Last year was the worst year in the history of Roc-A-Fella Records. The label had built a reputation for making hits and the legacy was just beginning. Many people felt that the label would have a history rivaling that of Def Jam. However, when money came into play, the Roc just did not add up. In 2003, Jay-Z was offered the head title at Def Jam and Dame Dash felt that he should step down at Roc-A-Fella first. Wanting both, Jay-Z removed Dash from the company.
For years, Jay-Z and Dame Dash had served as a one-two punch for Roc-A-Fella Records. Jay-Z was the star and he publicized everything Roc. Meanwhile, Dame Dash sat back in the office and handled the major deals. There were multiple times when the roles were switched. Despite Jay-Z having the primary role of franchise player, he could step into the executive role when needed. Dash could also step out into the limelight when he had to.
Of course, he would never admit to it, but Jay-Z liked it better with Dash on his team. With Dame gone, all of the heavy lifting was on him. Every move that was made for the Roc was made by Jay-Z. Because of the fact that he had to juggle the business and the spotlight, Jay-Z sat back and watched Roc-A-Fella Records crumble. While he was great in some aspects, promotion was not one of them.
During Jay-Z’s time as the sole head of Roc-A-Fella Records and running Def Jam, the only artist to release any notable music from the Roc was Kanye West. Then, in 2008, Jay-Z worked out a deal with Live Nation, a concert promotions company to create Roc Nation. Jay-Z would sign a one-album deal with Atlantic Records for himself. Meanwhile, he would reach a distribution deal with Sony for the rest of Roc Nation.
Because of Jay-Z’s departure, Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, and Freeway left the label. Kanye West would soon follow. Last year, Jay-Z celebrated the critical acclaim and platinum plaque that came after the release of The Blueprint 3. While all of this was going on, Dame Dash spoke on the status of the label. In September, he said that he would not mind going back to the Roc. It was a shame that he left it the way that it was.
As recent as last month, there were rumors of Jay-Z and Dame Dash reuniting to revive Roc-A-Fella Records. The two, alongside other Roc-A-Fella members met at a restaurant and reportedly talked about bringing the label back. Following the top-secret meeting, Jay-Z did not speak on what happened. Dame Dash, on the other hand, put up the Roc-A-Fella sign. One month later, he has the label back in business and with Def Jam again.
The initial plan was to revive the label with Jay-Z, however because he is so wrapped up in the on goings of his new label, he had to turn Dash down. Without Jay, the other core members also refused to reunite for the cause that is Roc-A-Fella Records. In the time since he was ousted from the label, Dame Dash has made many connections. These new connections are rappers who never quite made it, among them is Curren$y.
Dame Dash has decided to rebuild Roc-A-Fella Records and center them on Curren$y. There are many other artists that are signed to the label, but Dame wants to start out with the New Orleans rapper first. The comeback that Dame Dash is trying to pull off is not a rarity by any means at all. In the late 1990s, Suge Knight attempted a similar comeback with Death Row Records. By 1998, all of the core artists were gone, so he brought in a new crew that failed miserably.
However, Suge Knight was a career criminal that used his money, size, and influence as a way of getting what he wanted. Once Dr. Dre left Death Row and Tupac was dead, there was no reason for any of the top artists in the game to go to Death Row. But, Dame Dash has remained one of the sharpest record executives in the game. Artists old and new could benefit from having Dash in their corner and the Roc-A-Fella name behind them.
Effective immediately, Roc-A-Fella Records is back in business.
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