Dame Dash, co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records, recently disclosed surprising details about the early career of John Legend in an interview with The Art of Dialogue. Dash claimed that the Grammy-winning artist was once slated to join the Roc-A-Fella roster but ultimately signed elsewhere, leaving Dash feeling betrayed.
“John Legend was supposed to be Roc-A-Fella,” Dash said. “I toured John Legend. I would have never taken him on the road with Kanye, paying for him to sing before Kanye performed, unless I believed he was signing with Roc-A-Fella. But he did some sneaky shit and went to Sony.”
John Legend Career Path and Fallout with Kanye
While Legend did not sign with Roc-A-Fella, he remained professionally linked to Kanye West, becoming the first artist on West’s G.O.O.D. Music label. His debut album, Get Lifted, was released in 2004 as part of a joint venture between Sony and G.O.O.D. Music. Legend went on to release five more albums under the imprint until 2016.
Despite their successful collaborations, Legend and West’s relationship eventually soured, largely due to political disagreements. During Kanye’s 2020 presidential campaign, their differing views became a point of contention.
In a 2022 interview with The New Yorker, Legend clarified the fallout, rejecting earlier narratives. “It was framed as if we stopped being friends because he supported Trump, but that’s not accurate,” he said. According to Legend, the rift was sparked by his decision to endorse Joe Biden over Kanye. “He was very upset I didn’t support him running for president. That’s what caused the strain in our friendship,” he explained.
Kanye shared his side of the story during a 2021 Drink Champs appearance, accusing Legend and Big Sean of betraying him. “They got used quick by the Democrats to come at their boy that actually changed their life. That’s some sell-out sh*t. And I don’t rock with either of them anymore,” Kanye said