Snoop Dogg buys Death Row Records, the label that launched his career
Snoop Dogg has bought the record label that launched his career.
The hip-hop legend acquired the Death Row Records brand from MNRK Music Group, a firm that is controlled by private equity funds managed by Blackstone, the investment firm announced the sale in a news release on Wednesday.
Terms were not disclosed.
Death Row was founded in 1992 by Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, the D.O.C. and Dick Griffey, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“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,” Snoop Dogg, 50, said in a statement. “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.”
Dr. Dre’s first solo album, “The Chronic,” and Snoop Dogg’s debut, “Doggystyle,” are considered hip-hop classics, The Associated Press reported.
Tupac Shakur became the label’s star artist later in the 1990s before he was shot and killed in Las Vegas in 1996 while riding in a car driven by Knight, the AP reported.
Shakur’s death brought about the label’s decline.
Death Row Records filed for bankruptcy in 2006 and was acquired at auction three years later for $18 million by WIDEawake Entertainment, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
David Kestnbaum, a senior managing director at Blackstone, said he is looking forward to Snoop Dogg taking over the reins of the label.
“We are excited to put the Death Row Records brand back in the hands of a legend like Snoop Dogg,” Kestnbaum said in a statement. “We wish him success in the years ahead as the brand moves forward under his leadership and vision.”
Here are some memorable photos of Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Calvin Broadus Jr., through the years.
1994: Dr. Dre, left, looks at this protege Snoop Doggy Dogg, who is accused of murder, react after Dre won favorite artist and new artist in rap-hip hop at the 21st annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 7, 1994.
1995: Rapper Snoop Doggy Dog, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, sits in a Los Angeles courtroom, May 19, 1995, during a hearing in his murder case. He was later acquitted.
1996: Rap singer Calvin Broadus (aka Snoop Doggy Dogg), center, is escorted into the Los Angeles Criminal Courts building Friday, Feb. 9, 1996, where he and a former bodyguard were on trial for a 1993 murder. Both were acquitted.
1997: Snoopy Doggy Dogg and his bride, Shantae Taylor, during their wedding at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Marina Del Rey, California, on June 14, 1997.
1999: Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis and rapper Snoop Dogg on the 1999 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
2000: Snoop Dogg performs live at Memorial Stadium in Seattle to celebrate the opening of Experience Music Project, an interactive music museum opening June 23, 2000.
2001: Rapper/actor Snoop Dogg and his wife, Shante, attend the film premiere of "The Wash" on November 12, 2001, in Los Angeles.
2002: Hip-hop artists Snoop Dogg poses for photographers with Damon Dash and Jay-Z at Game 4 of the 2002 NBA Finals between the New Jersey Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers on June 12, 2002, at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
2003: Rapper Snoop Dogg (left) and rapper Bow Wow wait for the start of the at the 2003 NBA All-Star game at the Phillips Arena on February 9, 2003, in Atlanta.
2004: Rap music artist Snoop Dogg (center) greets members of the University of Southern California football team while filming the mtvU show "Stand In" on November 16, 2004, at the USC campus in Los Angeles. At left is USC head coach Pete Carroll.
2005: Rapper Snoop Dogg poses the players during the "Snooper Bowl" at William M. Raines High School on February 5, 2005, in Jacksonville, Florida.
2006: Rapper Snoop Dogg poses in the media room during the second MTV Australia Video Music Awards at the Sydney SuperDome on April 12, 2006, in Sydney, Australia.
2007: Calvin Broadus Jr., also known as rapper Snoop Dogg, listens to the judge at the Pasadena Superior Court during his hearing April 11, 2007, in Pasadena, California. Broadus pleaded no contest to drug and weapons charges, and recieved five years’ probation and 800 hours of community service.
2008: Rapper Snoop Dogg performs onstage during MTV’s Total Request Live at the MTV Times Square Studios on March 11, 2008, in New York City.
2009: Musician Joe Perry (left) and rapper Snoop Dogg speak onstage at the 2009 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 22, 2009, in Los Angeles.
2010: Katy Perry (left) and Snoop Dogg perform onstage at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards held at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal Studios on June 6, 2010, in Universal City, California.
2011: Snoop Dog arrives at the funeral of Nate Dogg, aka Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, on March 26, 2011, in Long Beach, California.
2012: Rappers Dr. Dre (left) and Snoop Dogg perform onstage during Day 3 of the 2012 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 15, 2012, in Indio, California.
2013: Singer Justin Timberlake, BET Lifetime Achievement Award recipient musician Charlie Wilson, rapper Snoop Lion (formerly Snoop Dogg) and Pharrell Williams in the Backstage Winner’s Room at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on June 30, 2013, in Los Angeles.
2014: Musician Pharrell Williams (left) and Snoop Dogg perform onstage at the 63rd NBA All-Star Game 2014 at the Smoothie King Center on February 16, 2014, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
2015: Rapper Snoop Dogg and TV personality Martha Stewart attend The Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber at Sony Pictures Studios on March 14, 2015, in Los Angeles.
2016: Rappers Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube perform onstage during Day 2 of the 2016 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival Weekend 1 at the Empire Polo Club on April 16, 2016, in Indio, California.
2017: Rapper Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart speak onstage during the 2017 MTV Movie And TV Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on May 7, 2017, in Los Angeles.
2018: Rapper Snoop Dogg performs during halftime at the NFC Wild Card Playoff Game between the Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcons at the Los Angeles Coliseum on January 6, 2018, in Los Angeles.
2019: Zac Efron, Jimmy Buffett, Harmony Korine, Isla Fisher, Matthew McConaughey and Snoop Dogg attend the premiere of Neon and Vice Studio’s "The Beach Bum" at ArcLight Hollywood on March 28, 2019, in Hollywood, California.
2020: Rapper Snoop Dogg courtside before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers at TD Garden on January 20, 2020, in Boston.
2021: Demetrius Flenory Jr., Michole Briana White, Snoop Dogg and Shante Broadus attend the BMF world premiere screening and concert at Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood on September 23, 2021, in Atlanta.
