Dame Dash’s Film Empire Crumbles: Poppington LLC Sells for $100.50 Amid Debt Woes, 50 Cent Piles On Mockery
By Entertainment Correspondent January 3, 2026
In a stark reminder of hip-hop’s volatile fortunes, Damon “Dame” Dash’s once-promising film production company, Poppington LLC (operating as Dame Dash Studios), was sold at auction for a mere $100.50 on December 30, 2025. The low-stakes sale, held to offset nearly $1 million in defamation lawsuit judgments, drew only one bidder: Mike Muntaser of Muddy Water Motion Pictures, a creditor to whom Dash owes approximately $973,000. This humiliating transaction has sparked widespread commentary in the entertainment industry, with longtime rival Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson leading the charge in online ridicule.
youtube.com
hotnewhiphop.com
Dash, 54, co-founder of the iconic Roc-A-Fella Records alongside Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke in 1994, built a multimedia empire in the early 2000s that spanned music, fashion (Rocawear), and film. Poppington LLC, established in the 2010s, produced urban dramas and documentaries like “Honor Up” (2018, starring Dash himself), “Too Honorable” (2015), the music doc “Welcome to Blakroc” (2009, featuring The Black Keys and hip-hop artists), and “We Went To China: Our Search For Like Minded Individuals” (a travelogue). These projects aimed to showcase independent storytelling with a hip-hop edge, but financial troubles have plagued Dash for years, including tax liens, foreclosures, and multiple lawsuits.
The auction stemmed from a 2022 defamation case where Dash was ordered to pay $823,000 to filmmaker Josh Webber and Muntaser for falsely claiming ownership of the film “Dear Frank” and slandering Webber. Additional judgments pushed the total debt near $1 million. U.S. Marshals oversaw the sale of Poppington’s assets, including film rights and intellectual property, but the paltry $100.50 bid—essentially a symbolic gesture—highlights Dash’s diminished market value. Muntaser, who won the auction unopposed, described the purchase as a “jab” at Dash, telling reporters, “He’s a fool, a problem with an ego. Why are your peers doing good, being constructive, and you’re just playing games with others? May God guide him.” Muntaser accused Dash of bitterness and deflecting blame, adding that the low price reflects Dash’s failure to build sustainable value.
youtube.com
facebook.com
50 Cent, whose feud with Dash dates back to the mid-2000s over business rivalries and public barbs, wasted no time amplifying the embarrassment. On Instagram, the “Power” mogul posted a screenshot of the auction news with the caption: “Damn $1 dollar 👀He popped, 😆.” He followed up: “They took his whole sh*t! when I first got on he said a mill was nothing.” The posts, viewed millions of times, reference Dash’s past boasts about wealth during Roc-A-Fella’s heyday, when the label generated hits from artists like Kanye West and Cam’ron. 50 Cent’s trolling aligns with his history of targeting Dash, including past comments on Dash’s financial advice and recent criticism over 50’s Netflix docuseries on Sean “Diddy” Combs. Dash had called out 50 on AFRO TV’s “Point Of View,” saying, “Based on moral codes and coming from a street ethic, I honestly didn’t think that [50] would ever do that. ‘Cause I wouldn’t. It’s just not my job to tell. I’m not a Black man that’s going to tear another Black man down.”
Dash has not directly responded to the auction mockery but has been vocal about his struggles. In recent interviews, he attributed his woes to prioritizing “culture over commerce” and refusing to compromise principles, though critics point to ego-driven decisions like his 2004 split from Jay-Z, which left him without Roc-A-Fella’s lucrative assets (Jay-Z bought Dash’s stake for $20 million). Dash’s net worth, once estimated at $50 million, has reportedly dwindled due to debts exceeding $10 million, including a failed NFT venture and property losses.
Industry observers see this as a cautionary tale. “Success in hip-hop is fleeting if you don’t adapt,” said music executive Kevin Liles in a related commentary. While Dash continues podcasting via America Nu Network and mentoring young entrepreneurs, whispers of a comeback persist—perhaps through new media deals or reconciling with old allies. For now, the $100.50 sale underscores a fall from grace, with 50 Cent’s laughter echoing across social media.
As hip-hop evolves into a billion-dollar industry, Dash’s story warns: Empires built on bravado can crumble under debt’s weight. Whether this is rock bottom or a pivot point remains to be seen.
