In my first meeting, I said, “We need to sign DMX,” and they laughed at me. Jay and Dame didn’t believe in him. Jay would ask, “You think he’s better than me?”
Did you actually come up with the 360 deal? I wouldn’t say I invented it. It was just something I needed to do. Everyone has the option to sign a contract and work with whoever they want. To work with me, I needed to have more invested.
Jay-Z is once again in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. This time, VBG is spilling the tea, accusing Jay of throwing shade at the legendary DMX. But hold on, there’s more to this story. Rumor has it that Jay might have teamed up with his mentor, music executive Lyor Cohen, in what some are speculating could be a plot to take out DMX. Yes, you heard that right—take him out literally.
I had lost interest in the money; it just didn’t matter to me anymore. Later, I found out that he had a weird obsession with blood. But seriously, why would you do that to a child? Now, fans are calling out Jay-Z, saying that his supposed commitment to the black community doesn’t match his actions, like allegedly undermining other black artists. There are even whispers that Jay-Z might have had a hand in DMX’s downfall, with help from higher-ups in the music business, including his mentor Lyor Cohen.
DMX was never afraid to call out the shady stuff happening at the top. He used to say that a lot of rappers were basically selling out to their record label bosses, and he meant it literally.
“You know what I’m saying? The record label executives, there’s too much of that going on,” he would say. “Let me be me. Let me be the artist I am and just play my music. But instead, they have you all caught up in dinners and other things.”
But wait, there’s more. Vvti has dropped some bombshell allegations of his own, claiming that Jay-Z was seriously jealous of DMX and might have plotted against him behind the scenes. And if that’s not enough drama, hold on because Irv Gotti himself had a run-in with Jay-Z that sounds like a crime thriller. The word is that Jay-Z and his alleged partner in crime, Diddy, ratted out Irv to the feds, framing him for a crime he didn’t commit. Why? Rumor has it that Irv and some other black music moguls were planning to start an all-black-owned music distribution company to keep culture vultures away. But Jay-Z and Diddy’s mentors, Lyor Cohen and Clive Davis, were supposedly not thrilled about this and allegedly schemed to block Irv’s plans.
But what’s the real story behind Irv’s claims about Jay conspiring against DMX? Is there any solid evidence for the rumors that Jay and Lyor Cohen plotted to take down X? Let’s break it all down.
Jay used to watch me grind with X while he was off with the Hitmen. Then something strange happened when I made “Get at Me Dog.” I would tell Lyor in front of the whole staff, “Yo, shut up. You work better when you shut up and get behind me.”
Have you noticed how anyone who dares to spill the beans on Jay-Z and Diddy ends up in one of two places—either six feet under or labeled as crazy? Case in point: the legendary DMX. Rumor has it that DMX tried to expose both Jay-Z and Diddy for allegedly conspiring with white label owners against their fellow black artists. In one resurfaced interview, DMX accused Diddy of financially exploiting his artists.
“Well, you know, The Lox got signed even though I bought The Lox St. Bernards. They got signed. They were a safer group. Puff signed them. It was a blessing and a curse because they were happy about getting signed personally. They were on “The Benjamin,” and things were going well, but then he made them jiggy, put them in suits, made them write lyrics for him, and took all their publishing. Like, damn, I’m glad I didn’t do it like that.”
In another interview, DMX revealed how Diddy initially gave him the cold shoulder when it came to a deal at Bad Boy. But when Diddy got wind of a better offer from Def Jam, he suddenly started begging X to stick around. However, DMX wasn’t feeling the vibe with Diddy because he allegedly heard about some shady business going down behind the scenes at Bad Boy.
“Maybe three weeks after I got signed, he was like, “Yo, I’ll double what they gave you and fill your pockets.” I’m like, “No, I’m cool.”
Let’s shift the spotlight over to Jay-Z because there’s so much conversation around Diddy and his alleged wrongdoings, while Jay isn’t getting nearly as much scrutiny. It’s like he’s slipping through the cracks while everyone’s eyes are glued on Diddy.
After DMX’s passing in April 2021, Jay-Z appeared on LeBron James’ show and claimed that despite X being competitive with him, it was all love between them.
“There was a competitive thing, but it was big love. He was so competitive with me. I never met a human being more competitive with me—like, ever. Not even my big brother—like, no one.”
But here’s the twist that Jay-Z conveniently forgot to mention. According to DMX himself, it was actually Jay who was playing the competitive game. Back in 2004, Jay-Z became the president of Def Jam Records, succeeding Lyor Cohen, and according to X, that’s when things took a turn.
You see, DMX had been holding it down for Def Jam, dropping five consecutive number one albums between 1998 and 2003. But when Jay-Z stepped into the president role, X claimed that Jay started messing around with the release of his sixth studio album, “Year of the Dog…Again.”
