Time and life experiences changes many things for all of us. The time was 1996 and Rocafella Records was a newly formed hip hop label about to release what would be one of hip hop's most classic albums by a rapper named Jay Z titled "Reasonable Doubt". Dame Dash was at the helm of the day to day decision making of the label ensuring his artists, his company and himself, got the shine and respect he knew they deserved. We will spare you the trip far back down memory lane of how Damon Dash got started because it is a story told many times over the years. Instead we will just take a look at how he spends his time today through words and pictures,which by the way is pretty impressive. Damon Dash went from "popping tags", multiple homes in London and Los Angeles, private jets and yachts, to t-shirts, b-ball shorts and a salt and pepper scruff topped off with a hint of exhaustion. It is much easier to get to him today than it was when he was atop the world behind his desk overseeing Rocafella Records, Rocawear and various other ventures from his corner office in Manhattan. To even get close to him back then you would need to go through a slew of
security and an entourage that reportedly used to scare record execs.
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| Damon in front of his Poppington art gallery |
Today Dash spends his time running a store front art gallery called Poppington, and various other
small business ventures ranging from a new clothing line with rapper Jim Jones called Vamp Life, a couple websites, and more recently a new whiskey brand he's trying to get off the ground, called Dusko and V Vodka. But please don't make the mistake of thinking Mr. Dash is worrying about where his next meal is coming from. After all he does pay out about $30,000 a month to cover child support, rent on a loft and various other financial commitments. A broke man wouldn't be able to do this plus pay overhead for his multiple businesses including a staff payroll. Dame isn't struggling, he's just humbled. When news broke of an alleged financial demise Damon responded by saying: “I’m an independent businessman and this is what comes from business. I have the guts to fight my battles on my own and it’s entertainment to everybody else because I’m so cool about it.” The Dame Dash story is not really a rise and fall story that has been written about some of the the most prominent people in business. The Damon Dash story is a rise and new rise story. A man who's past success may have been a lesson on what not to do when he embarks on his real path to even greater success.
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| Damon's staff at work |
There is no doubt of a total change in his lifestyle and demeanor. All you have to do is visit his instagram page and you get a glimpse inside the life of a man now humbled (yeah we're using that word a lot) by events brought on by his own doing. He mostly looks tired in the photos, but you can also see the hunger for a comeback in his eyes. Someone not knowing who he is, oblivious to the fact that he is the man who gave us the biggest rapper today, would mistake him for a worker in one of the many warehouses in Manhattan's Chelsea area, because he blends now. No entourage, no assistants, no security, just Damon. He hangs out in front of his art gallery with friends shooting instavideos and interviewing some of his staff. He also spends a ton of time with his children.His oldest,Boogie Dash who is an up and coming DJ and producer is inside the new Dash inner circle which includes business partners from China and rapper Jim Jones. On a recent trip with Boogie up to Canada for a gig Boogie had, Canadian authorities denied Damon entry into the country due to an incident that took place during his Rocafella days. His son being loyal to his dad, skipped the gig and returned home with him refusing to go if his dad couldn't come. Dame posted about it on his Instagram page boasting about how proud he was of his son. Dame has basically done a 180 going back to an independent hustle mentality and approach where all projects are mostly self funded and managed. He seems to love it this way too. There is no upper corporate politics to deal with, and no meetings can be planned or take place without his OK or behind his back. The last time someone did that, well we all know that now infamous video of Damon yelling at Def Jam executives. He is in full control and his staff loves him and he loves his staff.
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| Damon with Jay Z recently |
Dame has also been slowly putting past riffs behind him. He was very proud of Jay Z's "Magna Carta Holy Grail" CD saying in an interview that he was happy to be a part of it. He and Jay Z recently hung out together at the birthday party of a mutual friend (see photo). In fact the two are rumored to be communicating a lot more lately. Many are hoping for some kind of reunion but Damon isn't focused on that right now. He is re-building organically and taking his time to do so. In reflecting on his Rocafella days, Damon will be the first to tell you that he made major mistakes. But he isn't hanging on to them, instead he's learned from them and is working not to repeat them. According to industry folks Damon has been black listed by the industry he contributed to and helped make greater. There were rumors that he was retaking the Rocafella name to relaunch it a few years ago but that plan got scrapped after talks fell apart. The only music Damon is really involved in today is related to his son Boogie who runs with a crew of up and coming rappers. But something tells us, he is happy where he is right now. Here are some more photos of Damon at work and play and work again. The man is stewing something big.
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| Jim Jones and Damon Dash outside the factory where their Vamp Life apparel is produced |
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| Team Vamp Life |
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| Vamp Life tees sell out fast so production is at full capacity to keep up with demand |
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| Damon talks with staff and friends outside his Poppington gallery |
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| Vamp Life socks |
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| Damon and son Boogie at their home in upstate New York |
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| Rapper Cam'ron stops by the Poppington gallery |
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| Damon and Vamp Life Clothing partner Jim Jones |
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| Damon at work |
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| Running a meeting at the office |
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| Damon with his daughters at the park |
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| Vamp Life t-shirts in production |
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| The kids |
