Dame Dash was “never worried” about Jay-Z and Nas beef
Jay-Z and Dame Dash were once the closest of friends. In the mid-’90s, following a string of label rejections, they founded Roc-A-Fella Records. The two created a dynasty that lasted into the mid-200s. However, a fallout between them meant that in 2008, Jay-Z broke off to start a new entertainment agency and label, Roc Nation.
The two moguls have had a strained relationship over the years. That said, during a recent appearance on the Moguls In The Making podcast, the businessman revealed that he was never worried about a violent escalation in Jay’s beef with Nas.
The Brooklyn emcee’s battle with Nas spawned the legendary diss track ‘Ether’ and, despite Jay-Z’s best effort, many New Yorkers and hip-hop purists have concluded that the emcee (real name Shawn Carter) lost the lyrical beef.
Historically and more recently, rap beef has become violent. Whether it’s the Biggie versus 2Pac feud or YNW Melly’s beef with his former rap friends, sometimes battles can result in murder. However, Dash insists he was never concerned about things getting out of hand in 2001.
Speaking to the podcast’s hosts about the potential escalation, the mogul explained, “There was no fear of us getting hurt when it came to Nas. I’m telling you right now, there was no fear of any violence when it came to that.”
He continued, “There was no fear when it came to us of any battle that we had when it came to violence. We were never worried about that.” Both Nas and Jay-Z hail from New York and knew of each other on the underground prior to fame.
Dash continued, “Now, ‘Pac and Biggie, n*ggas got killed. But n-*gas get killed in hip-hop now. They be battling and then they end up dead. It’s a little more serious now.”
During an appearance on the That’s F*cked Up Podcast with AD Dolphin, Joshua Engle and Alejandro G in December last year, Dash admitted that Jay-Z lost his battle with Nas, stating, “Jay’s response was terrible. The thing is, we had first hit him with the joint at Summer Jam that was kinda hard, the ‘Takeover.’ But when [Nas] came with the ‘Ether,’ I was kinda hype because he said my name. I was like, ‘I guess I’m in a rap record.'”
He concluded, “But the response, I wasn’t there for the response. I had landed, Irv Gotti fucked that one up. Every time Irv Gotti got in my business, he fucked shit up” You can hear Dash on the Moguls In The Making podcast below.