Damon Dash
also known as "Dame Dash"
(born May 3, 1971 in Harlem, New York) is a label executive; the former CEO and co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records with Jay-Z and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Roc-a-fella, specializing almost exclusively in hip-hop music, branched out with several spin-off ventures into other fields as well, notably hip hop fashion (Rocawear Clothing) and film (Roc-A-Fella Films and, later, Dash Films).
He is also best known in Europe for his ambitious project with former Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham. He produced an album worth of hip-hop inspired tracks for the pop star in 2003 and culminated with the release of her double-A sided single "This Groove/Let Your Head Go." which reached #3 on the UK charts. After public disputes with her manager Simon Fuller of 19 Management over the "urban sounds," Beckham's album "Come Together" produced by Damon Dash was shelved. Tracks featuring Cam'ron, M.O.P, and other members of Cam'ron's Diplomats crew have been leaked on the internet. He also signed Beckham as the face of Rocawear in 2003. Dash later sold his stake in Rocawear for $30 million to former partner, Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter.
In an interview in 2004 he stated that he was planning to air the footage of the Beckham project as a reality show as the centerpiece of his new television channel that was to debut that year. Also in 2004 Dash had a short lived launch of his European arm of the Roc-a-Fella empire called Planet Roc.
Dash is most widely credited for discovering Kanye West.
In late 2004, Dash sold his interest in Roc-a-Fella to parent company Island Def Jam Records for ten million dollars, and founded the Damon Dash Music Group as a new venture with the senior record company. Dash's other businesses include America Magazine, Armadale Vodka, Dash Management, PRO-KEDS, Team Roc, Tiret Watches, the Rachel Roy Clothing Line, and Dash/DiBella Boxing.
He is the cousin of actress Stacey Dash and was engaged to R&B singer Aaliyah until her death in August 2001.
Damon Dash produced a reality show called "Ultimate Hustler", which centered on the theme of Dash determining which one of 15 entrepreneurs were the "ultimate hustler" through a series of business challenges. John Coleman and John Rhodes filed a lawsuit against Dash, BET, Damon Dash Music Group, Dash Films and Huck Films claiming that they originated the "Ultimate Hustler" concept. Dash was featured in another reality show pilot centered around late rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard, who Dash signed to a record deal shortly after the rapper's release from prison.
Dash's forays into film, both under the Roc-a-Fella Films banner and later under the Dash Film banner, has resulted in at least one critically acclaimed film (The Woodsman starring Kevin Bacon and Mos Def) and another well-received film, "Paid In Full" (starring Mekhi Phifer). Lesser acclaimed film endeavors by Dash include "State Property" and its commercially unsuccessful sequel.