Dame Dash Net Worth and Earnings: Get paid to be yourself: The business of being Dame.

Every disruptiveentrepreneur shares an innate drive to defy convention, fueled by an inherent sixth sense that gives each innovator the foresight to spot future trends and unfilled voids within industries.

While history holds a place for visionaries who challenge the boundaries of possibility, pioneers aren't often praised for changing business models in the moment.Being a pioneer is reserved for the few that embrace being ahead of their time, since trendsetters are tasked with bravely planting the flag first.

Although these change-makers don't desire acceptance, withstanding the wrath of skepticism that inevitably follows the introduction of new ideas is never easy.Surviving the scrutiny and persecution that accompany acts of rebellion requires an unapologetic attitude from a rare breed of leaders.It takes courage to fight for what you believe when the world can't.The reward of standing your ground amidst opposition is seeing what was once denied or dismissed manifest into a reality bigger than you imagined.Dame Dash embodies the spirit of independence.

Dash developed a reputation for clashing with executives over issues of ownership, value and properly respecting the culture, which made him a polarizing figure in the music business.His comments exposed industry powers for exploiting artists, copying trends and robbing creators.His message has changed over the years, but his core message remains the same: be your own boss, own your influence and stay true to yourself.While his position amongst the most influential people to shape Hip Hop culture can be debated in the court of popular opinion, what Dash embodies has undoubtedly paved a path for today's generation of independent creators and entrepreneurs.

Roc-A-Fella sold millions of units around the world after founding in 1995 with Jay-Z and Biggs Burke.The label had a roster that included Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, State Property, The Diplomats and DJ Clue.

In addition to solidifying himself as a music mogul, Dash expanded his enterprise into the fashion and lifestyle space, growing Rocawear into a prominent urban apparel company that sold to Iconix in 2007.Dame founded Creative Control, a digital media platform that explored the intersection of music, art and culture, as well as an art gallery and creative collective in New York.His ventures include a spirits brand, CEO clothing company and Dame Dash Studios.

His latest endeavor is the Dash Diabetes Network, a multi-media lifestyle platform that offers tips, tools and solutions for the 27 million people actively battling with diabetes.Dash will bring together a community of musicians, artists, filmmakers,holistic doctors and other health experts to share their stories and educate the public about the realties of managing the disease.Dash hopes to raise awareness and show that being diabetic is a lifestyle, ultimately urging millions to adopt healthier habits across various areas of their lives.Launching the network in partnership with Mannkind Corporation, the makers of Afrezza, viewers will be updated on the latest innovations, medicines, exercises and culinary recipes.

Dame talked about his business model, guiding principles, and vision for his new lifestyle network.

The same relentless fight for ownership and independence that got you scrutinized early in your career would lead to praise for you in this era, do you feel like you kicked that door down for today's generation?

It's been a long time coming and I did it on purpose.It didn't make sense for us to be doing all of the work and not have anything to pass on to our family.Because of fear, they have always turned their back on me or looked away.When I was a kid, I read the Bible and saw what happened to Jesus.I know that you get ridiculed for telling the truth, and I have always been aware of that.I have confidence and I am not afraid.I approach logic with no emotion.The math is always the same.Regardless of whether I discovered the math before anyone else or I just decided to accept it, I know what makes sense and I will speak on it every time.I like to have fun with people who exploit or take advantage of people that don't understand.My delivery is intense because I need to be heard.I know that people don't listen to constructive criticism without getting offended.I don't care if you get offended, I just want you to get the message.

What made you take on the challenge of speaking up and going to war for artists?

Dame Dash said that she didn't like the way she was being treated.I didn't feel like they were smart or cooler than me.Making them uncomfortable was the way to get back at them.I have never tried to be accepted.I always have the inclination to go the other way when everyone is doing the same thing.I am not sure how an individual with their own mind, values and beliefs can be so willing to follow what everyone else is doing.What can you do to make history better?It will be harder for you to stand out if you are trying to do what everyone else is doing.The prices go down, so it makes no sense to try to get in on a crowded block.I knew my worth, I was confident, and I had never been curious about what other people were doing.People are afraid of the unknown.I consider everything a learning experience and have never had that fear or fear of trying.I didn't fear learning in front of people.I don't see flaws as a problem, I see them as positives.People who pretend they are perfect are exposed to being imperfect later on.I have always believed that if I am good at something, I should get the benefits of it.

