Meeting Damon Dash

Blakrok meets the Lion Rock

I'm indebted to my friend Niall Phelan for inviting me to meet hip-hop impresario Damon Dash. Damon was in Asia to recruit new talent, and I met up with him at the home of his Hong Kong based business partner. I had to admit that I know next to nothing about hip-hop or rap, but I am very impressed with anyone who is as much of a game changer as Dash has been.

Dash is one of the key figures in early history of the hip-hop revolution, founding Roc-A-Fella Records with Jay-Z. He also acted opposite my friend Donnie Yen in the film 'Highlander : Endgame'.

When we met, I was happy to connect them (by phone). Damon had actually just been in Beijing, where Donnie is filming 'The Lost Bladesman', but didn't know how to contact him, so they passed like ships in the night!

Damon has just finished a documentary project, 'Welcome to Blakroc', and screened an early cut for us. Its a fascinating 'fly on the wall' look at how he's fusing rock and rap.

Dash and his team have plans to expand his empire in the region, including various film projects, so I hope we get the chance to work together on something.