Irby DeHaven, a former drug dealer and ex-best friend of Jay-Z, is disappointed at the Roc-A-Fella co-founder for abandoning him during his federal trial.
In a recent interview, Irby shared details about his long friendship with Jay-Z and how things turned sour after he (Irby) was indicted on federal drug conspiracy charges in 1998.
Irby and Jay-Z, aka Shawn Carter, reportedly grew up in the same building, where they met as sixth graders and became close.
According to Irby, his life as a drug dealer inspired much of Jay-Z’s raps.
The friendship, he explained, was tight such that he and Jay-Z shared clothes, money, and women, and he even made Jay-Z his daughter’s godfather.
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Irby, now 55, said the good relations ended after he got into trouble with the law.
“During my trial he [Jay-Z] looked at me in my face telling me, ‘Yo, don’t worry about it, bro. I got you.’ And I never see him again,” Irby DeHaven recalled in an interview with RealLyfe Productions.
“When I come to you and say, ‘Look, I don’t need nothing but help to get out of this. … You say, ‘Relax. Don’t worry about it. I got you.’ And I never see you again? I think that might have been the worst,” he added.
According to him, that was the most disappointing experience with the Hard Knock Life composer.
When asked to describe Jay, DeHaven labeled him as a “coward” and “cold-hearted.”
In September this year, Jay-Z expressed support for Kendrick Lamar who is getting ready to headline the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show, as announced by the NFL.
In a statement following the announcement, the celebrated record producer said the impact of the Not Like Us composer would be felt in many years to come.
“Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision.
“He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come,” he was quoted saying.
Jay-Z currently serves as music strategist for the NFL’s music following his label, Roc Nation’s, partnership with the league.
Officials say the championship game for the new NFL season would take place at the Caesars Superdome in Louisiana, United States.
