Dame Dash has alleged that he once played a hand in preventing Memphis Bleek from being robbed of valuable assets.
The statements were made during what was billed as “a unique 2 vs. 1 therapy session” on a recent episode of The CEO Show on Dash’s America Nu Network. What began as a conversation about Bleek’s relevance in the game today —with Dash declaring that Bleek “would not want to still be making current records” — quickly turned into one of revelations and refuting accusations.
AD LOADING...
“No disrespect to Bleek but I don’t feel like he would not want to still be making current records and making a lot of money doing new records,” he began. “You know, I didn’t want him to be — no disrespect but no one wants to be on the Oldies but Goodies Tour. You want to be known for new sh-t.”
Dash also took this opportunity to counter Bleek’s version of the end of Roc-A-Fella Records, as told on his recent Drink Champs appearance, in which the Marcy rapper detailed an altercation between the two on the set of Jay-Z’s “Change Clothes” video.
“The misconception about Roc-A-Fella is they kicked me out; I left,” Dash recounted. “When “Change Clothes” came out, I had already had an office at Rocawear. I was already done, I didn’t wanna run Roc-A-Fella no more. I still don’t wanna run a music [company]. I had retired from Roc-A-Fella long before this so called split” he added.
The former record executive went on to explain how important it is for people to be able to stand on their own two feet, which is what he pushed those under his wing to do; Memphis Bleek included. The entrepreneur went on to claim he “saved” the New York-bred lyricist (real name Malik Deshawn Cox) from being taken advantage of by fake friends.
AD LOADING...
“People close to him were taking his publishing,” said Dash. “When he was signing his record deal someone had his — he was signed to a production deal. And, I’m not going to say nobody’s name. I’ll let them deal with that. He talks about it. All his publishing was getting taken.”
He continued: “They were getting a piece of his royalty. He was getting robbed. So, I went and got him a lawyer. I went and got him a real accountant and it really caused a lot of friction internally.”
“He was from Brooklyn and Brooklyn n-ggas was robbing him and I saved him from that. Yeah, I saved him from that and he acknowledges it,” he concluded.
Dame Dash’s comments on the demise of Roc-A-Fella Records come on the heels of his response to Lyor Cohen’s explanation on Drink Champs surrounding JAY-Z and Dame’s infamous 2004 split, alleging it lacked necessary context — namely, that it was Cohen who exacerbated the conflict.
AD LOADING...
“I think he’s right on that. But I do think there could be more of an elaborate answer,” began Dash. “Are you the one that showcased that? Did you give him the option? Did you push him? Make him aware of what he could do in that and what you would support?” he posed.
“Did you give him the idea to do that?” he continued. “Did you violate and have meetings behind his back? So, when that meeting happened when Dame was yelling, who made that meeting?” he concluded, referencing a clip that made its rounds on YouTube in which Dame verbally reprimanded his staff over having a meeting with JAY-Z without his knowledge.
AD LOADING...
The remarks came as no surprise considering Dame’s longstanding opinion that Cohen is a culture vulture.
