Dame Dash claims JAY-Z tried his best to get with Aaliyah

Nearly 20 years later, Dame is dishing on Hov, Aaliyah, and R. Kelly.

Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder Damon “Dame” Dash claims that his former partner, JAY-Z was feeling his late girlfriend Aaliyah past the point of innocent friendship.

Dawn Onley

Dec 4, 2019

Damon Dash is out in these streets claiming that his former partner, Jay-Z, had a crush on Aaliyah. Then again, who wasn't crushing on Aaliyah? (Photos courtesy of Getty Images)

Damon “Dame” Dash has had beef with JAY-Z since forever, but in a recent interview, the world is now getting a better understanding of what’s at the heart of their contentious relationship.

Dash told Page Six that Hov was once interested in Aaliyah, who he dated before she died in a plane crash in the Bahamas in 2001.

“He tried very hard,” Dash told the newspaper, adding that Hov was not the only one who “liked” the singer.

“Everybody was trying to get to Aaliyah – it was not just JAY. I did not know JAY was trying to holler at her, but then it just happened like that. He was trying. I was trying. Everybody was trying – he was going hard.”

Dame and Aaliyah hooked up and started dating in 2000. They were still an item when she passed a year later. If the story is true, perhaps it was that awkward feeling that you get knowing that your friend once tried to hit on your bae.

In addition to this scenario, Dame said when he and Aaliyah became a couple, he distanced himself from R. Kelly, but says he couldn’t understand why Jigga didn’t do the same, according to Complex.

“I really am not on the Best of Both Worlds. I didn’t go to a show. I didn’t have my name on any of that. I was in ‘Fiesta,’ but only because Aaliyah said she wanted me to do it that way,” Dash said in an interview with Hip Hop Motivators‘ Kenyatta Griggs.

He said he was bothered that Hov kept working with Kelly and questioned the rappers’ morals.

“I know I’m not f—in’ with that. I knew, morally, we weren’t the same… To me, Roc-a-Fella was defunct. It was over. I couldn’t f–k with it. It was something that, to me—I don’t wanna say ‘unforgivable,’ but I couldn’t understand it,” Dash said according to Complex.

It’s pretty safe to say that both Jay’s interest in Aaliyah and support of R. Kelly are what put the final nails in the coffin on this business partnership and friendship.