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Big Daddy Kane Turned Down A $1 Million Death Row Deal

In the mid-1990s, Big Daddy Kane was a free agent. After nearly a decade releasing music through Cold Chillin' Records and its Warner Bros. distributor, the Brooklyn, New York lyricist was a talent for hire. In 1994, he had released a sole MCA Records LP, Daddy's Home, featuring involvement with... Read more

The 25 Most Important Rap Albums Of Hip-Hop’s First 50 Years

Over the years, countless music lists have laid out the "Greatest" of a particular category–album, artist, song, etc. These lists often cite vague criteria and then lay out what they claim to be objective rankings. But, they are subjective. At Ambrosia For Heads, we have generally provided opportunities for the people... Read more

Death Row Defeats Wu-Tang Clan To Be Named Greatest Rap Crew

In recognition of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, BET Digital, in partnership with Ambrosia For Heads, is celebrating the culture by hosting a bracket-style competition that allows you to determine Hip-Hop’s greatest crew. Rather than having "experts" tell you who is the greatest of all time, this is your opportunity to collectively make... Read more

Wu-Tang Clan vs. Death Row Family: The Greatest Rap Crew Competition

In recognition of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, BET Digital, in partnership with Ambrosia For Heads, is celebrating the culture by hosting a bracket-style competition that allows you to determine Hip-Hop’s greatest crew. Rather than having “experts” tell you who is the greatest of all-time, this is your opportunity to collectively make that... Read more

A Recap Of Who Won In Round 4 Of The Greatest Rap Crew Of All-Time Competition

In recognition of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, BET Digital, in partnership with Ambrosia For Heads, is celebrating the culture by hosting a bracket-style competition that allows you to determine Hip-Hop’s greatest crew. Rather than having “experts” tell you who is the greatest of all time, this is your opportunity to collectively make... Read more

Death Row Family vs. TDE: The Greatest Rap Crew Competition

In recognition of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, BET Digital, in partnership with Ambrosia For Heads, is celebrating the culture by hosting a bracket-style competition that allows you to determine Hip-Hop’s greatest crew. Rather than having “experts” tell you who is the greatest of all-time, this is your opportunity to collectively make that... Read more

Death Row Family vs. N.W.A. & The Posse: The Greatest Rap Crew Competition

In recognition of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, BET Digital, in partnership with Ambrosia For Heads, is celebrating the culture by hosting a bracket-style competition that allows you to determine Hip-Hop’s greatest crew. Rather than having “experts” tell you who is the greatest of all-time, this is your opportunity to collectively make that... Read more

Keith Murray Details His Alleged Affair With Foxy Brown While She Dated Kurupt

In late 1999, Kurupt released one of the most inflammatory diss songs of that period. "Calling Out Names," an unlisted bonus song from Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha, was a scathing diss by Tha Dogg Pound MC aimed at DMX, Ja Rule, and Irv Gotti—while making disparaging remarks about The... Read more

Kurupt, Daz, The Lady Of Rage & RBX Have Formed A Supergroup

During the 1990s, as co-founder and president of Death Row Records, Dr. Dre introduced an incredible crop of new talent. Snoop Dogg would go on to become a superstar and business mogul. However, with Snoop, several other artists were integral to 1992's The Chronic and Snoop's 1993 debut, Doggystyle. Now,... Read more

Snoop Dogg Confirms Details Of Upcoming Album With Dr. Dre

During the summer, one of Death Row Records' financiers, Michael "Harry-O" Harris revealed that Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre are making an album together. The revelation came on Kevin Garnett's KG Certified talk show. The man who supplied funds for a label intended to be Godfather Entertainment, spoke about reconnecting... Read more

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... Read more

Many Of Hip-Hop’s Greatest Rappers Name Their Top 5 MCs

Note: Jadakiss recently appeared on ESPN’s Jalen & Jacoby podcast and was asked who his top 5 Hip-Hop groups of all-time were. This article has been updated below with his response, as well as The Game’s top 5 LA Rap albums. A few days ago, during a podcast appearance, Ice... Read more

Former Death Row Records Singer Jewell Has Passed Away

Jewell is an R&B singer-songwriter who made hits with Dr. Dre, Tha Dogg Pound, N.W.A., and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. According to collaborator and former label-mate Daz Dillinger, the former Death Row Records artist born Jewell Caples has passed away this morning (May 6). No cause of death has been made public.... Read more

