The present
In a mix of the good son always returns home and chickens come home to roost, Snoop Dogg is the new owner of Death Row Records – the label in which he started his career.
The 20 GRAMMY® nominated rapper said in a statement to the media:
I am thrilled and appreciative of the opportunity to acquire the iconic and culturally significant Death Row Records brand, which has immense untapped future value. It feels good to have ownership of the label I was part of at the beginning of my career and as one of the founding members. This is an extremely meaningful moment for me.
The history
Image via Getty/Kevin Mazur Archive/WireImage
Death Row Records was founded in the early 90’s by Suge Knight and quickly became one of the most successful labels in music. Dr. Dre and Tupac headlined an early roster to make any household name label envious, including The D.O.C., Nate Dogg, Warren G, Michel’le and a young Snoop Doggy Dogg.
Some of the greatest rap albums of all times were released by the label, such as “The Chronic”, “Doggystyle” and “All Eyez on Me”.
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It is hard to believe that Suge Knight’s label was as much successful as it was controversial. Suge, who is currently serving a 28 year prison sentence for voluntary manslaughter, was the catalyst of the violence, which branded the enterprise.
Unfortunately, in the battle that defined the record label, success ultimately subsided and violence took the reins for good.
Due to internal turmoil and fighting, Dr. Dre left the label early in 1996. That would prove to be a fatal year for Death Row Records, as a few months later Tupac was murdered as a passanger in a car driven by Suge himself.
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From that point forward it was all the way down for Suge and his label – with more controversies surrounding the company and incarceration for its owner – until it ultimately filled for bankruptcy in 2006.
The future
Snoop is thrilled to be back to the record label he left in 1998. The deal is completed in the wake of his new album release – “B.O.D.R.”, which stands for Back on Death Row.
I’m looking forward to building the next chapter of Death Row Records.
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The rap mogul also announced his songs will soon be available to purchase via NFT.
With the recent announcement that he will perform at this year’s Super Bowl, the future for Snoop Dogg seems as exciting as his past.
