XXcLusive: Damon Dash Confirms Mos Def Movie, Talks New Radio & TV Ventures

The Ultimate Hustler is back at it. In a recent interview with XXLMag.com, former Roc-A-Fella big wig Damon Dash spoke about his latest business ventures including a new Televison network, internet radio station and a movie with rapper/actor Mos Def.

Mos first spoke on the possibility of the film— a documentary about an obscure all-black punk band named Death from the 1970s Detroit scene— in July. Now Dame says the movie has already started filming. Dame told XXL that him and Mos will share production duties and Coodie and Chike, the Chicago-based duo known for their work on videos for Kanye West ("Through the Wire"), and Mos ("Ghetto Rock"), will be directing the flick.

Coodie and Chike are also working with Dame in his new TV venture, Creative Control. The network, which has a trailer online on their website, is launching on November 27. At press time it is uncertain where its home will be.

Another project the Harlem entrepreneur is working on is an Internet radio station called Magnet Radio. “I think it's gonna launch in a couple weeks and it's just really for good music,” he said. “It’s not about getting money or all the ads, or things like that it's really about giving people a platform to hear good music...I think the whole world is getting ready to turn for that. It feels like good music is gonna take the forefront and people with a good show. I think that’s the good business model.”

As XXLMag.com previously reported Dame recently thought his hat back into the music business. He is producing a new album called Blac Roc which finds a slew of rappers rhyming over music made by rock group The Black Keys. Featuring appearances by Mos, Jim Jones, Ludacris, Q-Tip, Raekwon, RZA, Billy Danze of M.O.P., Pharoahe Monch and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, among others, the disc is set for a release on the day after Thanksgiving, otherwise known as Black Friday in the world of retail. It will be the first album on a new label started by Dash and the Keys. –Jesse Gissen