Daz Plays Part Of A Song That Featured Tupac & Nas

Daz Dillinger has corrected Snoop Dogg's recent account of the removed Nas verse from a Tupac track. On the newest episode of Drink Champs, Snoop Dogg said that Method Man and Kurupt were on a song together, referring to Tupac Shakur's “Got My Mind Made Up.” The diamond-certified All Eyez On Me song... Read more

Tha Dogg Pound Announce They Are Back On Death Row & Making Dogg Food 2

Last month, just ahead of his Super Bowl halftime show, Snoop Dogg announced ownership of Death Row Records. With the news, Snoop released BODR (Bacc On Death Row)—marking his return to the label after nearly 25 years. That album featured a posthumous appearance from Nate Dogg, Snoop's longtime band-mate in... Read more

Snoop Is Making Death Row The 1st Label In The Metaverse

From its first release in 1992, Death Row Records built its reputation on reflecting the streets. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, Tupac, and others maintained that rep through making Rap music without compromise over the next five years. Founded by two Compton, California natives, Dre and Suge Knight,... Read more

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony & Tha Dogg Pound Have Formed A Supergroup

Sometimes former foes can come together to make incredible music. Before Slaughterhouse, Joe Budden and Royce 5'9 had exchanged disses on wax. The 2007 conflict would come full circle within a year, as the two artists would achieve great success together and nearly top the charts with Slaughterhouse's sophomore album.... Read more

50 Cent & Snoop Are Making A Murder Was The Case Series

This year, 50 Cent found another television hit, thanks to BMF. Last month, Starz ordered a companion documentary series with 50 serving yet again as producer, as well as the second season of BMF. In that scripted series for Starz, there is a dramatic re-telling of one of the most powerful... Read more

Kurupt Details The Classic Death Row Songs That Began As Freestyles

For more than 20 years, core fans kept hope that the HRSMN might release an album. As one of Rap's earliest super-groups, the quartet composed of Kurupt, Ras Kass, Killah Priest, and Canibus hurdled label challenges, leaks, bootlegging, legal woes, and all that comes with four separate lives and careers.... Read more

Snoop Dogg & Eminem Have Been Feuding For Months. Here’s Why

Two of Dr. Dre's greatest proteges are Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. He developed one esteemed lyricist at the top of the 1990s during the establishment of Death Row Records and the other at the tail-end of that decade, solidifying his Aftermath Entertainment imprint. Ever since, Snoop and Em partnered... Read more

Dr. Dre Is Hospitalized After Suffering A Brain Aneurysm

Hip-Hop lost another legend in 2020. In the closing hours of the year, MF DOOM's wife and onetime record label, Rhymesayers Entertainment, confirmed that the man born Daniel Dumile passed away on October 31. No cause of death has been made public at this time. However, news of DOOM's death... Read more

Death Row Records Is Now Owned By A Toy Company

In the early 1990s, Dr. Dre broke from N.W.A. and Ruthless Records. After five years of work with Eazy-E taking Gangsta Rap to the top of the charts, Dre wanted an imprint of his own. The producer for J.J. Fad, The D.O.C., Above The Law, and Michel'le moved across town.... Read more

Snoop Dogg Celebrates Suge Knight On A Song About Forgiveness & Respect

Snoop Dogg has just released what is perhaps the most anticipated song from his upcoming I Wanna Thank Me album. Last week, the Long Beach, California veteran released a "Countdown" video with Swizz Beatz modeled after his breakthrough smash hit, 1992's "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang." With Swizzy's rendition of G-Funk,... Read more

Ever Hear Kurupt’s Debut? He Rapped With The S.O.S. Band Before The Chronic (Audio)

The S.O.S. Band bridged the gap between Disco and Electro Funk. Formed a few years earlier, the Atlanta, Georgia outfit made a splash with their debut 1980 single "Take Your Time (Do It Right)." The breakthrough hit for Clarence Avant's burgeoning Tabu Records topped the R&B and Dance charts on... Read more

Spice 1, Kurupt & Devin The Dude Are Proud To Be Hip-Hop OGs (Audio)

For more than 30 years, Spice 1 has been giving fans his brand of raw, uncut Hip-Hop. The Hayward, California representative released three gold-certified albums at the top of the 1990s, venting on the anxieties of staying strapped in the 'hood. Throughout that time, the onetime protege and label-mate of... Read more

25 Years Ago, Snoop & Tha Dogg Pound Barked At All The Biters (Video)

Twenty-five years ago, in 1994, Dr. Dre and Suge Knight's record label was giving the mainstream music world an electric charge from the streets of Los Angeles. 1992 saw Dr. Dre's solo debut, The Chronic. Eleven months later, Snoop Doggy Dogg presented his style with a game-changing D*ggystyle LP with Dre and... Read more

