Damon Dash recently sat down with Art of Dialogue to discuss a wide range of topics, including the respective discographies of his former business partners, Jay-Z—with whom he co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 1994—and Kanye West.
When asked to weigh in on who possesses the superior catalog, the Harlem-based entrepreneur did not hesitate to name West. “Kanye destroys Jay,” Dash asserted. “It’s not even the same class. As far as artistry goes and being creative and all the verticals that are stimulated… Kanye has a movement; he’s unstoppable. Kanye doesn’t need anyone to fill an arena. You know, homeboy needs friends. This n—a just stands up there and he doesn’t even have to rap. He just does listening sessions in a stadium.”
Dash further distinguished the two artists by describing West as a pure creative force. “Kanye is different and he’s bipolar… He’s pure art. The world should be so grateful for Kanye’s presence because he keeps things so interesting. The world would be so boring without Kanye. It’s like Van Gogh. Like any minute he could cut his ear off while he’s painting, but it’s always art. Kanye is an artist. Jay’s not an artist… I would say Jay’s just more of a — he’s cunning, and he doesn’t mind playing with the devil.”
When pressed to elaborate on his characterization of Jay-Z as “cunning,” Dash explained, “[Jay-Z] will make you believe he’s your brother when he really hates you. That’s cunning to me.”
Dash also addressed the legacy of Jay-Z’s debut studio album, Reasonable Doubt, suggesting that its cultural impact is often overstated. “Reasonable Doubt doesn’t sell sh-t. Why you think I gave it away?” he said, referencing the state of New York auctioning off his shares of Roc-A-Fella Inc. to settle back taxes. “That sh-t barely went gold. Nobody gives a f— about Reasonable Doubt other than people that were there.”
