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New York Post
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Washed-up rap mogul who founded hit-making record label with Jay-Z on cusp of losing it all — or going to jail
Ex-Jay-Z partner and Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder Damon Dash could lose everything — or even end up in jail — after allegedly trying to get out of paying $1 million to creditors by hiding money, destroying evidence and refusing to comply with court orders. The washed-up rap mogul has allegedly sought to evade paying out a pair of judgments handed down in Manhattan federal court by claiming he owns nothing — not even the flashy jewelry he's worn for decades. But Dash's apparent hopes for evading the payouts were dashed when the judges in each of the cases on Monday ordered him to either face the music, or the handcuffs of a US Marshal. 'If Defendants fail to comply,' Judge Robert Lehrburger wrote in his ruling, 'the Court will find Defendants in contempt and may issue an arrest warrant for Mr. Dash' to haul him to court to answer the claims. 5 Former Jay-Z business buddy Damon Dash got handed a pair of judicial orders slamming him for destroying evidence and not complying with court orders. GC Images Dash has allegedly dodged paying a nearly $900,000 judgement in that lawsuit — a defamation claim brought by filmmaker Josh Webber — by slow-walking demands to reveal his assets, since a jury found him guilty back in 2022. 'He's not turning over the evidence relating to the companies that he claims he owns on his tax returns,' says attorney Chris Brown, who represents Webber an another client with a case against Dash. The fallen producer also got ripped in that lawsuit by a federal judge — who ruled that Dash had destroyed evidence 'highly relevant to current and future litigation.' In that case, Dash was accused by jilted author Edwyna Brooks of fraudulently hiding funds to dodge paying her a nearly $100,000 judgment. Brooks, who won a previous $300,000 copyright infringement case against Dash in 2020, was looking to collect the judgement from a failed countersuit he filed, but claimed he was keeping his assets hidden in a web of corporate transfers. 'There is no meaningful way to cure this prejudice short of awarding default judgement,' Judge Jed Radkoff wrote Monday, ruling in favor of Brooks, who is also represented by Brown. 5 Jay-Z and Damon Dash attending the 'How To Be A Player' party at the Palladium, N.Y.C. August 1997. Pay Per Use The attorney — who claimed he is also owed $125,000 in his own defamation case against Dash — said the record executive needs to fess up and admit he owns fancy duds that could go toward paying the judgements. 'He's saying: 'I don't know whose necklace this is around my neck. I don't know who's diamond watch this is on my wrist. I don't know whose diamond earrings these are in my ears,'' Brown told The Post. 'I show him wearing the Rock-A-Fella chains that were made back in the early 2000s. He says he doesn't know who owns those.' 5 Director Josh Webber won a jury trial against Dash for defamation in Manhattan, and sued him for defamation a second time in California for comments he made following the New York verdict. Getty Images for Muddy Waters Pictures/Webber Films Dash's alleged latest delay tactic appears focused on an intention to file for bankruptcy — but never actually doing so, court documents show. Even if Dash finally files for bankruptcy, Brown said, he'll find out, like former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani did, that 'bankruptcy laws will not allow you to discharge that debt,' since they were part of an 'intentional tort.' Dash's 'failure to timely cooperate with our Firm and respond to these requests' has even led his attorney of the last six years to ask permission to drop the difficult Dash, the lawyer, Natraj S. Bhushan, wrote in a court filing. 5 'He's saying: 'I don't know whose necklace this is around my neck. I don't know who's diamond watch this is on my wrist. I don't know whose diamond earrings these are in my ears,' says the attorney trying to collect roughly $5 million in legal judgements against Dash. Getty Images But Lehrburger, who threatened Dash with arrest, wrote that he would not allow his lawyers to jettison Dash right away, since his commitment to 'drawing out and evading enforcement proceedings' are part of a 'strategy.' 'Moreover, there is no reason to believe that Defendants would cooperate with new counsel any more than with current counsel, who has represented Defendants in these proceedings since they began approximately six years ago,' Lehrburger wrote. 5 Damon Dash, Jay-Z and others at one of Sean Comb's notorious 'white parties' on July 4, 2000. Patrick McMullan via Getty Images What appears to be a simple order has major implications for Dash — who owes roughly $5 million in outstanding legal judgments, said Brown. The attorney said the default judgement grants him and Brooks their contention that the company Dash created to allegedly hide his assets and avoid judgements construed a fraudulent transfer of assets. 'Everybody was saying we don't have any money,' Brown said. 'Now I can collect all of my other judgments.' Brown also represents Webber in a California defamation case where a judge awarded him $4 million last month. Representatives for Dash did not reply to a request for comment. Dash and the famed Brooklyn rapper Jay-Z co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records —which made hits such as 'Hard Knock Life' and '99 Problems' — in 1994 but have since had a falling out over finances. Last fall, New York State bought up Dash's share in Rock-A-Fella Records at an auction for $1 million, in a effort to collect the $8.7 million he owes the state in back taxes.