“I had a crazy track record at Def Jam. Everything was good. I go to do the sixth album, and you know, yeah, yeah, yeah. When he first got the job, he called me like, “Yo, dog, I’m just running the building. You’re good. Finish the album. Shoot the video.” What happened? He goes on vacation, and suddenly, no one knows anything. How do you listen to a whole album, pick a single, shoot a video, then not know?”
According to X, Jay had his sights set on making a comeback and wanted to make sure there weren’t any rivals blocking his path to the top.
“Okay, I see what’s really good. You’re trying to eliminate the competition. You know, because at first you retire, then get me off the label, now you’re back rapping again. Okay, that’s all good.”
This was the aha moment for DMX, the instant he realized that Jay-Z was ready to throw anyone under the bus if it meant advancing his own agenda. So X decided to part ways with Def Jam. But here’s the kicker—DMX’s trust issues with Jay run even deeper, all tied back to Jay’s connections with the shady big shots in the industry.
Jay-Z and DMX approached the business side of things differently. Unlike Jay, X stayed true to himself, never mincing words about how label owners hold artists in a tight grip, and he refused to compromise his integrity for anyone.
“They got this new breed of rappers paying DJs to play their music. You know what I’m saying, the record label executives. There’s too much of that going on. Let me be me. Let me be the artist that I am. Just play my music. Now they have you all up under this, going to dinner with them and things like that, all that favor for a favor. I don’t get down like that. I’ll give you the music, you give me my money.”
Back in 2005, DMX released the track “The Industry,” where he exposed how the music business really operates. He raps:
“If you ain’t got a strong mind, the industry will break you down, it’s a matter of time. The industry vultures with nothing to feast on.”
And in another verse, X says:
“The industry wants new artists to sell their souls. The industry don’t give a f— about you, but the industry couldn’t make a dime without you. The game is bullsh*t. If you want to rap or sing or whatever, don’t become a part of the game. Listen to a song called ‘The Industry,’ and that pretty much explains what the industry is about. It’s not the same. The industry is not a game. The industry is real. The industry is trying to control the way you MC. They want you to dress like this and talk like that, but I’m going to dress like this and talk with the gat.”
Jay-Z has been navigating the music industry since the beginning, but over the years, he’s been accused of betraying friends and partners. Take Dame Dash, for example, co-founder of Roc-A-Fella. Dame publicly accused Jay-Z of turning his back on him to cozy up with powerful figures in the music business, particularly Lyor Cohen. According to Dame, Lyor used divide-and-conquer tactics to dismantle Roc-A-Fella.
Dame shared an experience with Lyor, where Lyor tried to incite a feud between Dame and another Black person on his behalf. Lyor implied that loyalty to him required going to war for him. Dame refused, highlighting how unreasonable Lyor’s demands were. He recounted instances where Lyor’s offensive remarks nearly led to physical confrontations, which Dame had to defuse to protect Lyor.
Lyor Cohen has been controversial in the music industry for years, known for making problematic statements. In 2018, during an interview on The Breakfast Club, he discussed substance abuse in the rap industry, expressing sadness over DMX’s addiction struggles. When Charlamagne questioned why he signed artists promoting such lifestyles, Lyor bluntly responded that business priorities often took precedence over personal issues, admitting to being opportunistic.
When asked about Dame Dash calling him a “culture vulture,” Lyor dismissively claimed not to know Dame, despite their significant financial collaboration. Dame responded on Instagram, accusing Lyor of exploiting Black artists and erasing their true history.
Rumors suggest that Lyor influenced Jay-Z to interfere with DMX’s career. At DMX’s funeral in April 2021, Lyor didn’t attend in person but sent a recording. While he started with kind words, he controversially referred to DMX as a “gremlin” and implied that his death was inevitable due to his reckless behavior. This comment was seen as deeply disrespectful, especially at a funeral, reinforcing Dame’s accusations against Lyor.
Jay-Z’s association with Lyor has led to speculation about his actions. Allegations have surfaced that Jay-Z and Diddy informed federal authorities about Irv Gotti and other Black record label owners’ plans to create an all-Black-owned music distribution company.
Irv Gotti mentioned that Suge Knight had proposed a union for music artists, aiming to provide essential benefits like healthcare and retirement plans. This initiative intended to revolutionize the music industry, ensuring artists received fair treatment and support.
In 2002, at the West Coast Hip Hop Summit, Suge Knight criticized major record labels for retaining artists’ master rights, keeping them dependent. His speech highlighted the need for structural changes to empower artists and protect their interests.
