Damon Dash

{{Infobox person

| name = Damon Dash

| image = Damon Dash by David Shankbone.jpg

| caption = Dash in 2007

| birth_name = Damon Anthony Dash

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|5|3}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| other_names = Dame Dash

| occupation = {{hlist|Entrepreneur|record executive|media proprietor|actor|record producer}}

| years_active = 1991–present

| known_for = Co–founder of Roc-A-Fella

| net_worth =

| relatives = Stacey Dash (cousin)
Darien Dash (cousin)

| website =

| spouse = {{marriage|Rachel Roy
|2005|2009|reason=div.}}

| partner = * Aaliyah
(2000–2001; her death){{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/news/aaliyah-facts-lifetime-movie|title=7 Facts About Aaliyah: Get The Scoop Before You Watch the Lifetime Movie|access-date=May 15, 2017}}

Raquel Horn (2015–present){{cite web|author=Martin Berrios|url=https://hiphopwired.com/942276/damon-dash-proposes-raquel-horn/|title=Boss Moves: Damon Dash Proposes To Long-Time Wifey For Lifey Raquel Horn|publisher=Hip Hop Wired|date=February 11, 2021|accessdate=September 28, 2021}}{{cite web|author=Kyle Eustice|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.60508/title.veteran-hip-hop-exec-dame-dash-proposes-to-newborn-sons-mother-ahead-of-studio-relaunch|title=VETERAN HIP HOP EXEC DAME DASH PROPOSES TO NEWBORN SON'S MOTHER AHEAD OF STUDIO RELAUNCH|publisher=HipHopDX|date=February 10, 2021|accessdate=September 28, 2021}}

| children = 5

}}

Damon Anthony Dash (born May 3, 1971) is an American entrepreneur and record executive.{{cite news|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/01/welcome_to_damo.php|title=Welcome to Damon Dash's DD172, New York's Last Line of Defense Against "Wack World"|date=January 13, 2010|last=Baron|first=Zach|work=The Village Voice|publisher=Village Voice, LLC|access-date=November 15, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811234105/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/01/welcome_to_damo.php|archive-date=August 11, 2011|df=mdy-all}} He co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records with Jay-Z and Kareem Burke in 1994,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7xSxMSfp5SIC|title=Success Runs in Our Race|last=Fraser|first=George C.|date=May 5, 2009|publisher=Harper Collins|isbn=9780061927027|language=en}} and co-founded the fashion retailer Rocawear with the former in 1999.

Early life

Born in New York City, Dash swept the floors of a local barbershop and sold newspapers in order to buy sneakers and shirts as a teenager. Dash "learned to hustle", in his own words, from the example of his mother, who died of an asthma attack when he was 15.{{cite news|title=Dash to Solo Success for Hip Hop Mogul|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/09/07/revealed.dash.bio/|access-date= November 26, 2013 | work=CNN}} The same year, Dash was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.{{cite web|url=https://onedrop.today/blogs/blog/dame-dash-diabetes-makes-me-a-superhero|work=One Drop|title=Dame Dash: "Diabetes Makes Me a Superhero"|last=Adams|first=Mary Elizabeth|url-status=live|date=February 4, 2021|archive-date=December 21, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211221052259/https://onedrop.today/blogs/blog/dame-dash-diabetes-makes-me-a-superhero|access-date=December 21, 2021}} "Before I was diagnosed... I went about a month or two just going to the bathroom non-stop and losing weight", Dash recalled. "Magic Johnson had just been diagnosed with AIDS, so that's what I thought I had. I was scared to even go to the doctor. I thought I was going to die."

Career

Dash served as Jay-Z's manager and business partner at Roc-A-Fella Records, and in 1999, he organized a tour for Jay-Z which made $19 million.{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CNcDAAAAMBAJ&q=damon+dash|title=New Entrepreneurs|magazine=Ebony|date=January 1, 2001|language=en}} Their relationship soured as a result of two subsequent events. The first was when Roc-A-Fella Records was purchased by Def Jam Recordings (which had previously only owned half of the company) in 2004, after which Jay-Z agreed to take a job as Def Jam's president. Then, in late 2005, Jay-Z bought Dash out of his stake in Rocawear.{{cite web | url=http://nymag.com/news/profiles/17268/index1.html | title=Why Damon Dash Hates Mondays | work=New York | date=June 19, 2006 | access-date=February 3, 2014 | author=Konigsberg, Eric}}

