Death Row Records

Death Row Records
File:Deathrowlogobig.jpg
Founded	1991
Founder	Eugene The Undertaker
Distributor(s)	Koch Records
Genre	Hiphop
Country of origin	US
Official website	http://www.deathrowrecords.net

Death Row Records is a record company that was founded in 1991 by Eugene and The Undertaker, and was once home to some of rap's biggest names, including: Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Tupac Shakur and Tha Dogg Pound. The label was also once home to RBX, The Lady of Rage, Michel'le, David Blake (DJ Quik), Danny Boy, and Gina Longo (distinguished for being the first, and only, white artist signed to Death Row).

History

Beginnings

While Dr. Dre was leaving Ruthless Records, he was introduced to Suge Knight through his friend The D.O.C., to whom Suge was a bodyguard at the time. With Dre's musical savvy and Suge's business sense, the two set out to found their own label.

Funding Death Row was accomplished by rather sinister means. Much of the money used to start the label allegedly came from known drug dealer Harry-O (in 1995, however, Suge disavowed any relationship with the imprisoned gangster). It is rumored that further funding came from extorting money from rapper Vanilla Ice. Knight, meanwhile, received additional financial support from Interscope Records, which in exchange would distribute its records.

The label's first release was The Chronic, the solo debut from Dr. Dre, in December 1992. Featured on the album were newcomers: Daz, Kurupt, The Lady of Rage and, most notably, Dr. Dre's new protege: Snoop Dogg (then known as Snoop Doggy Dogg). The album quickly exploded into 1993, peaking at #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart, going triple platinum. Later that year, Death Row released the Doggystyle, the debut album from Snoop Dogg. Debuting at #1, it wound up besting The Chronic in sales, and made Snoop Dogg and Death Row Records hiphop's leading act by 1994. Also in 1994, Death Row released the multi-platinum soundtracks to Above the Rim and Snoop's Murder Was The Case.

Early criticism

With acclaim came criticism. While riding high on the commercial success of Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg, Death Row was blasted by several activist groups and public figures in the media for its glorification of the violence associated with the gangsta rap image that most of its artists promoted. The criticism grew louder by the summer of 1995, as dissenters zeroed in on Death Row's highly publicized forthcoming release, Dogg Food — the debut release by Tha Dogg Pound.

The flak made the shareholders in Interscope Records parent company, Time Warner, nervous. So much so that the company sold all of its shares in Interscope to MCA Music Entertainment. Dogg Food, meanwhile, was postponed from its intended July release date to October.

The addition of 2Pac

File:Pacsnoopsuge.jpg

Image of 2Pac, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and Suge Knight during the peak of the label. (circa. 1996)

As the controversy with boycotters and Time Warner was adding fuel to Death Row's engine; Suge Knight, in the meantime, posted bail for the-then incarcerated Tupac ("2Pac") Shakur — in exchange for his signing with Death Row. At the time, 2Pac and Death Row shared mutual disdain for the fledgling New York-based Bad Boy Records, along with its CEO Sean Combs and seminal star The Notorious B.I.G.

Upon Shakur's release from prison, he immediately went to work on his Death Row debut album, All Eyez On Me. The album, released in early 1996, topped the albums charts and (going 9x platinum) became the labels biggest commercial success to date. The escalating tension between 2Pac and Biggie (as well as Death Row and Bad Boy), meanwhile, fueled what would was eventually called the "East Coast/West Coast rap war." What was to follow would be a year-long dispute in which several Death Row artists fired verbal assaults at East Coast artists. Among those who took lyrical shots were: Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, and 2Pac (with his group, Tha Outlawz). The list of those dissed by Death Row included most famously (but is not limited to): Mobb Deep, Nas, Jay-Z, the Junior M.A.F.I.A. and the Notorious B.I.G.

Death Row artists who acknowledged Bad Boy Records, or those who didn't support the feud, were looked down upon by 2Pac. Lady of Rage commented in an interview that 2Pac had once called her the "weakest link in Death Row" because she wouldn't insult Bad Boy. 2Pac also spoke ill of Dr. Dre for having not testified for Snoop during his murder trial, discouraging the West Coast-East Coast tension, and for his having departed the label in early 1996. 2Pac dissed Dr. Dre on KMEL radio in the Bay Area for not running the streets representing with him and the label and being too slow on producing beats for his album. It is also alleged that 2Pac stopped speaking to Snoop, his close friend, because he stated on-air that he respected Bad Boy Records. This is why many believe 2Pac was not featured on Snoop's "Tha Doggfather" release, nor is Snoop Dogg on 2Pac's last album, Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.

