145,000 in unpaid child support. Dash will not receive any proceeds from the sale.
While Dame Dash grapples with his financial struggles, Jay-Z is facing legal battles of his own. The rapper is currently fighting allegations of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old at a party hosted by Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2000. The civil lawsuit, which originally named Diddy, was recently amended to include Jay-Z. He has vehemently denied the accusations.
Dame Dash’s revelations shed new light on the personal and professional rifts that have defined his and Jay-Z’s storied careers, underscoring how deeply their values and choices have diverged over the years.
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