Dame Dash Clarifies Reports Of Smacking Harvey Weinstein In The Past (Video)
Two different November Cam’ron verses have unearthed two very controversial stories. His mixtape The Program begins with an intro that reignited longstanding tensions between Cam’ and Ma$e. “It’s Killa” told a 1997 story that, at least according to Cam’ron, is the reason that Ma$e left a multi-platinum music career for a position as a pastor, as well as relocated from New York City to Atlanta. That conflict has moved to diss records, first from Ma$e (“The Oracle”), then Cam’ron (“Dinner Time”). Cam’ron vows to tell more stories about his former Children Of The Corn band-mate on upcoming mixtapes.
Meanwhile, there is another lyric from the “Stop Snitching” campaigner that has people talking. In step with a Dipset reunion concert in Manhattan, Cam’ron and Jim Jones released their first collaboration in years, “Once Upon A Time.” Billed as a Diplomats song, the two previously estranged band-members spit bars on Heatmakerz production. In the song, Cam’ron raps, “No disrespecting the ladies, word from my team / That’s the reason Dame smacked Harvey Weinstein / On the set of Paid In Full; y’all gave him hell about it / Some foul sh*t happened once, Capo, tell ’em about it.” The Harlem New Yorker is referring to the 2002 film that he starred in, along with Mekhi Phifer and Wood Harris. Roc-A-Fella Films released the Charles Stone III-directed movie, which was co-produced by the likes of Dame Dash, JAY-Z, and one of the people it was based on, Azie Faison. The theatrical release was also distributed by Miramax, a company founded by brothers Harvey and Bob Weinstein.
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In October of this year, more than a dozen women accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, including rape. He has since been fired from The Weinstein Company and expelled from multiple groups such as The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
With Cam’ron’s lyrics raising questions, Dame Dash goes on the record to clarify. In a TMZ video, Dash says, “I can definitely say someone got smacked on the set of Paid In Full. But, you know, I never really liked the way Harvey [Weinstein] treated my culture. I didn’t like the way he was talking to people and I didn’t like the way he was treating my film.” The founder of Blu Roc adds, “For some reason, people thought he was strong. I felt he was disrespecting the culture of Black people, of good people, of women. And I could have made more movies with him, but I decided not to, even though it was unpopular.” While Dash never confirms it was specifically Weinstein who was assaulted, he does admit that there was a legal battle that compromised the film’s success. “Somebody did get smacked on that set. I got sued over it, but I won. Harvey is someone who was trying not to put out my movie. And I had to really get aggressive with him and make sure he did right by it. Had I not fought for the movie, you would have never seen it.”
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Dipset member Freekey Zekey also spoke on the incident this week, with MTV (in the video playlist). “The mothaf*cka was talking stupid sh*t,” Freekey said, believed to be referring to Harvey Weinstein, “and Dame said, ‘Stop talking the stupid sh*t.’ And [Harvey Weinstein] said [more] stupid sh*t, and then he got slapped. The end.”
After Paid In Full, Roc co-founders Dame and Jay used different distributors than Miramax on subsequent films such as Paper Soldiers and Death Of A Dynasty.
Another Paid In Full producer, Brett Ratner has also been recently accused of sexual misconduct, including rape. The former music video director (who went on to do Rush Hour, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Horrible Bosses) has since been removed from a Warner Bros. partnership.
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Dame Dash is presently working in liquor and spirits. He has said that he is working on a film related to his years at Roc-A-Fella Records.