Dame Dash Gives Jay-Z A Birthday Toast At Rocafella Offices (1998)

found this footage a while back.. happy birthday hov!

[@sugargroovemusic]

Love this footage, I was 17 years old, I'm the spanish dude in the background. I worked there for over 6 years from when it was a small office on john street,moved to 79 5th ave(Video) till defjam took over. Dame is a good dude & only watched of out for the best intrest of his family. Yeah he was a dick to outsiders. Everyone wanted a piece of the Roc. Sad how things when down, I miss a lot of people you see in that room, they taught me a lot as a teenager. Jay changed a lot.

[@casshernlancer8917]

Changed a lot as in him personally or Roc-A-Fella

[@nielsenmakaba5777]

A lot of people who worked at rocafella are still friends with Jay z to this day.....if Jay changed a lot so did Dame......

[@frankvalentino1121]

Didn’t they have an office in one of the world trade towers in like 99 or 2000?

[@user-pp3bn5ot2t]

@@frankvalentino1121 Our first office was 17 John St next to World Trade Center. We actually were above the grays papaya on the corner. "All they get is 50 cent franks and papayas" lol

[@frankvalentino1121]

@@user-pp3bn5ot2t I thought there was one at 7 world trade ctr nyc?

[@tyhairston5397]

This is 22 years old now.. Rest In Peace too rocafella

[@Mookaron]

😂

[@specialK312]

When Dame said "Jay is my best friend" that shit hit hard because I said that about one of my ex friends before and i really meant the sht and its crazy how Dame and I both got stabbed in the back by the people we thought of as "best friends". The truth is, is that nobody is your best friend. No matter how long you have known them, no matter how much you do for them, no matter how much you trust them, if letting you die can make their life better they will not even think twice i promise you this. Everyone in this world is a selfish snake and if you aren't one then your best friend's betrayal will make you one. Always choose the bag over your friend because choosing your friend will not only go unappreciated but it will be seen as a weakness. Only kids have friends and best friends, adults have colleagues and associates. A good person cannot survive in a world composed of bad people and the only way to thrive is to become the absolute worst one out of all of them. The resentment that I have for people is something that is of Satan. Once you see the true nature of humanity you will be changed forever, you will be emotionless unless that emotion is hatred. I honestly thought that most people were good when i was a child

[@pradabears]

I think you just think that way because you’ve been hurt too many times. Good people still exist. You just have to not lose hope.

[@tupactargaryen]

Yeah, Jay was never his friend, he was a snake looking for the right opportunity to stab Dame in the back.

[@terrellford3813]

Damn man, I’m sorry to hear that, I understand your emotions and I too myself have been betrayed by a so called best friend, but life is a journey, you live, grow, learn and apply so you don’t make the same mistakes, I hope you can get past this because the masses are low down but you are what you attract, they have some genuine people out there, it’s just the masses overshadow them

[@user-s4k9s399]

you spittin but also get therapy lol

[@user-nh8ft7tv4w]

Going through the same thing rn. This is so true

[@gracedaniels3387]

Even though Rocafella isn't together, I still respect them with everything in me! They set the ground work for me & other people who want to come in the business

[@pedrogates3189]

Definitely

[@BugattiBreeze]

I wish they could go back to this

[@LuxeLifestyle]

When dame said "Jay Z is the franchise and the Label is built around him FOR NOW" Look at Jay face, it was at that moment he knew he was done with him. lol

[@Notdroc]

No. Jay Z was supposed to be an executive and run things from the background. That's why on Volume 2 it was said that Bleek is going to be a new and improved Jay Z. They wanted to build a label that has successfull artist and allow them to venture out in other avenues and become successful.

