Damon Dash and Jay-Z were convinced that Diddy and The Notorious B.I.G were “copying” their real lives.

Damon Dash reminisced about the early days of Roc-A-Fella, recalling moments when he and Jay-Z believed that Diddy and The Notorious B.I.G. were emulating their style. The co-founder of Roc-A-Fella shared these anecdotes during an appearance on Patrick Bet-David’s PBD Podcast. In the ’90s, while Roc-A-Fella and Bad Boy Records were making waves in the hip-hop scene, Dash and Jay-Z felt a sense of influence over Diddy and B.I.G.

Jay-Z and B.I.G. had a connection from their time at Westinghouse High School in Brooklyn, which led to Dash feeling comfortable enough to share experiences like smoking marijuana with B.I.G. As they spent more time together, Dash and Jay-Z became convinced that their lifestyles were shaping the actions of Diddy and B.I.G., leading them to feel as though their authenticity was being imitated.

“Because we were getting the money and popping the bottles and all that, in that moment, we had always felt that Biggie and Puffy were copying us. They’d see us in the club and it seemed like the next day, a record would be made,” Dash asserted.

According to Dash, Jay and B.I.G.’s forms of hustling were on two different levels. According to Dash, the “Hard Knock Life” rapper was pushing narcotics from state to state with help from high-level contacts, while B.I.G. was limited to holding down the streets of Brooklyn.

“We was really getting money. No disrespect to Biggie but it was a different hustle. We weren’t on the streets pitching work. We were [about] connects, connects, connects,” Dash explained.

The belief that Diddy, then known as Puff Daddy, and B.I.G. were possibly biting their style led to tension between the crews that took time to move past.

“But that lifestyle of [a] hustler, that was us. That was them copying us, for sure. So we kinda had problems,” Dash admitted. “I was run up [on] sometimes. I was confrontational with Biggie and them at first, but we finally got cool.”

JAY-Z CANCELS MADE IN AMERICA FESTIVAL FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW

Jay-Z’s popular Made In America festival in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania won’t be taking place again this year.

Jay-Z’s popular Made In America festival in Philadelphia won’t be taking place again this year.

On Wednesday, April 3, the official website and social media pages for the Jay-Z-curated festival announced the live show would be taking a break ahead of a reimagined festival set to return in the future.

“Since its inception, this groundbreaking festival has celebrated music and community — from creating a space for fans to connect, to uplifting local small businesses and shining a light on important causes. It has strived for accessibility, eliminating barriers through affordable tickets and location,” the statement read.

“As purveyors of change, the Made In America executive production team is reimagining a live music experience that affirms our love and dedication to music and the work we do. We promise an exciting return to the festival.”

Following the decision to cancel the 2023 festival, typically held during Labor Day weekend, hip-hop mogul Jay-Z reportedly cited reasons beyond production control. Last year’s event, which was set to feature headliners Sza and Lizzo, was called off a month before its scheduled date. According to organizers, the cancellation was attributed to “severe circumstances outside of production control,” as stated at the time.

“This decision has been difficult and has not been made lightly nor without immense deliberation,” organizers said. They teased their return in 2024 but the current announcement axes that claim.

Jay-Z initiated the Made In America festival in 2012, assembling a star-studded lineup annually until 2023, with the exception of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The festival’s impact on Philadelphia’s economy has been notable, with Michael Barnes, president of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 8, acknowledging it as the city’s largest annual event, generating approximately $1 million annually.

Former Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney expressed his disappointment when the festival was canceled last year but said the city would “look forward to bringing Made in America back and bigger than ever to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway next year.”