UMADAOP Resource Guide

DAMON DASH DAMON DASH

Jay-z Rock-a-fella records beanie sigel odb rocawear ciara the black keys

Born in 1971, Damon Dash is best known as a record executive, entrepreneur and producer. He grew up in New York City and, as a teenager, swept the floors of a local barbershop and sold newspapers to buy himself clothes. He later paid his way through boarding school. One of the earliest ascensions of Dash’s career was in 1995 when he founded Roc- A-Fella Records alongside Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke. The label operated under Def Jam Recordings and began as an outlet for Jay-Z’s first album. In 1997, the label released Jay-Z’s second album, and in 1998, it saw a leap in success with Jay-Z’s third album and the release of the hit song “Hard Knock Life.” It became the label’s first Platinum-RIAA certified release and launched both the label and founders into a brighter spotlight. Dash’s co-founded label soon began signing more prominent artists. After years of platinum productions, Dash’s career began its further acceleration when he became Jay-Z’s manager and business partner. The relationship allowed Dash to organize the rapper’s 1999 tour that made $19 million. Dash, Jay-Z and Biggs later split from their partnership and sold Roc-A-Fella Records to Island Def Jam for $10,000,000. Dash and

Biggs then started the Damon Dash Music Group in 2005. The record label worked with several artists, including Beanie Sigel, Sizzla and ODB, who created songs featuring names like Missy Elliot and Snoop Dog. Alongside his work in the music industry, Dash also worked with Jay-Z to create the Rocawear clothing line. The brand markets to children and juniors and sells clothes like sandals, socks, leather, handbags, belts, headwear, jewelry and sunglasses. Much of the line’s original success is owed to Dash, as he hired several high profile models, like Naomi Campbell and Omahyra Mota, to promote the brand. He later sold his ownership of the brand to Jay-Z. Ciara later signed in 2007 to be the brand’s new face for the “I Will Not Lose” campaign. The campaign also signed Chris Brown and several other celebrities to join. In 2007, Dash founded DD172, a collection of a magazine (American Nu), a web design firm (VNGRD79), a record label (BluRoc Records) and The Dash Art Gallery, which opened in 2010. Several projects have come out of DD172, such as Blakroc. The studio album is a collaboration between The Black Keys and Mos Def, RZA, Jim Jones and several other hip-hop artists.

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” I'm always trying to do different new things and things that don't define what the perception of a hip-hop cat is. We don't only do the things they perceive us to do. We're pretty sophisticated.

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