Snoop Dogg is now the new owner of West coast-based Death Row Records.
Born Calvin Broadus Jr, the legendary rapper acquired the former Suge Knight-helmed company from MNRK Music Group for an undisclosed sum and a statement about the purchase the now 50-year-old rap megastar said:
“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 hip-hop icon shot to fame after appearing on Dr. Dre’s acclaimed 1992 ‘The Chronic’, released on Death Row and was subsequently signed as a solo artist with his debut album, ‘Doggystyle’ (1993.)
The original record label of the late Tupac Shakur and Nate Dogg, Death Row filed for bankruptcy in 2006 and was sold in 2012, after founder Suge Knight faced serious financial and legal issues. The 56-year-old former music executive is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence for a fatal 2015 hit-and-run.
In November 2021 Snoop expressed interest in owning Death Row when he was made executive creative and strategic consultant, saying: “I think all of Death Row should be in my hands. I should be running that s***. Just like I’m [in] a position at Def Jam, Death Row means more to me because I helped create that.”
Snoop Dogg will reunite with Dre on Sunday (2.13) for their 2022 Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show performance along with Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Tulane Public Relations