Dame Dash Cites Court Motion Challenging Jay-Z’s Claims Over ‘Reasonable Doubt’

Music mogul Damon Dash has brought attention to a court motion filed by New York State that contradicts claims made by Jay-Z regarding ownership rights of the iconic album Reasonable Doubt.

In a public statement, Dash read directly from the motion: “This is filed by New York State, not me. Jay-Z’s statements to the Press have poisoned the environment for the auction. He has claimed that he has a termination right under the Copyright Act and that the rights of Reasonable Doubt will revert to him in six years. In fact, he has no such termination right.”

The motion further states that Roc-A-Fella Records (RAF) “is entitled to Renewal term which is now 67 years, meaning it will own the copyrights until the year 2098.”

Dash expressed surprise at the lack of media coverage, saying, “I was really surprised that TMZ and that The Breakfast Club and Earn Your Leisure haven’t spoken about this, but to me this is something that’s very relevant.”

He emphasized the potential impact on valuation: “The highest possible auction price could be more than 10 times higher than it is likely now given Jay-Z and RAF’s actions.”

Dash’s 33.3% stake in Roc-A-Fella Records is set for auction on August 29, following his failure to pay an $823,000 settlement in a separate legal dispute.

The music executive called for media correction: “Everyone that took the time to repost TMZ, Earn Your Leisure, Breakfast Club, whoever else was talking it, please correct your statement and repost this and let it be known that Reasonable Doubt, the rights stay with Roc-A-Fella Inc for the next 100 years.”

This dispute adds another layer to the complex history of Roc-A-Fella Records, founded in 1994 by Jay-Z, Dash, and Kareem “Biggs” Burke. The label has been central to several legal battles, including a 2021 lawsuit over Dash’s attempt to auction Reasonable Doubt as an NFT.

As the auction approaches, the true value and implications of ownership remain in question, with the court motion potentially reshaping the narrative around this high-profile music industry asset.