JAY-Z, Damon Dash and Kareem “Biggs” Burke founded the legendary Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995 under the Def Jam Recordings umbrella and managed to put out dozens of albums, including classics such as JAY-Z’s The Blueprint and Kanye West’s The College Dropout.
But friction between the three Hip Hop moguls reportedly ripped the imprint apart and it dissolved in 2013. Eight years later, JAY-Z wound up filing a lawsuit against Dash last month for attempting to auction off Hov’s 1996 debut Reasonable Doubt as an NFT.
JAY-Z ultimately emerged victorious in court and Dash was prohibited from doing anything of the sort. But according to Dash, JAY-Z’s issues didn’t stem from him — instead, he blamed the label’s downfall on Burke.
“The reason Roc-A-Fella Records broke up in the first place was ’cause he didn’t want to break bread with Biggs no more,” Dash explained during an interview with The Social Proof Podcast. “I was like, ‘Yo, we could start something different,’ but I can’t do that to Biggs. He didn’t want Biggs to be a part of it anymore. That’s what happened.”
Judging by a recent photograph, however, it looks like JAY-Z and Burke’s relationship is strong.
On Thursday (June 8), veteran Hip Hop artist DJ Clark Kent — who produced three songs on Reasonable Doubt — shared an Instagram photo of himself, Burke and JAY-Z.
He wrote in the caption, “The Manager • The MC • The DJ • (always great to see my brothers).”
While there was no direct reference to Damon Dash’s comments, one wonders if the photo was deliberately posted to shut him up. After all, Dash also claimed, “They [JAY-Z and Burke] weren’t speaking for like two years and no one knew, though. I don’t know why they would want to devalue my third — I don’t get it.”
In late June, Dash claimed JAY-Z’s lawsuit was “full of inaccuracies” and explained it wasn’t just Reasonable Doubt he was trying to sell. Rather, he wanted to sell his entire stake in Roc-A-Fella Records.
Damon Dash Sued By JAY-Z's Old Label Roc-A-Fella Records - The Company He Helped Co-Found
He said JAY-Z attempted to buy his one-third share of Roc-A-Fella in March at a price he “deemed unacceptable,” so he wanted to find another buyer. When and if he finds the buyer, Dash said “Under the terms of the deal with a potential buyer, the buyer would buy my share of Roc a Fella Records and JAY-Z will have exclusive administration rights.”
Dash believed the lawsuit, which was filed on June 18, was “a scare tactic to prevent him from selling something he believes he has the legal right to sell.”
Clark Kent hasn’t worked with Jay Z since Reasonable Doubt, but you don’t see him dick riding him every chance he gets like Dame does. Same with Ski Beats.
Word is Damon Dash ate his foot for dinner last night…
Looks like Jayden Smith hit a growth spurt.
Biggs look mad uncomfortable in this picture…
Biggs and Jay been cool though, they just collaborated on the NFT and run Roc 96 together… Neither do business with Dame
Jay still petty
Damn…Dame took another L.
Biggs don’t like taking pictures or being in front of the camera. He was in like two or three videos when they first came on seen then he wouldn’t get in videos anymore. Same with Ty Th.
Fuck jz he a bitch to me. Never liked him always copying somebody else shit.
I’m sure hov doesn’t give a fuck about your opinion lol
Jay z looks like a woman in that picture. Yeah I know jay z has more money than me, blah blah blah. Still a goofy ass picture.
No offense to her but it’s a WHOOPI quaf!
Dame continues to take L’s. He needs to shut up at this point, he’s only digging his own grave further into the ground.
He cant take a L only a position after creating arguably one of the best lables we ever seen on the hip hop side. Beimg apart of so many trendsetting situations where can anybody but the 2 on the 10? Stop. Don’t believe me, look at your accomplishments, stack em up??? Lol
You corny.
Dame said in an interview last year Biggs wasn’t talking to him anymore and he didn’t know why. The fact that Biggs grew up with Dame and chose Jay shows how toxic Dame really is. Dude falls out with everyone but it’s never his fault SMH…
Jay z betrayed his family by cheating, his race with the were past kneeling thing and his business partners. How can you defend a guy like that.
I think he chose the friend he can benefit from and ain’t nothing real about that!! Dame most likely too real for both of them!!
You forgot that Dame took money from the company to go on lavish trips, and to try to start other ventures. And he wonders why they want nothing to do with him. Not excusing Jay for cheating, but people make mistakes all the time. B stayed,and she can get any man she wants
REAL TALK NO H REAL TALK NO H NO H NO H
sorry but clark kent has been a jay-z cock gobbler since the mid 90s
joe Budden and Dame Dash should do a pod cast together. It would be the most toxic, self destructive shit ever
Again, check your editing. Rocafella wasn’t under Def Jam when they first started. They started under Priority.
Just get money and love the brother ,and not a part of it, leave the shadows were they belong , keep the dust out the curtains. Live alone with emotions and let MONEY KEEP THE LEAD NO MATTER!! EVERYBODY KNOW THAT***** EVEN has no equal. AKA THE RIDDLER
Focus on us…not on Failures
My personal opinion is that the beef doesn’t just stem from their business relations but also the fact that Jay Z was screwing was Dame’s wife “Becky With the good hair”. LETS KEEP IT 100 fellas…..
Well..that’s a lie…Jay didn’t touch that ho..in her dreams..and her hair isn’t all that good..???
Whoa ? is that fact or fiction? If so Jay crossed the line ??
Dame was tried to screw 2 women Jay z dated wayyyy b4 the incident with Dames wife, Aaliyah and Beyonce, Jay dated Aaliyah first…
Damn another B!
All parties are my brothers way before record companies/Business. The powerfullest move ever to be made in the history of Hip Hop is for the world to bare witness all parties come together and unite like the family we was back in the early 90’s. The entire world would go crazy to see such an empire reunite with numerous projects for the people to love. These guys I believe in unity together can conquer any virus affecting our world in general beyond Hip Hop.
Blessings to my bros praying we unite.
Man let that shit go without dame n everybody who started that label should b good he got enough money to make sure everybody good!!! Don’t forget where u come from n how it all got started!!! U can’t take that money too ur grave bro just look out for them bro n just me be on!!!!
They all 3 started it . In J’s song U don’t know, didn’t Jay say he put almost a million of his own money to jumpstart it. They all 3 had money before they started the label.