What is your code or guiding principles that you live by?

Dame Dash says it's about being honest and respecting others.Do it if you say you are going to do something.You are accountable if you bring someone around.If you sign on to do something and we have an understanding, our word is bond and that is what we abide by.I walked away from a lot of situations where that was compromised.You are almost required to have integrity in corporate America.There is too much bending over in the face.I can not do that.I can't be told what to do in the corporate environment.I can not accept doing something that goes against my morals.I have a lot of pride.I have fought too much to make sure I get the respect I deserve.It doesn't look for attention.I know why I do it.My worth isn't defined by awards.I like doing things because I want to.What is meant to be will be.You will get scrutinized if you fight for the culture.You will get rocks thrown at you.You are going to be crucified.The people that are cutting corners and cheating will always try to make it look like it is not.There are cameras everywhere and that is great for the young generation.Everything is documented so you can't escape the truth.

Did you always have plans to leave the music business after running a label and reaching such a peak?

Dame Dash left the music business because she didn't want to stay.There was no real money in the music business, and it was similar to high school.I didn't want to be around nerds all day.I saw people with the same jobs for 20 years hanging out with each other with no morals.As long as you were doing well, character didn't matter.People were loyal to their success.A lot of people who looked independent were robbed as soon as they got around corporate.I didn't see any longevity that was sustainable.15 to 25 year olds are the rap demographic.You are being irresponsible over that.How can you present a reckless lifestyle and deliver messages that are not good for the culture and feel good about yourself?I can't speak about a lot of the things we talked about when we were younger because I have children.Killing or putting drugs in the world doesn't make sense to me.We made a lot of money off of that perspective.I get bored easily.I want to move onto something new after I accomplish something.I wanted to leave the music business.I have a list.I did that because I wanted to.I did that because I wanted to be a music mogul.I did the fashion thing that I wanted to do.I did the art thing that I wanted to do.I did that because I wanted to do the movie thing.I want to have a Diabetes network.I don't want to sit in the same place for the rest of my life.My last name is Dash, and that is what life is.To be told what to do is not living for me.

Looking at the run of Roc-A-Fella through that lens, how did you measure success or the value of what you were building?

Dame Dash said that she didn't measure the success because it was a stepping stone for her.I haven't reached the peak yet.The lowest benchmark was Rocafella.I didn't make a lot of money from music.When everyone was saying I was broke, it was actually when I had the most money.Hip Hop and Urban music is about living a flashy lifestyle.It is a lot of pretending that you are not.You are broke when you are rich.You are soft when you pretend you are tough.You are corny when you pretend you are cool.I don't know what's happening in Hip Hop.I was passionate about it and wanted to do it.I was out when I did it.What else are you supposed to do when you introduce a Jay Z or a Cam'Ron to the world?I went into Rock music after Hip Hop.I went into Jazz after that.I opened a creative collective and art gallery after that.That was before people were talking about creators.I set the trend and open the door so other people can do it.I know who I am and what I can do.People will do it years later if I tell them to do something.I believe that I am the same person as the younger generation.I am the guy who opened the collectives, went and got the art, and used the Canon 5D's to create content.The webisode was created by me.I built the website and put out webisodes.It's the same with Creative Control.I do things for fun and not for perception.People live for what other people think.I have to be proud of myself because I live for what makes me happy.

What drove you to always expand into different industries after being in the music business?