Buzz Feed
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
It's The Respect For Me: How Keke Palmer And Sza's "One Of Them Days" Pays Homage To Classic Black Film
Have you ever seen a classic Black movie? If you haven't, you should. There's no genre-specific definition, but there are a few constants to the formula, like having a star-studded cast, a resident bully, an infinite number of one-liners, and a series of seriously wild events. And no matter how the formula is mixed, the result never disappoints. The opening scene usually kicks off with a signature morning radio show playing over the airwaves and welcoming people to embark on another day. And that scene sets the tone as the calm before the storm — because sh*t always hits the fan. Black film isn't just about the plot, it's about the vibe you get while watching it. In short, it's cinematic soup for the soul. Fans have watched Ice Cube and Chris Tucker bring families and communities together with hours of laughter while Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle Reid introduced cultural phrases that still ring through the streets. Now, Keke and Sza are following in the footsteps of the ones who did it best, and leaving the next generation with a new classic to call their own. It's a little hood and a little wholesome, and will have you feeling like you've been transported right back to the '90s. So in the spirit of celebration and all things Black, we're reminiscing over the movies that got us here. PS — If you don't know any of these movies, you 'either don't know, don't show, or don't care about the hood.' JK! But seriously, you need to watch them. (IYKYK) View this video on YouTube How To Be A Player (1997) Released in the late '90s, How To Be A Player laid out the roadmap to getting over in the streets of LA and in relationships. The film chronicles Dray Jackson's (Bill Bellamy) life as a Def Jam A&R executive who's mastered how to not get caught cheating. He plans his day around a consistent-but-rotating roster of women and even teaches his friends how to try to do the same. Before going to a party, Dray and his crew roll around town to check in with each and every one of his women, but not without a little unwanted chaos going down. It's one thing after another with one woman or another or the next woman and her man. But at the end of the day, they're just trying to live life and make it to the party unscathed. For those who have seen the movie, you know that's exactly what didn't happen, but it was fun to watch them try. View this video on YouTube Friday (1995) New Line Cinema / Via Friday is the quintessential cult classic, and like many Black films set in the late '90s and early 2000s, it's set in the heart of South Central LA The movie is based around the life of Craig Jones (Ice Cube), his best friend Smokey, and the way they spend their day just trying to make it to the end. Obviously, that's easier said than done — because really, who gets fired on their day off? (It actually happened to me once before. Eek!) But when it's Friday, and 'you ain't got no job, and you ain't got sh*t to do,' you should absolutely be prepared for some ish to go down, especially if you're getting high with a guy named Smokey. With no job, no money in his pocket, and a $200 debt or death from a guy named Deebo hanging over his head, Craig and his crew are just hoping they live to fight another day like Dreux and Alyssa. View this video on YouTube In true Black classic movie form, they find themselves in the middle of several unsettling scenarios. Dreux can't get her hair done; she and Alyssa have to take on Berniece — aka That Bitch — the woman every man wants, but has no problem fighting any man; and they lay under a parked car and pray Lolo, the neighborhood bully and gang leader, doesn't find them. It's stressful and funny and will give you Friday vibes as soon as the opening credits roll. The Wash (2001) Lionsgate / Via Just like the '99 Grammy's, Eminem's performance in The Wash is surprising and hilarious, and will always and forever have me crying laughing. The movie takes place in an LA neighborhood and follows two friends doing what they can to make ends meet and pay the rent. Sean (Dr. Dre) is focused on climbing the corporate car wash ladder and getting promoted to manager, while Dee Loc (Snoop Dogg) is just using his job at the car wash to gain customers for his pharmaceutical business. Predictably, the two become at odds. But plot twist! The current car wash manager, Mr. Washington (George Wallace), gets kidnapped by a clear group of amateurs who are ridiculous from start to finish. So not only do Sean and Dee have to come up with rent money, they need to find the money to get their boss back. But, none of this goes down before Eminmen steals the show by sporadically appearing and making threatening prank calls to that same manager, who just fired him, as a man named Chris. Nothing he says makes sense, but his character has more WTF moments than the rest. And while Lucky (Katt Williams) in One of Them Days isn't a random character threatening people, he certainly offers a lot of unsolicited (and subliminally, socially-conscious) advice in the most but-where-did-you-just-come-from moments. BTW, we can't forget about the kidnappers. They epitomize the satire used in this iconic genre, and I can't lie, I'm here for it. B.A.P.S. (1997) New Line Cinema / Via In 1997, Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle Reid portrayed Nisi and Mickey, the two women we will always know as Black American Princesses, better known as B.A.P.S. As a duo on the come-up, Nisi and Mickey see a PSA announcing auditions for Video Dance Girl of the World. They get their hair done, nails done, everything did, and pack their bags for Los Angeles and a chance to get paid. Things don't go as planned, but then a backup gig quickly pops up, and for $10,000, they don't hesitate to say yes. They're living large and in charge in a Beverly Hills mansion, seemingly helping an old man live out his final days with joy. However, money changes people, so their joy doesn't last forever. View this video on YouTube The Wood (1999) Bona Fide Productions / MTV Films / Via For those who don't know, The Wood is short for Inglewood, and just like the LA neighborhood, the similarly-named movie is a vibe. It has all the elements needed to be part of the cinematic genre — star-studded appearances, a series of unfiltered and wanted moments, unforgettable one-liners, and cultural callouts that only those who know will understand. The movie follows a trio of teenagers — Mike (Omar Epps), Roland (Taye Diggs), and Slim (Richard T. Jones) — who are eager to grow up and concerned about navigating the woes of life in the heart of one of Los Angeles's historic neighborhoods. View this video on YouTube Dreux and Alyssa's story doesn't always involve a woman, but it almost always involves a man. And truly, every time they crawl out of one debacle, they fall right into another. It's the dependable formula that's sure to deliver. Just like I felt it, I know you felt it, too. Check out more Black-centered content by exploring how BuzzFeed is celebrating Black History Month this year! Of course, the content doesn't end after February. Follow BuzzFeed's Cocoa Butter on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to keep up with our latest Black culture content year-round. Charlotte Gomez/BuzzFeed
