Death Row Records Investor Says Dr. Dre & Snoop Are Making An Album
In the early 1990s, Michael “Harry-O” Harris was as an alleged financier of Dr. Dre and Suge Knight’s Death Row Records. An early iteration of the label was named Godfather Entertainment, in the incarcerated Harry-O’s honor. Michael’s then-wife, Lydia Harris, was to have a hand in the musical direction of the label centered around former N.W.A. member and hit producer Dr. Dre.
As history shows, that is not what happened. However, in his approximately five years at Death Row, Dr. Dre enjoyed stardom as a solo artist. He helped launch the careers of Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, and others. The label eventually became home to Tupac Shakur, DJ Quik, and MC Hammer, as it became a Gangsta Rap empire throughout the 1990s. However, by the early 2010s, both Dr. Dre and Suge Knight had relinquished ownership of Death Row, which became a legacy label primarily relegated to re-releases, archival drops, and merchandise.
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In early 2022, approaching 30 years after the release of Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, Snoop Dogg took ownership of Death Row. The rapper-turned-mogul returned to the label to release BODR (Bacc On Death Row), shortly before reportedly signing Tha Dogg Pound back to the imprint for a reported Dogg Food 2 album sequel to their 1995 double-platinum chart-topper. He also positioned the record company in the metaverse, removing many of the Death Row albums—including The Chronic and his Doggystyle from traditional DSPs. During this period, Snoop and others began speaking of Harry-O in an expanded effort to properly compensate parties involved with Death Row’s inception and success.
Appearing on Kevin Garnett’s KG Certified talk show, Harry-O spoke about developments from his current vantage point. “It hits me sometimes when I’m sitting with [Dr.] Dre and Snoop, and just watchin’ these guys and who they became,” said the former convict, wearing a Death Row Records medallion. He added, “I was just talkin’ to Doctor the other day—I talk to all the Death Row family, and we’re gonna all come together and do some incredible things. Because all of it has grown from our different journeys. It’s multiple stories that will be told, and we will make sure that everybody that was a part of somethin’ gets what they got comin.'” Harry-O spoke of a 20-part docuseries that is currently in the works.
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Then, Michael Harris broke some news that got a strong reaction out of KG. “Now you got Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre doing another album together. I was blessed to sit there the other day [and watch them].” After Garnett reacted to a potential exclusive tidbit, Harry-O confirmed, “I don’t know if I’m spillin’ the beans, but I’m tellin’ you, bro, sittin’ in that room [watching them]. I’m talkin’ like Chronic—‘back in the room.'” Harry-O recently posted photos of himself, with Dre, Snoop, and another Death Row keystone, The D.O.C., to social media. He then said, “To watch them at work, the Doctor is a beast.”
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Snoop was a standout on The Chronic, while Dre produced Snoop’s 1993 Doggystyle debut one year later. The two have linked numerous times since, though have not released a full collaborative project together since. Last year, Dre and Snoop teamed for “ETA,” a song that also features Anderson .Paak. That song, arriving ahead of all three’s appearance during the 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show, is currently on the official Ambrosia For Heads playlist:
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The full episode of KG Certified featuring Harry-O is also available online.