Dame Dash is no stranger to controversy, especially when discussing his former business partner, Jay-Z. In a recent interview with The Art of Dialogue, the Roc-A-Fella co-founder made headlines by comparing Jay-Z to Batman’s infamous villain, The Penguin. The comment stems from Dash’s belief that Jay-Z has intentionally disrupted his business ventures over the years.
“If you could compare him to a character now, I’d say he’s like the Penguin,” Dash stated. “He’s ruthless like that.” Dash elaborated that these actions weren’t isolated incidents but part of a repeated pattern of sabotage.
Allegations of Business Sabotage
Dash recounted a specific instance involving Rocawear, the popular clothing brand the duo co-founded in the early 2000s. He claimed that Jay-Z’s actions undermined a lucrative deal with Tommy Hilfiger. According to Dash, the Brooklyn rapper publicly distanced himself from Rocawear right before the deal was finalized. “Right before Tommy Hilfiger signs the papers, [Jay-Z] makes an announcement saying he’s not with Rocawear, that he’s only [messing] with S. Carter,” Dash explained. “F***ed the whole [deal] up, and I just feel like he did that only because I was gonna make $40 million.”
Dash eventually sold his stake in Rocawear for $22.5 million. However, Jay-Z sold the brand to Iconix Brand Group in 2007 for a staggering $204 million. Dash believes these moves were deliberate, stating, “Every time I could have made a really big check, he’s always stepped in and intentionally [messed] it up.”
Dame Dash Defending His Commentary
Dash also addressed accusations that he frequently discusses Jay-Z unprovoked. “They make it like I just volunteered to start talking about [Jay-Z], but people are really asking me questions about him,” he said. “If everybody doesn’t want to hear me talk about Jay, why the f*** do people keep asking me questions about him?”
While Jay-Z has largely avoided responding to these claims, the feud between the two remains a hot topic in hip-hop. Dash’s colorful analogy and accusations only add another chapter to their decades-long conflict.