How many people want to form a union? How many people want to come together and say, “Okay, let’s network. You’ve got a deal at Universal, but your points are too low. You’ve got a deal at Universal, but they took 100% of your publishing. You’ve got a deal at Sony, but you don’t own your master, even though it’s your work”?
“Arti, let me tell you something else. If you want to know what’s really going on, here’s the truth: a lot of record companies will tell you that you have the right to buy your master back eventually.” Su then called out some big names in the industry, including Diddy, for not stepping up and showing solidarity. “Where’s Jay? Where’s Redman? Where’s Herb? Where’s P. Diddy? Whatever you want to call him, where is he? I could go on—where’s Peete? Where’s Outkast? Where’s the main man? The pre? Where are they? This is the West Coast, but they want to come out here and get West Coast love. But when it’s about the East Coast, we’re there for them. These Hollywood wannabes are out here, so why can’t they show the same support? Brother, I’m not an idiot. Don’t get me wrong; you know it’s cool. By the way, VV Gotti’s name came up because the summit happened before Irv joined Sh’s master plan. But eventually, Sh managed to rally almost all the big shots from black record labels to his side, except Jay-Z and Diddy.
Now, you’ve probably heard the whispers about Jay and Diddy allegedly having shady connections with the feds and other mysterious figures in high places. In Diddy’s case, it supposedly traces back to his late dad, Melvin Combs, who reportedly worked for the infamous Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas. However, Melvin met a tragic end when he was gunned down back in 1972. And while the case was never officially solved, Diddy’s former bodyguard Gene Deal claimed that Melvin was taken out by his own crew for allegedly snitching. And get this, according to Gene, Diddy narrowly escaped a similar fate. Rumor has it the bullets that ended Biggie Smalls’ life in ’97 were actually meant for Diddy.
Let’s remember that night at Andre Harrell’s house when I told you that someone was coming to kill us or try to get at us. I told you I had intel, but you didn’t want to hear it. Remember when I told our driver, Kenny, “Run the next three lights”? Kenny ran the lights; Big stopped at the light; Big got killed. It wasn’t meant for him, bro. Remember when you told Wolf’s mother right after he died that you didn’t owe him $300,000 and that he had delusions of grandeur. All he wanted to do was smoke weed. Let’s go even deeper, bro. Remember how you had people on the security team and found people to testify against Sean. You’re a wreck, man. I won’t even call you a rat, dog. You’re worse than what your father was.
Let me give you some intel on him. You know that meeting New York Freddy wanted to have with you? Freddy Meers will tell you the real deal about your father. Let me tell you something, dog. You would have died just like your father did that night if I wasn’t in the car with you. You understand? Your father died because he was going to snitch and rat out his crew. Now, when it comes to Diddy’s alleged connections with the feds, the buzz is that this is the main reason he’s managed to get away with all sorts of shady deeds for decades. However, some folks in the industry knew what was going on and tried to raise the alarm about Diddy’s alleged connections. One of them was Kanye West, who openly accused Diddy of being a fed a full year before Cassie dropped her lawsuit. Remember back in late 2022 when Kanye was blacklisted for exposing the people who control the music industry? Right after that, Diddy reached out to Kanye and asked to chat in person. But Kanye didn’t fall for it. Instead, he shared text messages between him and Diddy. In one message, Kanye taunted Puff, saying, “Come and do something illegal to me now, please.” Diddy replied, “As soon as I land, we’ll meet face to face. Send me the address.” Kanye felt like Diddy was trying to set him up, so he texted back, “F you, you fed.” Diddy again asked Kanye to send him his address, saying, “Don’t feel threatened. You’ll be fine. Just love.” But Kanye wasn’t having it. He said, “This ain’t a game. I’m gonna use you as an example to show the Jewish people who told you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me.”
Kanye West intensified his accusations during an appearance on Drink Champs, again targeting Diddy for allegedly collaborating with the feds. He also took shots at Meek Mill and others, saying, “Puff Daddy, Meek Mill, whoever, all of you fake tough guys. No, no, hold on. You fake tough guys. You know what I’m saying? I give, ’cause you can’t shoot anybody anyway. And the reason why you have to talk is because you did a deal, you fed. You know what I’m saying? That’s why you have to come at me because part of the deal for you to be able to do all that and get out of jail is that you promised you were going to come after me.”
Later, when Kanye encountered some paparazzi, he stated that unlike Diddy and many other rappers, he can’t be controlled because he has never taken anyone’s life. “Y’all can’t send your Meek Mills, your Puffys, your Lil Boosies, none of these names, none of these people that have to listen to y’all because they’re dealing with legal issues. I never killed nobody, right? I’m the one who never killed nobody, right?”
