Roc-A-Fella co-founder Dame Dash used to be a very close business partner and friend of JAY-Z’s, but somewhere down the line they drifted apart. It’s not entirely clear what happened between the two of them, but after over 15 years, Dash has decided that it’s time to apologize.
In a video he posted to his Instagram, Dash said, “I’m chilling I been minding my own business, I have no beef with anybody.” From there, he starts to apologize. “So JAY-Z if I’ve offended you, I apologize. Lyor Cohen if I offended you I apologize. Steve Stoute if I offended you I apologize. […] It’s cool, I’m not angry no more.”
In a follow-up video, he also extended his apologies to Jim Jones and Kareem “Biggs” Burke. “You know, I called Jim Jones today, and I miss him,” he said. “I don’t know if y’all know but I miss him. As a brother, I love his family. I want him to be happy. And Jay, you know, the friendship we had was cool, man. I just miss it. But whatever you doing you doing I’m cool with it bro. I’m sorry man, I wasn’t myself for a second you had me fucked up. And Biggs I’m sorry bro, if I offended you, whatever you doing I’m with it, I love you man. I know you’re mad at me but whatever, I can admit it.”
Dash and Jim Jones started publicly beefing in 2014, when Jones called him a “culture vulture.” Dash later attempted to clear things up with the rapper, but was unsuccesful in reaching out to him. Jay and Dash, meanwhile, were co-founders of Roc-A-Fella Records alongside Biggs.
Recently it was revealed by former producer Choke No Joke that Jay’s friendship with Dash might have fallen apart due to Dash’s interest in Beyoncé. “There was a point at Roc-A-Fella when Dame wasn’t allowed around Beyoncé,” the producer said. “Everybody that worked there at that time knew […] because he was a creep […] Beyonce wasn’t going for that shit. And the only reason why Aaliyah might have gone for it was because he wouldn’t be public with her.”
In a related story ran by Complex former producer Choke No Joke alleged that Dame tried to lure Beyonce away from Jay towards the end of their friendship.
“There was a point at Roc-A-Fella when Dame wasn’t allowed around Beyoncé,” the producer said.
Choke also compared Dash’s tactics towards Beyoncé to those he used when attempting to charm Aaliyah, the co-founder’s former girlfriend. “Yes. I mean nothing happened like he kissed or sexed her or something like that. Did he try to holler at her? Yeah,” he said. “That’s the same thing he did with Aaliyah.”
“Everybody that worked there at that time knew […] because he was a creep […] Beyonce wasn’t going for that shit. And the only reason why Aaliyah might have gone for it was because he wouldn’t be public with her,”
Surprisingly, Funkmaster Flex recently made similar claims, although not as overtly, about Dame’s interest in Beyoncé.