In April 2014, it was announced that Dash is involved with Blind Debit, a fingerprint payment application being developed by Dez White.{{Cite web |url= http://ktla.com/2014/08/15/invisible-apps-creator-dez-white-and-girlcodela/ |last= Hutcherson |first= Lori|date= April 19, 2014|website= KTLA|title= Invisible Apps Creator Dez White and GirlCodeLA|access-date=January 22, 2015}}

Dash founded DD172, a media collective which encompasses: America Nu, a magazine; VNGRD79, a web design firm; BluRoc Records, a record label division.{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/interviews/id.1775/title.dame-dash-explains-bluroc-mission-upholding-lifestyle-in-independence-and-being-a-candidate-to-run-death-row-records|title=Dame Dash Explains BluRoc Mission, Upholding Lifestyle In Independence, And Being A Candidate To Run Death Row Records|last=Paine|first=Jake|date=2011-09-27|website=HipHopDX}} It also includes an art gallery.{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/01/welcome_to_damo.php|title=Welcome to Damon Dash's DD172, New York's Last Line of Defense Against "Wack World" - New York Music - Sound of the City|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811234105/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/01/welcome_to_damo.php|archive-date=2011-08-11}}

Personal life

Dash met R&B singer Aaliyah in New York City in the summer of 2000 through his accountant,{{Cite book|title=Aaliyah: A Biography|last=Warner|first=Jennifer |publisher=BookCaps Study Guides|year=2014|isbn=9781500628215}}{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/467784/damon-dash-talks-losing-aaliyah-nothing-prepares-you-for-that|title=Damon Dash Talks Losing Aaliyah: 'Nothing Prepares You for That'|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 16, 2016}} and dated her until her death on August 25, 2001, in a plane crash in The Bahamas.[http://hellobeautiful.com/2012/08/25/aaliyah-damon-dash-relationship-pictures-rememberance/ Damon Dash Remembers Aaliyah: "Every Time I Was With Her, I Felt It Was The Place To Be"] August 25, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2019 Though they were not formally engaged, in interviews given after Aaliyah's death, Dash stated that the couple had planned to marry.{{cite web|last=Calloway|first=Sway|title=Damon Dash Says Every Day with Aaliyah Was Special|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1448466/boyfriend-damon-dash-recalls-aaliyah.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119021123/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1448466/boyfriend-damon-dash-recalls-aaliyah.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 19, 2011|publisher=MTV News|access-date=August 5, 2014|author2=Hiatt, Brian|author3=Kroft, Ryan|date=August 28, 2001}}

In 2005, Dash married fashion designer Rachel Roy, whom he had dated prior to his relationship with Aaliyah. They met when she was working as an intern at Rocawear. Together they have two daughters, Ava Dash (born December 7, 1999) and Tallulah Dash (born May 14, 2008).{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/music/damon-dash-arrested-unpaid-child-support/|title=Damon Dash Arrested for Unpaid Child Support, Released After Paying More Than $1 Million: Report|last=Tracy|first=Brianne|date=November 21, 2019|website=People|language=en}} Following their divorce in 2009, they had a bitter custody battle.{{Cite web|url=https://heavy.com/news/2015/04/rachel-roy-damon-dash-ex-wife-jay-z-rocafeller-custody-battle-fight-divorce/|title=Rachel Roy, Damon Dash's Ex-Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|last=Gardner|first=David|date=April 3, 2015|website=Heavy}}

Dash has a son, Dame "Boogie" Dash (born November 28, 1991), with former girlfriend Linda Williams. Boogie stars in the reality television show Growing Up Hip Hop.{{Cite web|url=http://www.etonline.com/exclusive-boogie-dash-needs-wake-call-growing-hip-hop-sneak-peek-86405|title=EXCLUSIVE: Boogie Dash Needs a 'Wake-Up Call' in 'Growing Up Hip Hop' Sneak Peek|last=Muhammad|first=Latifah|date=August 31, 2017|website=Entertainment Tonight}} He also has another son, Lucky, born in 2004 with Cindy Morales.{{Cite web|url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2005/01/19/damon_dash_marr/|title=Damon Dash marries longtime girlfriend after getting groupie pregnant|date=January 19, 2005|website=People|access-date=May 9, 2018|archive-date=April 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428085852/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2005/01/19/damon_dash_marr/|url-status=dead}}

