Dame Dash reflects on his early connection with Kevin Hart and says he is one of the major forces behind the comedian’s breakthrough in the entertainment industry.
Speaking on The Art of Dialogue, Dash said he first noticed Hart at a comedy show while casting for his 2002 film Paper Soldiers.
“I put Kev on,” Dash said, recalling how quickly he moved to cast him. “In the next week, I put him in the movie, and then I directed his next movie… I was there as a friend giving him advice… supported him.”
Dash said he felt their relationship changed as Hart’s career gained momentum and says that Hart began surrounding himself with people he didn’t rock with.
Dame Dash details how he discovered Kevin Hart and why he believes higher-ups must have something on him.
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“I didn’t get that call,” he said, adding that he began seeing people around Hart he had previously beefed with.
According to Dash, it’s possible Hart was being blackmailed or coerced.
“I just now figure they must have him on tape doing something stupid. I just think they all getting blackmailed,” Dash said, later adding, “I don’t know what problems Kev had.”
Dash also referenced Hart’s proximity to high-profile figures, including Sean “Diddy” Combs.
“If you was hanging out in that house, I would just think that you might have somebody have some pictures of you, I don’t know,” he said.
Dash admits that he has no concrete evidence for his assumptions.