[@TMQ1981]

I think it's the opposite. Jay was frustrated that others that they (incl., Dame) earmarked, including Bleek who was Jay's personal friend and protege, in the end never quite fulfilled their potential, because he probably realised they did not have his gift for polished albums, or work rate. So, he ended up being for the most part the only real commercially successful asset making most the money for the label; aka he was the franchise whether he liked it or not. Kanye was gynornous commercially but not by this point or before the Roc broke up; Cam, Beens and Free were hot, but not consistent. Dame saying 'For Now' probably is only what Jay was himself also telling dame privately. I bet something like..."Dame these cats need to step up and follow my lead.... I am doing all the heavy lifting here". Hence why he pretty much was lining it up for them; listen to Takeover, one example. But they didn't or couldn't meet the challenge. Jay always wanted them to shine, see him in the Hot 97 freestle, pretty much their hype man, not dropping a verse, using their street heat for his own cache no doubt, but I think he also wanted them to earn their keep and make money for him / the Roc, and why not, he was making money for the label. Them being big in their own right is good for him making him the even more exclusive head honcho / guest apperance / Boss; which I think he wanted and liked. In the end, the reality he was the most outstanding performer and artist on the label, and then him bucking up with Beyonce strategically was a big power move, Jay could see what others couldn't, and this sent his brand into orbit. The other cats on the label simply couldnt match that. Roca Fella was pretty much just Jay from a commercial standpoint and eventually it became to assymetric/one sided. It made more sense for Jay just to do his own thing, can't split the bread if others are trying but still only bringing tap water to the party; or Dame spazzing out on everyone. The Jigga brand outgrew them all, natural forces prevailed. Jay was not the best rapper strictly speaking, but he was whether you respected it or like it, or not, the most strategic and smartest of all the rappers of his era. He was playing chess while others were playing checkers.

[@proudscottishlad5275]

Jay z got that kawhi leonard laugh.

[@iwillbreaktheinternet]

lol wait til you hear mine, just trying to make everyone proud.

[@Stories10190]

Jay played them

[@TheRealHipHopHeads]

Jay was his best friend...awe

[@StruggleBeard91]

This is definitely after "filming" "Streets is Watching" in late 97'. They put it out in 98'. They toasted Jay's birthday, but also just bounced back from getting clowned with that "Always Be My Sunshine" video, redeeming it with "Streets Is Watching" The birth of "Rocafella Films"

[@LucasPenido]

This is actually in 2000.

[@pedrogates3189]

Crazy to see these dudes not even speaking now …I know everyone speculates about why they broke up but the reason they don’t speak at all has it be something deeper and we’ll probably never know

[@SacredSocietyAP]

Everybody know not to do business with family! That's why I don't like it when people form a business then start callin' everyone fam. Things starts gettin' all twisted and shit. Stay about ya business and keep ya fam at home.

[@werearethedreamteam3724]

Greed is the root of all evil and now dame is left in the dust a broke ass fool

[@SeeYouInHellMyLove]

@UCAtiBqflYmz4-y6FWAOPKPw Who tf is broke ? Do you have more money than dame ? No? Thought so... You can’t call somebody broke who makes more money than you he made 27 Million alone off Rocawear after selling his portion, Imagine after selling rocafella 🤡 “broke” stfu you broke dame rich forever he invests

[@LiveVisionManagementGroup]

@@werearethedreamteam3724 Dame Dash ain’t broke

[@dwaynemcewan487]

When Dame said for now he have Jay-Z the heads up that he needs to be more on his grind.

[@88ntil]

Jay is boogie (dame son) godfather crazy how things can change

[@stonysvucemoneebvng7798]

it hurts watching this man

[@thotbucket]

Happy 51st Jay.

[@AndrewsOpinion15]

happy 52th birthday damon anthony dash !!!!

[@ftgreenprojects]

Watching Jay-Z You can see where Young Chris of the Young Guns got all of his mannerisms and swag from! Even though he tries to pretend Jay-z is copying his swag!

[@TheRealHipHopHeads]

HOV was like fuck all that shit

[@agoodamerican614]

RHHH i peeped that. he got the slightly embarrassed look n shit.

[@TheStarkman123]

"tizoast" kill me

[@jasonharms9411]

You can tell Dame knew even back then that Jay was too big for the Rock.

