Former business partner Dame Dash recently offered new details regarding a 1999 altercation involving Jay-Z and Lance "Un" Rivera. This incident, previously understood as a dispute over music piracy, may have had a deeper connection to personal relationships, according to Dash's recent statements.
The incident occurred at a New York City nightclub before the release of Jay-Z's album, Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter. While many believed it stemmed from alleged bootlegging of the album, Dash suggests the situation was more complex.
Key Takeaways
- Dame Dash claims Jay-Z's 1999 altercation with Lance "Un" Rivera was related to Charli Baltimore, not just music piracy.
- The incident occurred before Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter was released.
- Dash stated Jay-Z learned about alleged bootlegging weeks after the club incident.
- Charli Baltimore had dated Biggie Smalls and was reportedly involved with both Rivera and Jay-Z.
- Jay-Z pleaded guilty to the stabbing in 2001, receiving three years of probation.
New Perspective on a Long-Standing Dispute
For years, the hip-hop community widely believed that Jay-Z's altercation with Lance "Un" Rivera in 1999 was primarily due to Rivera allegedly bootlegging Jay-Z's upcoming album. However, Dame Dash, a co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records with Jay-Z, has presented a different account.
In a recent interview with The Art Of Dialogue, Dash stated that Jay-Z informed him about the alleged bootlegging weeks after the nightclub incident. This timeline suggests that the immediate cause of the confrontation might not have been the piracy itself.
Fact: The altercation took place in a New York City nightclub in 1999. Jay-Z later pleaded guilty to the stabbing in 2001.
Charli Baltimore's Alleged Role
Dash indicated that the dispute was more deeply rooted in personal relationships, specifically involving Charli Baltimore. Baltimore, a rapper, had previously dated the late Notorious B.I.G. She was also reportedly involved with both Lance "Un" Rivera and Jay-Z.
According to Dash's account, Rivera approached Jay-Z at the nightclub. Rivera was reportedly discussing his situation with Charli Baltimore. Dash described a moment where Rivera allegedly knelt and stated, "Jay, I would never betray you" in connection to their involvement with Baltimore.
"But to me, I was like... Damn, n***a got on his knees," Dame Dash remarked regarding Jay-Z. "You don't have to do nothing. That sh*t was over a girl... And that wasn't gangster to me either. That was all over a girl."
The Aftermath and Broader Implications
Dash emphasized his view that the incident was primarily a personal conflict over a woman. He questioned the nature of the confrontation, particularly given the individuals involved.
"And you know what was f***ed up about it? Think about how life is. These n***as end up getting into this over Biggie's girl. Both of his best friends. That was crazy. But again, no disrespect, that was crazy," Dash added, reflecting on the situation.
Background Information
The relationship between Dame Dash and Jay-Z has been strained for many years following their professional separation from Roc-A-Fella Records. Their public disagreements have often resurfaced, with Dash frequently sharing his perspective on past events.
Views on Loyalty and Relationships
Dash further elaborated on his personal code regarding relationships and loyalty. He specifically addressed the idea of involvement with a friend's partner, especially after a friend's passing.
- "If any of my friends f*** my wife or with one of my chicks when I'm not here, that's f***ed up," he stated.
- "I don't do that. That's not real n***a sh*t to me."
- "You don't f*** your man's girl after he dies. That's crazy to me. That's insanity to me."
Dash drew a comparison to organized crime, noting that "the mob kills n***as for f***ing with each other's wives." He concluded by saying, "But your brothers? Both of them? That's why you don't trust n***as."
Other Accounts and Legal Outcomes
According to Complex, rapper Cam'ron has made similar claims about Charli Baltimore's involvement in the stabbing incident. This suggests that Dash's recent statements align with other accounts within the hip-hop community.
Jay-Z pleaded guilty to the stabbing in 2001. He received a sentence of three years' probation. Despite the guilty plea, he never publicly admitted to the act itself.
Statistic: Jay-Z received three years of probation in 2001 following his guilty plea related to the 1999 incident.
Interestingly, Lance "Un" Rivera reportedly offered a different perspective in a 2023 VladTV interview. In that interview, Rivera claimed that Jay-Z was not the person who stabbed him. This conflicting statement adds another layer to the long-debated incident.
The ongoing discussion between former partners and associates continues to shed new light on a significant moment in hip-hop history, highlighting the complexities of personal and professional relationships within the industry.