Dash and his fiancée Raquel Horn have a son, Dusko Dash, born on November 14, 2020.{{Cite web|last=Rodriguez|first=Karla|date=2020-11-15|title=Dame Dash welcomes fifth child with fiancée Raquel Horn|url=https://www.revolt.tv/news/2020/11/15/21566261/dame-dash-welcomes-fifth-child|access-date=2021-04-14|website=REVOLT|language=en}}

Dash is a first cousin of the actress Stacey Dash.{{Cite web |last= |date=2017-12-07 |title=Stacey Dash Threatens to Sue Cousin Dame Dash Over New Film |url=https://www.ebony.com/stacey-dash-dame-dash/ |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=EBONY |language=en-US}}

Legal issues

In 2012, rapper Curren$y sued Dash for $1.5 million for releasing his music without permission.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/498760/currensy-sues-damon-dash-for-15-million-dashs-attorney-responds|title=Currensy Sues Damon Dash for $1.5 Million; Dash's Attorney Responds|author=RJ Cubarrubia|date=March 27, 2012|magazine=Billboard}} Dash's attorney released a statement that Dash released the music on fair grounds.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/45935-damon-dash-responds-to-curreny-lawsuit/|title=Damon Dash Responds to Curren$y Lawsuit|last=Battan|first=Carrie|date=March 27, 2012|website=Pitchfork|language=en}}

In 2014, Dash was ordered to pay Linda Williams, the mother of his son Boogie, $50,000 for causing her to be prosecuted on harassment charges in 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/damon-dash-pay-ex-lover-50-000-article-1.1724780|title=Former Roc-A-Fella Records chief Damon Dash has to pay out $50,000 to his ex-girlfriend for pushing to have her prosecuted for harassment|last=Ross|first=Barbara|date=March 17, 2014|website=New York Daily News}}

In April 2015, Dash's ex-wife, Rachel Roy, accused him of domestic abuse and filed for a restraining order. Roy was awarded sole custody of their daughters. The court granted Roy and her daughters with a three-year restraining order against Dash.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/648585/rachel-roy-gets-custody-of-kids-and-a-restraining-order-against-damon-dash-all-the-details|title=Rachel Roy Gets Custody of Kids and a Restraining Order Against Damon Dash—All the Details|last=Bacardi|first=Francesca|date=April 21, 2015|website=E! Online}} Days later, Dash filed a $2.5 million claim against Roy in asserted damage for allegedly mishandling their joint fashion business, Royale Etenia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/damon-dash-strikes-back-at-791231|title=Damon Dash Strikes Back at Ex-Wife Rachel Roy With $2.5 Million Claims|last=Gardner|first=Eriq Gardner|date=April 24, 2015|website=The Hollywood Reporter}}

In 2018, Dash settled a suit he filed against director Lee Daniels requesting $5 million to recoup a $2 million investment with interest.{{Cite web|url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2018/11/27/damon-dash-and-lee-daniels-finally-settle-beef-over-2-million-film-investment/|title=Damon Dash and Lee Daniels Finally Settle Beef Over $2 Million Film Investment|last=Nelson|first=Daryl|date=2018-11-27|website=Atlanta Black Star|language=en-US}} Lee had received financial support from Dash early in his career, and reportedly failed to repay him despite his subsequent success.{{Cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/celebrity/lee-daniels-finally-settles-5m-lawsuit-with-dame-dash/|title=Lee Daniels Finally Settles $5M Lawsuit With Dame Dash|last=Boone|first=Keyaira|date=November 28, 2018|website=Essence|language=en-US}}

In November 2019, Dash was arrested for failing to pay more than $400,000 in child support. Dash was in New York City for an unrelated Federal Court appearance when he was arrested for two warrants. The first warrant was issued in April 2015 in the Supreme Court in New York County case of Cindy Morales; he owed $62,553 since 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amny.com/police-fire/producer-rapper-damon-dash-arrest-for-failure-to-pay-child-support/|title=Producer/rapper Damon Dash arrested for failure to pay child support|last=Maisel|first=Todd|date=November 20, 2019|website=am New York}} The second warrant was issued in March 2019 in the Bronx Family Court case of Rachel Roy. He was ordered to pay her $341,991 and $25,000 for attorney fees in 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/damon-dash-pay-342k-ex-wife-dodge-jail-article-1.2204381|title=Damon Dash hit with arrest warrant, ordered to pay $342K to ex-wife to avoid jail|last=Ross|first=Barbara|date=April 30, 2015|website=New York Daily News}} Dash reportedly paid more than $1 million to be released.