Despite the infamous feud, Suge Knight had planned to open a New York chapter of the label to be called Death Row East. Eric B. was slated to head that label. In an interview, 2pac named rappers they planned to sign, from Big Daddy Kane to the Wu-Tang Clan. The branch, however, was never formed.

2Pac was shot and killed in Las Vegas in September 1996, while riding on the passenger side in a car driven by Suge Knight. Soon after, Knight was sentenced to nine years in prison for a parole violation relating directly to a fight that both he and 2Pac were involved in on the night of his death. As a result of Dr. Dre's having previously left the company, 2Pac's death, and Knight's incarceration; Death Row Records imploded almost instantly.

Post 1996

Interscope Records sold its stake in Death Row Records and broke ties with the company in August of 1997, forcing the label to take up distribution with Priority Records. By 1998, Snoop, RBX, Jewell, and Kurupt had all left the label. Nate Dogg, Lady of Rage, and Daz soon followed. Death Row's saving grace is the fact that it owns the master tapes of the recordings that these artists made while they were on the roster, which is where most of the money comes from.

In 2001, upon his release from prison, Suge renamed his label "Tha Row" and announced his new roster, headed by a gifted Long Beach rapper named Crooked I. Tha Row also signed Left Eye of TLC, under the name N.I.N.A. (New Identity Non-Applicable). There were rumors that Knight was holding something over the rapper that "persuaded" her to sign the contract, but these were never expounded upon. Left-Eye was later tragically killed in a car accident before anything could come of the deal.

Several out-of-print releases from Tha Row were re-released like Tha Doggfather and, most importantly, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory — the concept album by Tupac as Makaveli. Death Row's attempt at a comeback, however, lagged, as their new releases were all compilations; the label failed to release any solo records by "Tha Row Inmates", with the exception of unreleased 2Pac albums. Suge was later branded a hypocrite when, after blasting others for exploiting 2Pac's legacy (specifically Master P's use of his Pac copycat artist Krazy), he signed his friend "Tha Realest" — whose rapping style bore an uncanny resemblance to that of 2Pac.

On the 2001 Too Gangsta For Radio compilation, several skits were aimed at enemies of Tha Row. The intro had a Snoop impersonator, fresh from a nightmare, using his wife to call up Suge Knight's prison to make sure he was still there. On "Fuck Dre", Tha Realest, Twist (not to be confused with Chicago rapper Twista) and Lil' C-Style, formerly of the LBC Crew, recorded a skit where Dr. Dre rapes a potential signee, and on K-9's "Gangsta'd Out", a skit portrayed Eminem as a tool of the Ku Klux Klan.

At 2:30 am on May 27, 2003 several bullets were fired by an unknown person or persons at the Beverly Hills offices of Death Row Records, damaging the front door, windows and wall of the offices. Earlier that year, an LA S.W.A.T. team raided the Death Row offices, looking for evidence of gang murders and drug dealing.

It has been said The Game, currently an Aftermath Entertainment artist, was in talks with Suge to join Death Row while also considering a deal with Bad Boy, though nothing came of it.

2004 was a bad year for Suge. His most promising artist Crooked I finally had enough of waiting and left the label. Long postponed R&B singer Danny Boy, meanwhile, left the label in 2004, though its not been announced yet. Kurupt also left in 2005 to team up with his old friends Daz Dillinger and Snoop Dogg to reunite Tha Dogg Pound. In 2005 Death Row Records signed Petey Pablo. It is rumored that the company had attempted to sign Shyne and Mystikal, although both eventually signed with other labels.

After weeks of speculation, Queens, NY bred rapper Lakey The Kid and Suge Knight recently revealed to New York's Hot 97 that Lakey The Kid is signed to Death Row East, and will be the flagship artist for the label. Death Row East was 2Pac's idea but didn't materialize until ten years after his death.

