|
Jay-Z co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records with partners Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Def Jam purchased a 50% stake in the company in 1997 for a reported $1.5 million. In late 2004, Jay-Z, Dash and Biggs sold their remaining interests in Roc-A-Fella Records and the Def Jam Recordings by Island Def Jam chairman L. A. Reid. Reportedly this major industry move was prompted by disagreement between Jay-Z and Dash as to what new ventures Roc-A-Fella could undertake. The publicized split between Jay-Z, Dash and Biggs led to the former partners sending jabs at each other in interviews. Dame Dash has made comments that after the break up he was portrayed as "Osama bin Laden" to ensure that rappers would stay with Jay-Z and not sign with him. Dash currently operates the recently-founded Dame Dash Music Group as a joint venture with Island Def Jam producing some former Roc-A-Fella artists. |
|
|
|
Jay-zJournal.com is sponsored by the good fellas at
|
Jay-zJournal.com is designed by |
Jay-z leaves long-time record label Def Jam, and is close to signing a deal that will bring all future recordings to Sony. The deal will link Jay’s Roc Nation to Sony for distribution.The split reportedly came with a $5 million price tag, but will leave him in control of all of his master recordings. His eleven recordings have sold 29 million units in the U.S., according to Soundscan.