Entertainment
Snoop Dogg buys Death Row Records once owned by Dr Dre and Suge Knight that also made him famous
Snoop now owns the label that made him famous (Picture: Getty Images)
Snoop Dogg has bought the iconic rap label Death Row Records that launched his career, making for a full circle moment.
The Gin and Juice rapper announced on Wednesday that he has purchased the defunct imprint that was originally founded in 1992 by Dr Dre, Suge Knight, the D.O.C. and Dick Griffey.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Snoop, 50, acquired the label from MNRK Music Group, a firm that is controlled by private equity funds managed by Blackstone. It’s not known how much the sale went for with terms being kept under wraps.
In a statement, the rapper said: ‘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.
‘I would like to personally thank the teams at Blackstone, MNRK and especially David Kestnbaum, who worked collaboratively with me over several months to make this exciting homecoming a reality.’
Blackstone’s Kestnbaum, a senior managing director, added: ‘We at Blackstone are strong supporters of the artist and creator community in our entertainment investments.
Tupac Shakur and Suge Knight were synonymous with Death Row in the mid-90s (Picture: FilmMagic)
‘We are excited to put the Death Row Records brand back in the hands of a legend like Snoop Dogg. We wish him success in the years ahead as the brand moves forward under his leadership and vision.’
As well as Snoop’s career, Death Row was also associated with the late Tupac Shakur, who was rumoured to have been on the verge of officially signing with the label at the time of his death in 1997.
His allegiance with the west coast imprint fuelled his rivalry with the east coast rap scene, in particular Notorious B.I.G.
Following the demise of Death Row, Snoop went on to sign with several record companies, including Interscope, Capitol, Geffen, Priority Records and Def Jam, as his career continued to flourish over the years.
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Dr Dre also launched his own Aftermath Entertainment label, while Suge is currently in prison serving a hefty sentence after admitting to voluntary manslaughter following the death of Terry Carter.
Fans will be able to catch Snoop Dogg on stage this weekend when he performs at the Super Bowl halftime show alongside Dr Dre, Mary J Blige, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar.
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