DJ Quik Recalls Making Tupac’s All Eyez On Me & The Advice Dr. Dre Gave Him (Video)

DJ Quik and Hi-C recently appeared on Los Angeles, California's KDAY radio station. The Compton, California natives who have a long collaborative history spoke to host Romeo about the shows they have been doing together in the Midwest. Quik also praised the upcoming Suga Free album that he worked on.... Read more

Keith Murray & Mr. Cheeks Make New Squad Rules On A Lost Boyz Sequel

Over 20 years ago, South Jamaica Queens Rap ensemble, Lost Boyz, gained traction both in New York City and on the FM waves with their 1995 debut single, "Lifestyles Of The Rich & Shameless." After inking a deal with Uptown Records, the foursome found more acclaim as they made their... Read more

One Of G-Funk’s Most Important Producers Has Passed Away

Music producer and keyboardist Emanuel Dean died on Monday (February 4). The man Dean called his best friend, Tha Dogg Pound's Daz Dillinger, confirmed the passing on social media. A native of Oklahoma, Dean significantly contributed to at least two hits on Snoop Dogg's 1993 debut, Doggystyle. Specifically, Dean and... Read more

A New Documentary Shows How Suge Knight’s American Dream Became His Nightmare

This September, Marion "Suge" Knight was sentenced to 28 years behind bars for the killing of music executive Terry Carter. For the Compton, California native, it was the stiffest punishment in a career that has marred by incarcerations, legal roadblocks, and a very public fall from power. Twenty-five years ago,... Read more

Snoop Claims Biggie Tried To Have Him Shot & Explains How They Made Peace (Video)

While Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls had the most storied and ultimately tragic Rap beef in history, there were other moments that greatly defined a coastal conflict between the Death Row and Bad Boy labels. In 1995, there was a shooting in Red Hook, Brooklyn while Tha Dogg Pound and... Read more

Kurupt Recalls Snatching The “New York, New York” Beat Back From Biggie

In September of 1995, Tha Dogg Pound released the first single from their debut album, Dogg Food. "New York, New York" proved to be a controversial record, even if it is rooted in a 1983 Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five single. The '95 Death Row Records version arrived five... Read more

Snoop Dogg Provides New Details About 1996 Meeting Between Tupac & Nas (Video)

On September 4, 1996, the MTV Video Music Awards took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, and Suge Knight were in Manhattan at a time when tensions were strong between their Death Row Records and several top Rap artists from the Big... Read more

The 1st Look At Death Row Series Shows Suge Strong-Arming Eazy-E To Get Dre (Video)

The Death Row Chronicles is an upcoming six-part series on one of music's most successful and most controversial record labels. Airing on BET February 20 (beginning with part one and two), a two-minute video trailer released, featuring commentary from some of the people closest to Death Row Records' former CEO... Read more

Daz Dillinger & The Twinz’ Funky Video Is 3 OG’s Kicking Street Wisdom In The LBC

Tha Dogg Pound's Daz Dillinger makes a lot of music after 25 years. The MC/producer who reps Long Beach, California starts off 2018 with some of that G-Funk that his fans crave. "Hard Life" reunites one of the most recognized voices of the DPG family with Warren G's onetime proteges,... Read more

Lady Of Rage, RBX & Dogg Pound Locked It Down Again 20 Years After Death Row (Video)

In less than a month, it marks 25 years since Dr. Dre brought out The Chronic. Hip-Hop has been partying ever since to an album that put Snoop Dogg on center stage but made some breakthrough introductions by way of Tha Dogg Pound, RBX, and The Lady Of Rage. For... Read more

Daz Tells B-Real Who Supplied The Chronic For Dr. Dre’s Masterpiece (Video)

Dr. Dre named his 1992 solo debut album The Chronic and had millions of consumers aiming to catch a contact. The first LP released on Death Row Records took its name from a notoriously powerful strain of marijuana circulating around Southern California at the time. Combined with old Funk records... Read more

An Argument For Why Snoop Is The Greatest MC Of All-Time (Video)

Despite the fact that he is one of Rap music's most widely recognized faces, voices, and outright brands, somehow many overlook the lyrical merits of Snoop Dogg. For 25 years, Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. has given Hip-Hop Heads different looks within one of the genre's most sprawling and versatile catalogs.... Read more

