Memphis Bleek Opens Up About Jay-Z’s Departure From Roc-A-Fella Records

Lester Cohen / Memphis Bleek

Outside of Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith, Kareem “Biggs” Burke, and at one time Dame Dash, no one was as close to JAY-Z as his former protege Memphis Bleek, and now he is sharing some of his insight on Hov’s departure from Roc-A-Fella Records.

Speaking with The Breakfast Club, the “My Mind Right” crafter kept it real about his former boss leaving Roc-A-Fella Records and his relationship with him.

Bleek, who was once considered the “heir apparent” to Jay-Z’s Hip-Hop throne, told the Power 105.1 morning radio show that he knew he was a “liability” regarding Jigga’s business ventures, something the mogul would not risk jeopardizing.

Per Complex:

“I knew he had to,” he said at the 28:55 mark. “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,” Bleek continued. “So once Jay started to do these billionaire deals, basketball teams, moving teams from here to Brooklyn, you automatically knew the distance was warranted. It’s not that he don’t rock with you, or don’t rock with us.”

Bleek also revealed that he tried to warn his fellow labelmates that the end was near, with Jay-Z checking out.

“Y’all better hope y’all got a retirement plan,” Bleek said during a 2023 appearance on Drink Champs. “Put this shit together. You see him [Jay-Z], he getting out of here. He telling y’all, Black Album, fade to black, it’s over.”

Welp, it’s clear no one listened to Bleek.

You can see the entire interview below.