23 October 2023 , 08:42
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Notorious London gangster Dave Courtney had a surprising connection to American rapper Jay-Z.
The 64-year-old, who was famously affiliated with London hardmen the Kray brothers, Roy Shaw and Lenny McLean, revealed an unexpected link to the record producer. A photograph of Dave is said to have inspired Jay-Z's 2001 Blueprint album front cover, but Courtney wasn't pleased as he claimed Jay-Z tried to take credit for the album art.
The image was taken when Dave did a speech at Oxford Union – a debating society at University of Oxford – which he called the "proudest moment" of his life. Over the course of 18 months, Dave had his life documented by photographs, which went on to be featured in a book called The Firm.
One of those photos was taken at the Oxford Union. Speaking on YouTube channel Gangster Tales in 2022, Dave shared: "In this book, there is a photograph of me – an aerial photograph that was taken from the balcony of me addressing the Oxford Union. I am sitting on the corner of a table. It is a cool picture. But when the book got brought out, Jay-Z actually thought that was a really cool picture because he is an intelligent man.
Jay-Z was inspired by a picture of Dave Courtney for his Blueprint album cover (The Blueprint)
Dave says his picture inspired Jay-z's album cover (Alex Woods/REX/Shutterstock)"He actually looked at it like, 'wow there is a convicted felon teaching future parliament. He is the lecturer in the Oxford Union, teaching the next Lord Mayor, Prime Minister, Chief of Police'. He thought that was really funny. So what he did was he did the exact same picture and put his head on it. He put it on the cover of Blueprint, his album which is a f***ing good album. He just changed the head on the picture and put him on it and called it Blueprint.
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"My photograph became really famous on the cover of Jay-Z's album. I don't think it is the last you'll hear of that, I think it is gonna raise its head again. Right now he is running around in show business, saying he has done it all down to himself. He actually started off with me on front of his f***ing cover to be honest. It hasn't gone un-noticed by a lot of people."
Jay-Z's album cover picture was taken by Jonathan Mannion and was inspired by the snap of Courtney by Jocelyn Bain Hogg. Instead of the telephone and brass knuckles seen next to the ashtray in the original picture, a cigar, a pack of cigars and a microphone were placed next to Jay-Z.
The East End gangster was found dead at his home on Sunday. A statement released on Courtney's social media said he took his own life "with a firearm". It read: "It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Dave Courtney at the age of 64. Dave tragically took his own life in the early hours of Sunday 22nd October, with a firearm at his Camelot Castle home in Plumstead. Details about funeral arrangements will be provided in due course. His family ask for respect during this period of mourning."
Metropolitan Police say they were called to an address on Chestnut Rise in Plumstead at around 11:25am on 22 October, after reports of a man found dead. A 64-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, with the death being treated as unexpected and under investigation. Throughout an eventful criminal career Courtney claimed to have been shot, stabbed and had his nose nearly bitten off before it was sewed back on.
The hard-nosed criminal later turned to acting when he assumed roles in a number of low-budget London gangster films – including Hell To Pay which he produced, directed and starred in. Courtney acted in other films including Six Bend Trapp, Clubbing to Death and The Dead Sleep Easy.