“Puffy has been making money off of Biggies name longer than Biggie LIVED”: Jaguar Wright on R Kelly, Jay Z, Dame Dash competing for Aaliyah & Jay Z profit from death of Biggie | HO

The rap world witnessed seismic shifts with the tragic deaths of Biggie and Tupac, leading to a showdown between Nas and Jay-Z for the top spot. Jay-Z’s rise to prominence seemed unstoppable, marked by collaborations with R. Kelly and a string of hit records. However, his journey wasn’t without controversy, including his involvement with Aaliyah and allegations of exploiting tragedies for personal gain.

One pivotal moment was Jay-Z’s iconic “Unplugged” performance in 2001, showcasing his genius and setting a new standard for rap performances. Witnessing Jay-Z’s evolution firsthand, from his early battles to his ascent to rap royalty, was a remarkable experience. He emerged as a force to be reckoned with, building Roc-A-Fella Records alongside Dame Dash, with hits like “Reasonable Doubt” solidifying his status.

But Jay-Z’s success wasn’t without its share of drama and questionable actions. His fallout with Nas and alleged mistreatment of artists like Kanye West and Just Blaze raise concerns about his ethics. Furthermore, his involvement with R. Kelly amid controversy surrounding their relationships with Aaliyah adds another layer of complexity.

The narrative surrounding Jay-Z’s success prompts questions about luck, coincidence, or something more sinister. Despite his undeniable talent and business acumen, there’s a lingering sense of unease about the tragedies and controversies that seem to follow him. While some may admire his achievements, others question the cost of his success and the integrity of his actions.

In the end, Jay-Z’s journey to becoming a billionaire and influential figure in the music industry is a mix of brilliance, controversy, and unanswered questions. Whether viewed as a visionary or a manipulative opportunist, his impact on rap and popular culture is undeniable.

VIDEO: Jaguar Wright on R Kelly, Jay Z, Dame Dash competing for Aaliyah & Jay Z profit from death of Biggie

Dame Dash Calls Out Jay-Z For Collaborating With R. Kelly: ‘I Knew, Morally, We Weren’t The Same’

DASH, WHO WAS DATING AALIYAH AT THE TIME OF HER DEATH, ACCUSED HIS ROC-A-FELLA CO-FOUNDER OF INTENTIONALLY DOING MUSIC WITH R. KELLY DESPITE KNOWING THAT THE SINGER “VIOLATED” AALIYAH.

Jay-Z’s music relationship with R. Kelly was apparently a major reason why Dame Dash and Jay — and ultimately their iconic label Roc-a-Fella — fell apart, according to an explosive new interview. Roc-A-Fella co-founder Dash opened up about his former girlfriend Aaliyah, her connection with R. Kelly, and how that eventually led to the downfall of the label and the fallout with Dame’s co-founder Jay-Z .

His comments came out amid the debut of Lifetime’s Surviving R. Kelly documentary this week. In the six-part documentary, R. Kelly is said to have married an underage Aaliyah in 1994, after pursuing a sexual relationship with her and allegedly getting her pregnant. In one scene, a former backup singer of R. Kelly even admits to witnessing a then-27-year-old Kelly having sex with then-15-year-old Aaliyah on a tour bus.

Dash told Hip Hop Motivation that he had been watching the docuseries, and it was hard to see the parts that detailed R. Kelly’s relationship with Aaliyah. Dash and Aaliyah dated from 2000 until her untimely death in 2001. “I watched some of it yesterday, as much as I could tolerate,” Dash said. “I’m not gonna lie, as a human, I was tight. I was tight about a couple things.

Number one: there was a girl when she was even trying to talk about it and she couldn’t, and I remember Aaliyah trying to talk about it and she couldn’t.

She would just leave it at, ‘That dude was a bad man.’ Dash added that Aaliyah continued to struggle opening up about her relationship with R. Kelly. “I didn’t really want to know what he did, to the extent that I would, you know, deal with it because that’s what a man does,” Dame said.

“But it was so much hurt for her to revisit it. I wouldn’t want to revisit it without a professional. Whatever got done was terrible.” He added that Jay-Z’s decision to collaborate with R. Kelly on 2002’s The Best Of Both Worlds album, despite knowing that Dash had issues with R. Kelly, eventually led to Jay-Z and Dash’s undoing.

Dash also claims that Jay-Z knew about R. Kelly’s predilections, and the things that the “Ignition” singer had done to Aaliyah. “If you remember The Best of Both Worlds, you don’t see my name on that…I never wanted no part of that,” Dash said.

Dash claims he refused to be credited on the album, and that he donated his profits to a breast cancer awareness organization Aaliyah supported. “I know I’m not f-ckin’ with that…I knew, morally, we weren’t the same,” Dash said of Jay-Z. “So, to me, Roc-a-Fella was defunct. It was over. I couldn’t f-ck with it. It was something that, to me—I don’t wanna say ‘unforgivable,’ but I couldn’t understand it. According to Surviving R. Kelly executive producer dream hampton, Jay-Z was one of the multiple celebrities who declined to come on camera to speak about R. Kelly. “John Legend was the only one,” who participated, hampton said. “I asked Jay-Z, I asked Mary J. Blige, I asked Lil Kim, Erykah Badu, Dave Chappelle…But they all said no.

I mean, most people just don’t want to touch it.” R. Kelly has long denied reports that he and Aaliyah wed, saying instead that the two were close friends. In 2016, the R&B singer told GQ magazine that he “will never have that conversation with anyone.” “Out of respect for Aaliyah, and her mother and father who has asked me not to personally,” he continued. “But I can tell you I loved her, I can tell you she loved me, we was very close. We were, you know, best best best best friends.” You can check out Dash’s full interview below. His comments appear around the 10-minute mark: