Damon Dash is severing
business ties with formers partners including Jay-Z and is selling his stake in
Rocawear back to partners for $22 million dollars.
Rocawear was established in 1999 and has grossed over $500 million
dollars since its inception.
The move all but seals any further business dealings between
the two former Rocawear/Roc-A-Fella co-CEO’s.
“Rocawear was my point of view, a Harlem swagger,"
Dash told AllHipHop.com of the sale. "They gave me $30 million and 75%
of Team Roc. I’m real happy with the deal. I got $22.5 million in cash and the
rest in companies (like State Property, Team Roc, Pro-Keds and other entities)."
Rumors of Dash making an exit from the Roc brand started to
circulate shortly after Dash and Jay-Z sold Roc-A-Fella Records in 2004, a venture
which they established in 1995
By the late 1990’s, Roc-A-Fella Records was raking in
over $50 million dollars annually, releasing hit records by Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel,
Memphis Bleek and others.
In 1997, Island Def Jam bought a 50% stake in the label for
$1.5 million. The success helped launch Rocawear and Roc-A-Fella Films in 1999,
Dash Films in 2001 and Armadale Vodka in 2002.
The label was sold back to Def Jam in 2004 amid rumors of a
rift between Dash and superstar rapper and co-CEO Jay-Z.
The remaining 50% stake in Roc-A-Fella Records was acquired
for $10 million dollars, giving Island Def Jam, a unit of Universal, 100 % ownership
of the label.
Roc-A-Fella executives had renegotiated their deal with Island
Def Jam several years prior to selling the remaining stake for $20 million dollars,
bringing the total selling price of Roc-A-Fella to over $30 million dollars.
Dash denied rumors of hostile feeling towards his former business
partner.
“When the original Roc-A-Fella broke up, it was time for
everybody to do their own thing,” Dash said. “We ain’t no b####-ass
n***as taking sides. All that s### is petty and
s**t."
While the move marks the end of Dash’s relationship with
the Roc-A-Fella brand, Dash is involved in several other high profile ventures.
He holds investments in the Tiret watch company, his film production-company
Dash Films, America magazine, State Property clothing, a licensing deal with
Pro-Keds sneakers and his record label, Dame Dash Music Group, which is distributed
by Island Def Jam.
“Now that
I know the business world, I don’t need partners,” Dash said. “I
got my own connects with the bank."