Kanye West: 'Dame Dash Presented Me to the World'
Kanye West's interview on Power 105's The Breakfast Club gave a lot of insight into his approaches to fashion, music, and entrepreneurship. One of the most outstanding segments of the sit-down, however, was his words about former boss Damon Dash, whom he credits for introducing him to the world.
"He presented me to the world," he told Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee and DJ Envy. "I wouldn't have a record deal if it wasn't for Dame Dash."
Before West made it big, he was refused by several record labels because he did not resemble the quintessential street image that was being portrayed in hip hop at the time. Damon Dash, however, along with fellow label head Jay Z, signed a then green West to Roc-A-Fella Records.
West even humbly admitted to being disloyal to Dash, saying that by him choosing to side with Hov following the label's demise, their relationship was heavily strained. He even went on to wonder how different his career would have been if he had he ventured off with Dash instead:
"It was the moment when Roc-A-Fella split and it made more sense for me career-wise to roll with Jay even though Dame had supported me," he said. "But then I wonder, I say, 'Where would I be if I had rolled with Dame? Would I have been more successful? Would I have been less successful?' I can't say. But at that time, you know I came to Roc-A-Fella because Jay Z was my idol, and it would've been very hard for me at that young state where I was to separate from my idol."
Dash and Yeezy recently reconnected at the 2015 BET Honors, where the former record exec presented him with the Visionary award. West says that this is only the beginning of their reconnection as business partners.
"Is there anything that Dame and I could do together now to make money? I think so," he said. "We're going to work on films. I really like the films that he's doing. Dame is like the original person that understood culture and really was in it in every situation. You gotta definitely say that Dame is a real n***a."
Make sure you tune in on Monday, February 23 at 9P/8C to see Kanye West receive his BET Honors award.
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(Photos from Left: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images, HRC/ WENN.com)
