Latest news with #MemphisBleek
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Memphis Bleek Shares The Real Reason Why JAY-Z Left Roc-A-Fella Records
Memphis Bleek is shedding new light on the long-discussed fallout between JAY-Z and the original Roc-A-Fella Records crew, offering insight into Hov's decision to distance himself from Dame Dash and others during the early 2000s. In a recent appearance on The Breakfast Club, Bleek—one of the few Roc artists who has consistently stood by JAY-Z's side—broke down the mogul's mindset at the time and explained why he never felt abandoned or slighted by his longtime friend's meteoric rise. 'I knew he had to,' Bleek said, referring to JAY-Z's departure from the Roc-A-Fella fold as he transitioned deeper into the corporate world. 'For Jay to be where he at, he couldn't be around us everyday. I'm a liability. Me now being married, being a businessman, of course, things have changed. But the reckless Bleek? You couldn't be around us. Anything could happen, and then it spills right back to you.' For Bleek, the split wasn't personal—it was strategic. He emphasized that lifestyle differences and business responsibilities meant JAY-Z had to make a clean break, even from people he cared about. 'It's not that he don't rock with you, or don't rock with us,' Bleek explained. 'It's, 'Aye, dawg, I'm over here gettin' to these millions, ya still in the club poppin' bottles. I don't need that look.'' When asked why his perspective on JAY-Z's departure differed from former Roc affiliates who have criticized Hov in the years since, Bleek pointed to his attempts to prepare others for the inevitable shift. 'I don't know. I tried to tell these guys,' he said. 'That's the thing, if you really sit down — see, a lot of people, when these cameras cut on, they got an image, they gotta keep it up. But if they really sit down and have a real conversation with the reality pills on the table, they'll tell you that I told these guys this was coming.' The Brooklyn rapper also recalled trying to look out for Beanie Sigel, who has publicly aired grievances about JAY-Z in the past. Bleek recounted a conversation in which he warned Beans to carefully review the contracts tied to his State Property clothing line, especially since the label read, 'Manufactured by Rocawear.' 'So, I'm telling him as a brother, 'Yo, bro, check your contracts and all that. Make sure everything is right because I see it's manufactured by Rocawear — I don't think Rocawear was making their own clothes, so how they making your clothes?'' Bleek said. 'And he looked at me — this is when I knew me and Beans' relationship wasn't the same — because he was like, 'Yo, it sound like you hatin' on me, fam,' and I'm like, 'What you mean?' And he's like, 'If Jay your man like you say, why you ain't got no record label?'' Bleek's candid reflections provide rare clarity on the inner workings of one of Hip-Hop's most storied empires—and why its members eventually went their separate ways. Watch Memphis Bleek's The Breakfast Club interview below. More from Memphis Bleek Urges Nicki Minaj To "Chill Out" Following JAY-Z Diss On "Banned From NO" Flau'jae Johnson Says She And Angel Reese Are No Longer Friends Angela Yee Talks Post-'Breakfast Club' Relationship With Charlamagne Tha God And DJ Envy
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Memphis Bleek Urges Nicki Minaj To 'Chill Out' Following JAY-Z Diss On 'Banned From NO'
Memphis Bleek had a few words for Nicki Minaj following her fiery bars aimed at JAY-Z and the NFL on Lil Wayne's 'Banned From NO' remix. In the verse that stirred the pot, Nicki rapped: 'NFL, fire some ni**as and then call us,' taking what many perceived as a direct shot at both the league and Hov, who currently serves as the NFL's 'live music entertainment strategist' through Roc Nation's partnership. Bleek, a Roc-A-Fella vet and longtime ally of Jay, responded to the bars in a recent interview with TMZ and urged Minaj to 'chill out.' 'Why? If they fire us, they don't need no more ni**as,' he said, laughing. He added, 'So, when we done, you ain't gon' be able to get that bag. Chill out. We cleaning up, baby girl. You should come clean up with us.' Nicki's bars come months after frustration over Lil Wayne being overlooked for the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show — even though the game was held in his hometown of New Orleans. Instead, the NFL tapped Kendrick Lamar for the prestigious performance slot, a decision that didn't sit right with many, including Minaj, who used the remix to make her thoughts loud and clear. Despite her critique of the NFL and JAY-Z through lyrics, Bleek made it clear he wasn't here to wage war with the top rapstress. 'I love Nicki Minaj,' he said. 'I have no harsh words for the Queen of Rap.' He also extended love to Lil Wayne, calling him his 'brother,' but didn't sugarcoat his thoughts when asked if Wayne still had a real shot at hitting the NFL stage. 'It would be if you stop digging your own hole,' Bleek said. 'Antagonizing and mentioning stuff… Let them come to you. The more you want something, the more it runs from you.' Minaj previously criticized JAY-Z when Kendrick Lamar was announced as the Super Bowl headliner last year. 'One ni**a took a knee. The other ni**a took the bag,' she posted to X at the time. 'Got everything in the world. Still spiteful & evil. Disgusting.' More from Nicki Minaj Name-Drops Shannon Sharpe And Slights JAY-Z On 'Banned From NO' Lil Wayne Collab Memphis Bleek Shares The Real Reason Why JAY-Z Left Roc-A-Fella Records Shannon Sharpe Responds To Nicki Minaj Mentioning Him On "Banned From NO (Remix)"