Dame Dash has always had a bigger picture.I came to do everything.I was here to do more than play music.Music was something I did first and did well.I kept the people moving.It wasn't from a desire to get into comedy that I put Kevin Hart on.I gave a man a platform and directed his first three movies because I am a funny guy.When Lee Daniels was on, I wanted to make a movie that would get me into festivals.I funded the movie because I thought it was smart.I was inspired in the moment each time.My job isn't to make money off of other people, my job is to empower people I believe in, and put them in position to build their own empires.I showed Jay how to do it on his own.I showed him how to do it on his own.Kevin Hart was shown how to do it on his own.Lee Daniels was shown how to do it on his own.I showed Rachel Roy how to do it on her own.I showed him how to do it on his own.The artist gets robbed and the business man walks away rich.I am the one who walks away broke, but makes all of my artists rich.How does that happen to me?The man who makes sure his artists get rich is punished the most.It impacts everyone else's hustle.I never fight for corporate.I have never respected corporate, I don't exploit people, and I do not respect bullies.I will get at him on behalf of the people that are too scared to go after him.

What does being independent mean to you?

Dame Dash says independence is being your own boss.Being independent has complete ownership of what you create.Independence is giving something to your children.Having a job, collecting a check, and having someone be able to fire you are not independence.If you can't give your family jobs or put your people in a position to get money, you're not independent.It isn't independence to have to ask someone for a vacation or wake up when you're told.Not being able to pick your child up at a certain time is not independence.If you have clients that control how you move or how much money you make, you are not independent.They want to be independent so they can make money.Until it becomes corporate, being independent is the new business model.The new independent was the old corporate.It used to be about rich versus poor.You can see everything on the internet.It wasn't like that back then.It's easier to have a direct-to-consumer relationship with people on the internet.There should be no fear because you see everything.

What is the new business model for creators and how should they approach building businesses?

The new business model is directly managing your audience.You can learn how to sell directly to consumers.An opinion leader would usually get a brand to cut them a check, and they would think it is cool, but that is not cool.If you aren't a boss, you're not an opinion leader.If you don't want to invest in something that your family will benefit from, you're a cornball.Anyone can take care of themselves.I don't worry about me, I'm worried about my kids.It takes three generations to provide for the next hundred years, so we have to live good and do what we can.Being a boss is a lot like being a dad.That is what a boss is.The value of an opinion leader has always been at the top of the pyramid.You just have to be famous because of the internet.I came up in a time when coolness was more important than fame.If you were a cornball, we were laughing at you.Vogue is putting you on the cover if you are famous, because you receive all kinds of awards.If you have money and followers on social media, it doesn't matter if you're corny or not.The state of cool is in danger.I stopped looking at it.Being an influencer is going to be very boring if you think about it.There are a lot of fake people posing to be influential when they are not.

What inspired Dash Diabetes network to launch in the first place?

Dame Dash said that she was not vocal about her battle with diabetes because she didn't have it under control.It gives you more control when you use an inhalableinsulin instead of a needle.It takes 15 minutes to hit your body like using a needle.I was able to control my diabetes and get to a level seven, which I have never done before.I realized I can be imperfect, but still be in control of my health.I felt like I could speak on it and share my experiences.This network was always on my to-do list.I wanted to create an entire network dedicated to Diabetes after I had the capital.I still own the platform and the content even though I found a sponsor.It made sense for me to do something to help people other than myself.I wanted to show people that this is one of my greatest weaknesses, but here's how to make it a strength.I will show you how to look good doing it.I can show you what you can look like at 46 if you were diagnosed at 15.You only have one chance to live.I was lucky that I found out, because I thought it was worse.When I was told I had diabetes, I looked at it as a blessing.It felt like I was dying when I started losing weight, but it was Diabetes.I thought the diagnosis was a second chance at life.I lived life to the fullest after that point.It didn't stop me or distract me.I have diabetes, but I can step in and make history.I want people to see that.I believe that other people will be able to look at this and feel cool because I am the cool person in the world.I get direct messages and emails every day saying that I helped save lives or people who suffered from diabetes that find hope and strength through seeing what we are doing.We are helping people every day by sharing what I am learning.