Kanye didn’t stop there. He went on to mention Jay-Z and Beyoncé, suggesting that even they are controlled by industry puppet masters. “They can control Jay-Z and Beyoncé, but they can’t control me. You see, there isn’t a name I won’t mention. It’s up now.” Regarding Jay-Z’s supposed connections with the feds, much speculation has surrounded his decision to appoint Desiree Perez as the CEO of Roc Nation. Desiree is reportedly a former federal informant. Remember when Jay-Z said, “I think we passed kneeling”? Watch it again, but this time notice the reaction of the lady sitting just behind him. She is the CEO of Roc Nation, but in her past life, she was a federal informant. In 1994, Desiree Perez was arrested for smuggling 35 kilos of cocaine into Miami. Under pressure, she agreed to wear a wire for the DEA. Quick side note: Desiree Perez is the name Dame Dash refused to mention in his Breakfast Club interview. Some friends are no longer mentioned where I’m from.
Around the same time, Jay-Z and Perez spearheaded Roc Nation’s prison reform initiative with Meek Mill. Her hard work seemed to pay off because, on January 19, 2021, this list was released, revealing that Desiree Perez’s criminal record had been wiped clean by outgoing President Donald Trump. Back in 2015, when the New York Daily News brought Desiree’s past to light, Dame Dash appeared on Sway in the Morning and said this revelation seriously rattled him regarding what Jay-Z might be up to. Dame explained how many of his friends and associates, including Roc-A-Fella co-founder Kareem “Biggs” Burke, had been through the wringer with the feds. Seeing Jay-Z appoint a former federal informant as the president of his company was downright terrifying. “The paper did scare me, and I was like, there has to be some truth to it. When I read about his affiliation with informants, that he’s in business with certain people, it’s tricky for me to say, but just based on where I’m from, I can’t have anything to do with that. That part of it scares me because I know Biggs is in jail, I know Irv Gotti has been under scrutiny for years over things he didn’t do. I know they’ve been on me for years. So it just means I need to stay over here. You know, your friend, my man’s in jail for three years over weed. You know the feds are really on me. It’s not like they’re not. And where I’m from, that is not tolerated at all.”
Let’s rewind to Suge Knight’s vision for an all-black-owned music distribution company. Both Vgti and J Prince have revealed that federal authorities interfered with this plan. Fast forward to January 2003: federal investigators raided Murder Inc.’s offices in New York. Irv Gotti and his brother Chris were charged with money laundering, facing up to 20 years in prison. However, they beat the charges, with Irv claiming it was a setup to stop their efforts to unionize and shake up the music industry.
J Prince shared that in the 90s, the DEA had a corrupt agent targeting Rap-A-Lot Records. He said, “They assigned a guy named Jack Schuer to arrest me or whatever, but he sent death threats. This man killed eight people while they were investigating me. I hired an investigator and found out this guy was responsible for those killings.”
But here’s the big question: Is there any solid evidence that Jay-Z and Diddy collaborated with the feds to block the all-black-owned music company? According to Gan Deal, there’s a lot of paperwork at Bad Boy Records suggesting Diddy’s involvement with the feds. “Puff and Kirk Burrows went to the feds with all this paperwork. They weren’t just talking about extortion but also about the distribution plan.”
Regarding Jay-Z, Jean said he heard from multiple sources that Jay was also helping the feds. “People are coming out now saying Jay-Z was involved. Their stories match what we said years ago. So, Jay-Z told the feds too. There’s a reason why rap in New York went downhill. They made sure the young artists didn’t get platforms and opportunities.”
Adding to the accusations against Jay-Z, there’s an interview with Irv Gotti where he claims Jay was jealous of DMX. Gotti said Jay and Lyor Cohen laughed at the idea of signing DMX. “In the first meeting, I said we should sign DMX, and they laughed. Tina Davis told me if DMX didn’t sell, I’d be fired. Jay and Dame didn’t believe in DMX. Jay would ask, ‘You think he’s better than me?’ I’d say, ‘He’s just as good.’ When ‘Get At Me Dog’ was made, it ended the shiny suits era, and DMX led the revolution. I used to tell Lyor and the staff to get behind me and let me lead.”
Fans are now saying this proves DMX was right about Jay-Z and the industry leaders. Some even suggest DMX’s untimely death was an industry sacrifice. One fan commented, “Rest in peace DMX. He told us who to blame if anything happened to him. He was killed, but those with money swept it under the rug. What’s done in the dark will come to light. You are missed.” Another fan added, “DMX wasn’t getting high at the end. He was sober. The industry knows your past and will use it against you when you become a threat.”
What’s your take on all this? Do you believe Jay-Z conspired against DMX out of jealousy? Do you think there’s something suspicious about DMX’s death? Share your thoughts in the comments
