Jay-Z, Dame Dash and DJ Lonnie B, as photographed in the rapper’s corner office at the Roc-A-Fella Records headquarters in Midtown Manhattan in October 2000. That day Dame’s older brother Bobby Dash, who worked as the Head of Promotions, had brought the Richmond, Virginia-native to tour the office and meet with the crew. When they entered Jay’s office he stood up from his desk and introduced himself, saying “Yo man that’s a nice coat… So you're a DJ in VA? How are you feeling my new single?“ Being that his new single was “I Just Wanna Love U (Give it 2 Me)” a positive answer was inevitable. According to Lonnie B the rapper in fact busted out laughing, saying "I can't even ask you that with a straight face!” In ‘95 the DJ and his associates Mad Skillz and Danja Mowf had formed a trio named SupaFriendz. In ‘98 the trio recorded a remix of Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody?” for a DJ Reese mixtape; and because Skillz was associated with Timbaland many thought it was an official remix, so it was being played on radio stations across VA. Shortly DJ Enuff would play it on Hot 97 and introduce it to New York audiences; and when DJ Clue included it on his mixtape This Is It!! Part One the remix found it’s way to Missy Elliott and Aaliyah herself. The singer invited the SupaFriendz to join her for a performance of the track at The Tunnel nightclub in November 1998. When Lonnie B told Hov he had been one of the three MCs to spit with Aaliyah on the remix, the Brooklyn MC looked knowingly at Dame Dash (who was newly-dating Aaliyah at the time), and told him to spit his verse on the spot. Nervous as anything, Lonnie spit his verse and waited for the room’s thoughts. “Your verse was the best on that song,” Jay exclaimed. “It was a hot verse!” Receiving this praise from the greatest rapper of all-time was something else for Lonnie, who remembers to this day how special it felt to be co-signed by Jigga. #JAYZ #RocAFella