JAY-Z & Dame Dash Roc-A-Fella Breakup 'Could Have Been Avoided,' Says Jim Jones | Peoples Party Podcast Talib Kweli

[KingsOfKings]

"Jim Jones has frequently spoken about the Roc-A-Fella rift that all but changed the course of Hip Hop — but he still believes the split between the label’s founders, JAY-Z and Dame Dash, didn’t have to happen.

In an interview with Talib Kweli’sPeople’s Party podcast, the Harlem native shared his thoughts about the fateful fracture, and said he thinks Jay and Dame could have worked things out had cooler heads prevailed.

“When we first got there, it was a great thing, okay? It made sense,” he said, referring to Dipset’s tenure on Roc-A-Fella. “Everybody was on the same page […] That’s a family-oriented situation when we first got there. But we have nothing to do with what Jay and Dame got going on.”

He continued: “Their controversy and their separation led to a lot of the artists taking sides, which was kind of fukked up. I was never silent as a Roc-A-Fella artist, but I had to roll with what Cam was doing. It was a whole fukked up situation.

“And this is something that, looking back, I think could have been avoided. That shyt was just some simple shyt that could have been avoided, you know what I mean?”



This isn’t the first time that Jim Jones has spoken about the Roc-A-Fella split. During an appearance on DJ Self’s Apt. 5H show back in March, Capo claimed that the label’s dissolution did lasting damage on not just the Roc-A-Fella roster, but New York Hip Hop as a whole.

“The confusion at the Roc-A-Fella breakup did a lot of damage for New York music,” he said. “Remember, Roc-A-Fella had so many different types of music. They had The Diplomats, they had State Property, they had Brooklyn shyt. They really had a strong hold on East Coast music, so when that shyt started to happen…”

Roc-A-Fella’s time at the top of the Hip Hop mountain in the early 2000s was filled with classic albums, memorable beefs and plenty of success. At one point, the label was stacked with heavyweight talent such as JAY-Z, Kanye West, The Diplomats, Beanie Sigel, Freeway, State Property and more.

The magic didn’t last long, though, as the label went through some difficult moments during their prime. In 2002, JAY-Z teased his retirement following the release of The Blueprint 2, prompting co-founder Damon Dash to go on a spree signing several rappers to the legendary imprint.

Once Hov accepted a position as the CEO and president of Def Jam in 2004, the label would begin to lose its footing. The Roc-A-Fella breakup became official when Jay, Dame and fellow co-founder Kareem “Biggs” Burke sold their stake in the label to Island Def Jam.

Since Jay was president, he retained control of the label and his masters, leaving his former partners with nothing."

JAY-Z & Dame Dash Roc-A-Fella Breakup 'Could Have Been Avoided,' Says Jim Jones

 

[Harry B]

The Roc-A-Fella breakup became official when Jay, Dame and fellow co-founder Kareem “Biggs” Burke sold their stake in the label to Island Def Jam.

Since Jay was president, he retained control of the label and his masters, leaving his former partners with nothing."

Two weird sentences.
1. They sold their stakes, nobody forced them. Dame could’ve retained his 17% cut, but the mastermind he is, he figured that the money would give him higher return in motor oil, cookies and ceo t-shirts.

2. Jay-z got paid in his own body of work to go and work for them. Ie he most likely took a pay cut for his shyt, or in hindsight he finessed Def Jam.

 

[Harry B]

I also don’t think it could be avoided unless Dame and Jay magically became completely different people.

For the past 20 years that they’ve been apart one even wonders how the fukk they ever were partners. The only thing I see is the independence/own your own shyt thing and ballin, but even in those regards their approach to it is on different planets

 

[African Peasant]

Jay did not need Dame anymore. The split was unavoidable.

 

[Deltron]

full ep

 

[Street Knowledge]

Rocafella was highly successful post break up though

 

[nieman]

The breakup was inevitable. They were too different as people, too different as far as leadership styles, and had conflicting directions for the company. Their collaboration was on thin ice for the longest. The only thing that could've been different was how amicably the split happened.

 

[BK The Great]

If they all never broke up with Dipset included they could've been a big movement. They already did their part with the music. Egos always get in the way of everything.

 

[KFBF]

How could it have been avoided? Saying something could have been avoided a mnd something should have been avoided are way different.

 

[HollywoodP]

nah...this shyt was inevitable. First off...none of the hiphop record labels set up like Roc...Bad Boy...Death Row...No Limit...Cash Money...Sauve House...Slip N Slide...MMG...Dipset...etc ever lasted forever. Think about it.
Also...Jay wasnt gonna take a 3rd forever. He wanted the whole pie. It couldnt have been avoided.

 

[Ziggiy]

I also don’t think it could be avoided unless Dame and Jay magically became completely different people.

For the past 20 years that they’ve been apart one even wonders how the fukk they ever were partners. The only thing I see is the independence/own your own shyt thing and ballin, but even in those regards their approach to it is on different planets

I think its quite simple. Jay needed Dame at one point so he put up with Dame’s shyt. Maybe even convinced himself that he liked Dame and that him and Dame could have an everlasting partnership, but with money and success comes other opportunities and with those opportunities come bigger, more efficient, more self controlled entrepreneurs and businessman to show you the quote unquote “right way” to do business. Suddenly, Dame’s loud ass uncouth jokes aren’t so funny. His abrasiveness in meetings isn’t so “Keeping it real”. His unapologetic ambition isn’t so cool. His breath stinks a little more. His gear is a bit more wack. His tastes become more and more unrefined. You want to rock button ups and he still wearing throwbacks. At some point this individual has become wholly and irrevocably UNNECESSARY to your continued success and livelihood.


What do you do at that point?

You cut him loose. Matter of fact you PAY HIM to go away. He gets a check for his cut of the company ya’ll built together and now you can go your separate ways.

 

[Big Boss]

The split was always coming, just when

 

[Yagirlcheatinonus]

I think as Jay begin to learn more about business and branding he started to separate himself. Dame became louder the more successful the label became. Beans said dude was using company money for other things. Jay just separated himself. It happens it’s life.

 

[Menna]

It would broke up at some point Jim does so much talking smh

 

[Menna]

I think as Jay begin to learn more about business and branding he started to separate himself. Dame became louder the more successful the label became. Beans said dude was using company money for other things. Jay just separated himself. It happens it’s life.

I separated myself from a 20+ year friend after I saw how he treats his children… money, women, family … will separate