[@marcy-brooklyn161]

Son was bound to break away from Dame Dash I'm glad he is doing his own thing now salute Jigga...Marcy Legend Word Up

[@kaysoncaulhon1659]

Crazy thing is I ain’t never really seen jayz laugh like this in maaaddd long

[@user-pp4zw9lm6j]

Didn’t know there was high quality 1997 footage out there.

[@Kingreec]

did you hear dame say its jays for now and jay stop laughin ... cause rocafella was jays forever lol .. #Hov

[@brickflipper5273]

Diamonds are forever 🙌🏿

[@Saskiequelle]

3:00 Correction...was my best friend.

[@warnutztheloser]

Diz wuz Jus da Beginnin'

[@bjones140]

Jayz laugh make me laugh 1:50 -2:00

[@realxclusive1]

Yes I did buddy. Did you see him raise his eyebrows like, "yeah right" when Dame said that he was appreciated?

[@STYLWALKER1]

THE GOOD OL DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jameleason8200]

This makes me cry how the way things use too be smh

[@itsrelativ3967]

Jay-Z's creepy laugh though...

[@thomashester2]

Reunited now

[@TheRealHipHopHeads]

We all a family at Rocafella....ha

[@Damien32]

lol honestly jay really doesnt look much different although that was 13 years ago

[@alvinpointer6700]

That was the speech that got dame kicked to the curb he gave jayz to much props and the head honchos moved in. He said the label built around Jay. It was a wrap

[@animebrospodcast4577]

It was though

[@ricardocasimir8097]

Rocafella all dayy

[@Histibe]

@ 2-28 jigga like oh shit that's my bottle lol

[@pedrogates3189]

Nah he didn’t want it on camera cristal wasn’t ’t paying for advertisements lol

[@mattashley04]

Damn.

[@TopBillionCMG]

good times.... i was only 8 lol

[@twiz08]

lls...@ jay face @ 3:18 when dame said everyone with us is going get money and get rich.. Jay wtf ever face on! lls

[@carsxarexhard4504]

Damn literally said I better get the same treatment on my birthday. He wanted to be just like Jay Z

[@BlackAlienTV]

at 0:29, the guy with the orange shirt hates on Jay-z! jay z just missed it. and he chews loud as fuck also.

[@sujaz2738]

Who is that

[@DaKoolDude]

Sad

[@Marcello21223]

boogie yung ass lol

[@JohnDoe-jg3sv]

Kinda cringey...I mean, was Dame informed of J’s bday when he strolled in and was like...yeah right here in the hallway.

[@MsMabry08]

Dont forget who threw dame cash when the irs was on his ass and this was just a few years ago

[@sujaz2738]

Who

[@leshinds718]

@mee9mee9 boogie dame dash's son.

[@GeorgeWashingtonU]

how's that roc family thing working out for you dame

[@djefardeur7958]

♐

[@nastynavvy64]

How it go so sour 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@SpawnBrawn]

This didnt age well...

[@devinscott2466]

Where is Aaliyah 😭

[@lolosmith8446]

I don't think they were dating in 98

[@devinscott2466]

Yea but she met jay z In 97

[@nielsenmakaba5777]

@@devinscott2466lol she wasn't signed to rocafella so why would she be at the offices? Lmfao

[@devinscott2466]

@@nielsenmakaba5777 shit idk, I just wanted to see her ! Don’t get smart

[@SeeYouInHellMyLove]

@@nielsenmakaba5777 because she was friends with Jay and Dame and was always hanging out in NY / Working. It’s Jay Z bday, I imagine she would be there too

[@user-tn6eg1pr7c]

I dame would like too own his own hold business

[@sheem1973]

Rocafella for life...yeah right! (Yall let greed divide yall) #NoRespect Why?? Yall splittin up was the death of hip hop and for what! Rocafella for life my ass! #Hypocites

[@akonlook-alike4572]

Jay z cpa en enfant ke vous parle la mdrr ki le nouveaux rappeur annonce au state lol jamy Fox roc efa ela lol

[@bigmoneysteppa]

gay