Tha Dogg Pound’s First Death Row Release Was Poetic And Hard AF (Audio)

On Halloween of 1995, Tha Dogg Pound opened up their can of Dogg Food. Kurupt and Daz Dillinger were the third artists with an album released by Death Row Records. Following their mentors, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, this Long Beach—rooted duo was much rougher than its teammates. Like the... Read more

DJ Quik & Scarface Confirm Upcoming Collaborative Project (Video)

DJ Quik and Scarface are two living legends of Hip-Hop, Gangsta Rap, and music, period. Together, the two artists jammed on stage in The Novo in Los Angeles, California last night (August 17). With that show currently on the road, the Geto Boys icon and the producer for Tupac, 2nd... Read more

Kurupt’s New Video Is Him, A Mic & One Nearly Breathless Barrage Of Bars

The last few years have been a relatively quiet period for Kurupt. While Young Gotti has toured and delved in side hustles, Tha Dogg Pound verbal assassin slowed his roll with the albums. "Inferno" shows that as anticipation has built for new music from the Philly to Cali MC, Kuruption... Read more

Kurupt’s Next Album Will Be A Funk Odyssey (Audio)

Tha Dogg Pound’s Kurupt is working on his seventh solo LP, which also happens to be his first in seven years. Since dropping Streetlights in 2010, the former Death Row EVP has yet to release a studio album. That is about to change, however, as he and longtime collaborator Fredwreck... Read more

DJ Pooh Confirms “Last Friday” Is Happening. He Also Defends Chris Tucker’s Exit (Video)

DJ Pooh is a legendary Hip-Hop mix-master and producer who has made hits with Ice Cube, King T, LL Cool J, Tha Dogg Pound and Snoop, plus Tupac Shakur. However, measuring success, the West Coast Hip-Hop pioneer may be best known for co-writing Friday. Also a highly-accomplished director and an... Read more

Snoop Dogg’s Dippin’ From Death Row To No Limit May Have Saved His Career & Life (Audio)

In early 1998, Snoop Dogg left Death Row Records for No Limit. In a reported $4 million deal brokered by Priority Records, the Long Beach, California MC went from the breakout star signed by Dr. Dre at the top of the decade to the key acquisition of the reigning independent... Read more

Comedian & Actor Ricky Harris Has Passed Away At Age 54

Comedian, actor, and music personality Ricky Harris has died. Social media posts by DJ Pooh, Snoop Dogg, and Daz Dillinger confirmed Harris' passing. Reportedly, the 54 year old died of a heart attack today (December 26). Throughout the last 23 years, Harris established himself as an actor and comedian. He... Read more

Snoop Dogg’s Santa Brought His Gifts In A ’64 Impala Sleigh (Video)

What do you get when you mix Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg's soaring vocals, an iconic Isaac Hayes sample and a nod to the Godfather of Soul? Christmas Rap, G-Funk style. Titled after the James Brown classic, “Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto” is the first track and lead single... Read more

Kurupt Looks Back At The Major Beefs Of His Career In “Unsung” (Video)

This week, the Unsung series aired its episode dedicated to Kurupt. The TV One program examined the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania upbringing of Tha Dogg Pound co-founder. Kurupt admits that Rakim is a leading Rap influence in his lyrical style and enhanced vocabulary. The biography follows Kurupt's move to California, and subsequent... Read more

Kurupt Is Celebrated In The Latest Episode Of Unsung. Watch A Sneak Preview (Video)

Kurupt has an extensive 25-year career. The Los Angeles, California-by way of-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania MC has released six solo albums, dating back to the '90s. An array of major and independent releases, none of these efforts have achieved gold or platinum status, or a #1 on the charts. That career has... Read more

Snoop Dogg Brings DJ Quik, Warren G, Bone Thugs & Tha Pound On Tour

Snoop Dogg will be back on the road with close associates Warren G, Tha Dogg Pound and DJ Quik, as well as the iconic Cleveland, Ohio clique Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. All three openers represent past Snoop collaborators, with Warren being a longtime 213 band-mate and Daz, Kurupt and Quik being former... Read more

Jermaine Dupri Asserts He Put Funk In Hip-Hop Before Dr. Dre’s Chronic (Audio)

The relationship between Jermaine Dupri and West Coast Hip-Hop, especially Dr. Dre is an interesting one. The So So Def Records founder gained strong notoriety in early 1992 when he produced quadruple platinum album Totally Krossed Out for new Atlanta, Georgia Rap duo Kris Kross. That LP, released through RuffHouse/Columbia... Read more