Beanie Sigel has faced backlash for stating that JAY-Z tried to hinder his success by releasing his own albums at the same time as Sigel’s.
In a recent interview with The Art of Dialogue, the former Roc-A-Fella rapper discussed his time with the label, saying: “I used to ask myself, ‘Why is it that every time my album dropped, Jay would release his right before or right after mine?’”
He continued: “Back then, we had physical copies, so if you saved up $20 to buy an album — and both albums are from the same label, Roc-A-Fella — between Jay and Beanie Sigel, most likely, you’d buy the JAY-Z album.”
“I never understood that. Every time I released an album, Jay released one right before me. Having such intense in-house competition was crazy. I always thought, ‘Let me have some space!’”
A fan on X (formerly Twitter) responded to Beanie’s comments by examining the actual release dates of their albums in the 2000s and concluded that Sigel’s claim was inaccurate.
“Did Jay-Z REALLY overshadow Beanie Sigel’s album releases? Let’s not just take Sigel’s word for it, let’s look at the facts,” the fan wrote.
“Jay-Z – Vol. 3… Life And Times Of S. Carter – 12/28/1999. Beanie Sigel – The Truth – 2/29/2000. Jay-Z – The Dynasty: Roc La Familia – 10/31/2000. Beanie Sigel – The Reason – 5/26/2001. Jay-Z – The Blueprint – 9/11/2001.”
“Beanie Sigel – The B. Coming – 3/29/2005. Jay-Z was retired and didn’t release any albums in 2005. Beanie Sigel was in prison […] Jay-Z – American Gangster – 11/7/2007. Beanie Sigel – The Solution – 12/11/2007 […] Beans appeared on AG, and Jay was featured on TS.”
They added: “The facts prove this is a lie.”
The fan then criticized Sigel for “lying” about his former label boss: “These guys get on interviews and start lying, and no one ever pushes back.”
“Jay-Z changed that man’s life, and because he won’t take responsibility for his own reckless actions, he blames Jay for how his life and career turned out. It’s disgusting.”
Did Jay-Z REALLY stepped on Beanie Sigel’s album releases?
Let’s not just take Sigel’s word as truth, let’s look at the facts…
Jay-Z – Vol. 3… Life And Times Of S. Carter – 12/28/1999
Beanie Sigel – The Truth – 2/29/2000
Jay-Z – The Dynasty: Roc La Familia – 10/31/2000… pic.twitter.com/U9yulzOFqN
— Luis (@jordanyroc) January 21, 2025
Jay signed Beanie Sigel and immediately featured him on “Reservoir Dogs” alongside Sauce Money & The LOX off “Vol. 2” (Jay’s best selling album.) Then without any music out he took him on the road and put him on the Hard Knock Life Tour and let him perform in front of thousands… pic.twitter.com/iu29KDZZQ1
— Luis (@jordanyroc) January 21, 2025
Recently, there has been more tension among former members of the Roc-A-Fella camp.
Beanie Sigel recently backed Dame Dash’s claim that JAY-Z ghostwrote for Memphis Bleek in the past.
In another clip from his Art of Dialogue interview, Sigel said: “Did Jay write for Bleek? Yeah, of course. He helped Bleek out with a lot of stuff. You can hear it.”
After quoting Bleek’s verse from The Dynasty track “You, Me, Him and Her,” Sigel added: “Just pay attention. Jay always had to help Bleek. Especially if the three of us were on a track together.”
“Because if I wasn’t there with Jay or too far behind him… come on, Bleek wouldn’t have stood a chance. That’s my brother. Bleek knows.”
JAY-Z has yet to comment on Beanie Sigel’s claims.