Second Generation Struggles

In 1998, Suge planned to launch the first of many rappers to come for the second generation of Death Row Records. Although he was incarcerated, he pushed rapper Top Dogg (also known as YGD) as his first new face making his television debut appearance in the video "All About U" on the 2Pac "Greatest Hits" album replacing Snoop Dogg. Top Dogg had generated a buzz from a hidden track on the "Gang Related Soundtrack" titled "Goin Back To Cali" aimed toward Puff Daddy. The video, "All About U," received heavy play and Suge followed in 1999 with "The Chronic 2000: Suge Knight Represents" album to introduce a brand new roster headed by Top Dogg, Tha Realest, and Soopafly, with Daz Dillinger as the veteran lead-producer.

In 2000, the video for Top Dogg's "Cindafella" track received minor airplay and his album "Every Dog Has His Day" was shelved as his contract expired and he was not renewed. Soopafly shortly lived as the label's lead artist after generating a buzz off his single "Like It Or Not," but was released to due disputes over payments from the label. Tha Realest tookover as Tha Row's lead artist and made several albums which were never released, including the much anticipated "Witness Tha Realest" that featured a diss track towards Mobb Deep. He recorded tracks with Daz Dillinger, The Outlawz, Scarface, Richie Rich, and other big westcoast names along with labelmates Dre'sta, K9, J Valentine, PB, and his group, The Last Circle. After "Too Gangsta For Radio," Tha Realest was put on the back-burner for Crooked I. He went to court against Knight's label to escape his contract. Daz Dillinger left the label as head-producer later that year due to money problems with Suge Knight and he used his Death Row tracks to release an independent album titled "R.A.W." His lead single for the Too Gangsta For Radio compilation titled "Gangsta Rap" was pulled and he was replaced with Scarface & Treach of Naughty By Nature. This track would later appear as the lead single for Knight's Tha Dogg Pound "2002" release. Big Hutch aka Cold187um from Above The Law became the label's lead producer.

In September of 2001, with Knight being out of prison, Crooked I's debut "Say Hi To Tha Bad Guy" was supposed to be released with the lead single being "So Damn Hood" and guest appearances by Dru Hill, Jadakiss, Kurupt, Eastwood, Scarface, Juvenile, Too Short, and others marking the big return of the label. The album was never released and it became apparent Death Row Records had major marketing problems. Big Hutch parted the label and various producers tookover the position he held at the company.

By 2002, Knight's fanbase became frustrated with a lack of new albums from active artists. Although Kurupt of Tha Dogg Pound had returned to be President of the label, the release of Tha Dogg Pound's 2002 (Tha Dogg Pound album), Tupac Shakur's Until The End Of Time, and Snoop Dogg's Death Row: Snoop Doggy Dogg at His Best escalated the frustration of loyal fans that wanted to see the new roster. Although he had a great relationship with Knight, it was apparent that Kurupt had very little power when it came to major label decisions, album releases, and recruiting power as the President and that the significant decisions ran through Knight.

By 2003, Kurupt was the label's new lead artist as Crooked I fought legal battles with Knight to escape his contract. He recorded with his brother Roscoe, Ray J, Eastwood, and Tri-Star.

By 2005, multi-platinum rapper Petey Pablo had signed on to become Knight's new lead artist. Kurupt and Eastwood (Who is now an former artist) was the only ones left of the second generation of Tha Row artists because most had departed from the label. Kurupt's album "Against The Grain" dropped and Tha Row claimed that distributor Koch dropped the album before it was finished and left off important tracks Kurupt recorded with Lil Jon and Ice Cube. Songs such as Vaseline 2 were dropped from the album. The album did poorly for sales and reminded everyone of the problems the label was having. As well as the poor sells Tha Row did not endorse the album because of Koch's "mistake".

The second generation did not fail due to lack of talent, but rather, a lack of exposure. With poor promotion and missed album releases, several quality records were shelved that may have generated heavy sales. The label failed to release completed albums by Top Dogg, Soopafly, Tha Realest, Daz Dillinger (second album), Above The Law, Ray J, N.I.N.A., J. Valentine, Eastwood, Danny Boy, Crooked I, Dre'sta, Mac Shawn, and several others.

