Death Row Records is a record label founded in 1991 by Dick Griffey, Marion "Suge" Knight Jr. and Andre "Dr. Dre" Young. It is known to have signed many popular West Coast hip hop artists such as Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, MC Hammer, Nate Dogg and the rap group Tha Dogg Pound consisting of rappers Kurupt and Daz Dillinger also Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of TLC although most if not all departed from the label after its demise following the murder of Tupac Shakur in 1996.
The collapse of Death Row Records meant its title as a powerful hip-hop label was subsequently revoked despite attempts from the last remaining founder and CEO at the time, Suge Knight, that included signing new talents and releasing many compilations of previously unreleased content recorded by ex-Death Row artists. The label filed for bankruptcy in 2006 and on January 15, 2009, Death Row Records was successfully auctioned to entertainment development company WIDEawake Entertainment Group, Inc. for $18 million.
Death Row has sold nearly 50 million albums worldwide, and generated close to $750 million in revenue.
Read more about Death Row Records: Origins and Early Formation, Releases
Famous quotes containing the words death, row and/or records:
“The death of a dear friend, wife, brother, lover, which seemed nothing but privation, somewhat later assumes the aspect of a guide or genius; for it commonly operates revolutions in our way of life, terminates an epoch of infancy or of youth which was waiting to be closed, breaks up a wonted occupation, or a household, or style of living, and allows for the formation of new ones more friendly to the growth of character.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“Row after row with strict impunity
The headstones yield their names to the element,
The wind whirrs without recollection....”
—Allen Tate (1899–1979)
“My confessions are shameless. I confess, but do not repent. The fact is, my confessions are prompted, not by ethical motives, but intellectual. The confessions are to me the interesting records of a self-investigator.”
—W.N.P. Barbellion (1889–1919)