A new twist has emerged in the ongoing saga between Jay-Z and his former business partner, Damon Dash, as the City of New York enters the fray.

As Dash prepares to auction the copyright of Jay-Z’s iconic debut album, Reasonable Doubt, a lawyer from New York City’s Department of Social Services has leveled serious accusations against the rapper. In a recent video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Dash revealed documents from the city criticizing Jay-Z’s actions.

The city’s attorney contends that Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, is attempting to undermine the auction’s value. This move allegedly aims to diminish the worth of Dash’s stake in Roc-A-Fella Records, including the coveted Reasonable Doubt copyright. The auction proceeds are crucial for Dash, as they will help settle a significant child support debt and unpaid taxes owed to the city.

DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for both Jay-Z and Dash for comments on this unfolding situation.

Ahead of Damon Dash’s auction of the copyright to Jay-Z’s classic debut album, Reasonable Doubt, a lawyer from New York City’s Department of Social Services has accused the rapper of ‘poisoning’ the auction. This controversy has added another layer to their ongoing feud, with the city’s legal representative alleging that Jay-Z is attempting to undermine the auction’s value. The situation is further complicated by Dash’s substantial child support debt and unpaid taxes, with the auction proceeds set to benefit the city.

Damon Dash is attempting to sell his stake in Roc-A-Fella Records, which includes the copyright to Jay-Z’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt. However, Jay-Z has filed a notice to terminate that copyright, claiming it will revert to him in 2031. This timeline has been contested by New York City, which argues that Dash’s rights to the copyright extend until 2098.

In the legal filing, attorney Gerald E. Singleton emphasized that the auction should be conducted to maximize the final bid for the benefit of judgment creditors, including the Department of Social Services. He pointed out that Jay-Z’s contract designates Reasonable Doubt as a ‘work made for hire,’ meaning that Roc-A-Fella—and any new owner of Dash’s stake—could retain the copyright until 2098.

The city believes that if the copyright is perceived to last until the end of the century, the auction’s final bid could be up to ten times higher than if it were thought to expire in just seven years. They argue that Jay-Z’s statements could jeopardize the auction’s potential value.

Dash currently owes approximately $193,000 in child support and several million dollars in unpaid taxes to the city, making the auction critical for settling his debts. Originally scheduled for August 29, the auction was to start with opening bids at $1.2 million, requiring a $240,000 deposit from bidders.

In response, Roc-A-Fella Records disputed the city’s claims, with Jay-Z’s attorney, Alex Spiro, asserting that there is “no merit” to the accusations. He clarified that Jay-Z’s notice of termination was merely an expression of intent to regain copyright, not an attempt to influence the auction’s value.

The notice means the copyright could revert as soon as 2031, but NYC says it will remain in the buyer’s possession until 2098, which would significantly increase the copyright’s value

Dash reportedly owes $193,000 in child support and millions in unpaid taxes, and the city says it stands to directly benefit from the auction being as profitable as possible; seen in 2018

Jay-Z’s attorney responded firmly in a letter obtained by DailyMail.com, asserting that New York City has no stake in the copyright to Reasonable Doubt. He emphasized that it is premature to speculate about when the copyright might revert to Jay-Z.

Spiro argued that potential bidders deserve transparency regarding the possibility of the copyright reverting back to Jay-Z as early as 2031. He characterized the discussions surrounding the termination notice as “woefully unripe” and urged the court to dismiss the city’s request for an advisory opinion on the matter.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Damon Dash defended his auction of the Roc-A-Fella interests. He claimed that since 2021, Jay-Z has sought to obstruct the sale of his one-third interest, even implementing bylaw provisions to prevent sales to third parties—actions that were eventually invalidated by the court. Dash accused Jay-Z’s team of spreading misinformation to dissuade legitimate bidders, hoping to acquire the rights at a lower price.