Later that year Kurupt and Eastwood both left the label. The only remaining artist would be Petey Pablo until 2006. Sometime in early 2006 Suge Knight went on the Dj K-Slay Radio Show and annouced Deathrow East and its first artist Lakey The Kid. Lakey had been on albums with Nas before Lakey got locked up and before him and Nas started having a bitter relationship. Another artist later signed to Deathrow West his name is Warlord. Warlord has a mixtape coming out soon called "I Can Getcha Block Knocked Off Volume 1". Supposedly another artist we havent yet to hear from called Hardy The Boss has signed to Deathrow. Deathrow also has a new V.P. his name is Big Los. Deathrow East has big plans for 2 big albums a Lakey and Cormega colaboration called "My Brothers Keeper" which is set to come out on August 22nd along with another album. This album is Lakey's solo album called "The Big Ride" which is set to come out September 30th. Apparently Warlord and Petey have albums coming as well. Hopefully Deathrow Records will get back on its feet with these release. Though Deathrow remains on the verge of destruction Deathrow maybe able to come back with an edge on the rest of the rap game because "With Deathrow never know"-Suge Knight.

Pending court takeover

On April 3, 2006, it was reported that a court-appointed receiver is set to acquire Death Row assets to auction off. Suge Knight has missed several court-mandated appearances over his assets. Michael Harris, an imprisoned drug dealer, says that Knight owes him money because he helped fund the label's founding. [1]

On April 4, 2006, Death Row Records filed for bankruptcy protection. [2] Knight will run the company while the matter is before the courts.

Death Row Records News

• June 2006 - Death Row signs a new artist named Warlord
• February 2006 - Death Row signs former Nas associate Lakey The Kid to Death Row East.
• 28 August 2005 - Kurupt's album "Against Tha Grain" is released. This is the first freshly recorded release by Death Row Records since 1998.
• August 2005 - Suge Knight was shot in the leg at a party thrown by rapper Kanye West the night before the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards.
• April 2005 - Death Row Records announces a new artist on their website: Petey Pablo. Petey Pablo's album is scheduled for release in spring 2006.

Further reading

• Have Gun Will Travel: The Spectacular Rise and Violent Fall of Death Row Records, Ronin Ro, Doubleday, 1998, 384 pages, ISBN 0385491344
• Labyrinth: Corruption and Vice in the L.A.P.D.: The truth behind the murders of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls by Randall Sullivan, Atlantic Monthly Press, April 2, 2002, 384 pages, ISBN 0871138387

Discography

1992

• Dr. Dre — The Chronic

1993

• Snoop Doggy Dogg — Doggystyle

1994

• Above the Rim OST
• Murder Was the Case OST

1995

• Tha Dogg Pound — Dogg Food

1996

• 2Pac — All Eyez on Me
• 2Pac (as Makaveli) — The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
• Snoop Doggy Dogg — Tha Doggfather
• Ice Cube/Various - No Vaseline EP
• Christmas on Death Row
• Death Row's Greatest Hits

1997

• Lady Of Rage - Necessary Roughness
• Gridlock'd — OST
• Gang Related — OST

1998

• 2Pac — Greatest Hits
• Daz Dillinger — Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back
• Michel'le — Hung Jury

1999

• Various Artists-Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000

2000

• Snoop Doggy Dogg — Dead Man Walkin'
• Various Artist-Too Gangsta 4 Radio

2001

• Snoop Dogg — Death Row's Snoop Doggy Dogg Greatest Hits
• Tha Dogg Pound - 2002
• 2Pac - Until the End of Time

2002

• Dysfunktional Family OST
• 2Pac - Better Dayz

2003

• 2Pac — Nu-Mixx Klazzics

2004

• 2Pac — 2Pac Live

2005

• The Very Best Of Death Row
• Kurupt — Against Tha Grain
• Deathrow — Live At The House Of Blues

2006

• Petey Pablo — Same Eyez On Me
• Warlord - I Can Getcha Block Knocked Off Volume 1
• Lakey The Kid and Cormega - My Brothers Keeper
• Lakey The Kid - The Big Ride

See also

• Death Row Records artists
• List of record labels

External links

• DeathRowRecords.net
• Death Row timeline
• Interview With Former Producer Kurt Kobane Courtesy of HoodStars.net
• WorldWideConnected.com features interviews with former Death Row members Big Hutch, Crooked I, Daz Dillinger, Kurupt, Top Dogg and Tha Realest
• o2deathrow a site with history on Deathrow along with interviews from former and current Deathrow artist like the Outlawz and Warlord