Dame Dash still holds a grudge against singer John Legend for not following Kanye West and signing to Roc-A-Fella Records back in the day. Speaking on The Art of Dialogue, Dame shared a surprising revelation about the Grammy-winning singer and his early career moves.
“John Legend was supposed to be Roc-A-Fella,” Dash stated. “I took him on tour. I wouldn’t have spent money to take John around the world with Kanye, letting him sing before Kanye performed, unless I believed he was signing with Roc-A-Fella. But he did some sneaky shit and went to Sony instead.”
Although Legend didn’t join Roc-A-Fella, he maintained a professional connection with Kanye West. Legend became the first artist signed to West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint, releasing his 2004 debut Get Lifted through a joint venture with Sony. The partnership yielded five more albums between 2004 and 2016. However, the once-collaborative relationship between the two artists ultimately soured over political differences during Kanye’s controversial 2020 presidential campaign.
In a 2022 interview with The New Yorker, Legend addressed their fallout, suggesting earlier reports had distorted the story.
“It was framed as if we stopped being friends because he supported Trump, but that’s not accurate,” he clarified. Legend claimed the real issue stemmed from his endorsement of Joe Biden over Kanye. “He was very upset I didn’t support him running for president. That’s what caused the strain in our friendship. I don’t know what the future holds, but it’s up to him whether he moves past it.”
Kanye shared his perspective during a 2021 appearance on Drink Champs. He accused both Legend and Big Sean of betraying him during his campaign. “When I ran for office, John Legend and Big Sean got used by the Democrats to come at their boy—the one who actually changed their lives. That’s some sell-out shit. I don’t rock with either of them anymore,” Kanye said.
While Dash’s comments shed light on Legend’s potential Roc-A-Fella roots, the story underscores the fractured relationships and shifting loyalties that have marked Kanye’s connections within the industry. For fans, it offers another glimpse into the complexity behind two of music’s most influential figures.
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