The Story of Death Row Records

by Trey White

Overview

For a few years in the mid-1990s, a small music label called Death Row stood atop the hip-hop world. Death Row Records was instrumental in introducing a hard-core style of rap music known as "gangsta rap" to mainstream audiences. Albums like Dr. Dre's The Chronic, snoop Doggy Dogg's Doggystyle, and Tupac Shakur's All Eyez on Me sold millions of copies and influenced a new generation of artists. The money rolled in for Death Row's founder, Marion "Suge" Knight.

The good times could not last, however. Tupac was murdered, Suge Knight was sent to prison for various crimes, and the label's top stars moved on. The dramatic rise and fall of Death Row Records is chronicled in this book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781422221136
Publisher:	Mason Crest Publishers
Publication date:	04/28/2012
Series:	Hip-Hop Hitmakers Series
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	9 - 14 Years

Table of Contents

1 Setting the Stage 5

2 The Birth of Death Row 14

3 Making Hits 22

4 Hip-Hop Superpower 31

5 Downfall 44

Chronology 56

Glossary 58

Further Reading 60

Internet Resources 61

Index 62

About the Author 64

Editorial Reviews

Death Row Records only flourished for about five years, but in that brief time it produced albums that shaped the "gangsta rap" genre and introduced it to a mainstream audience. Marion "Suge" Knight was a smart and athletic boy from a tough, gang-ridden neighborhood. He had dreams of a career in the NFL, but after a few brushes with the law he instead found himself with a job as the bodyguard for R&B singer, Bobby Brown. This opportunity opened up the world of music to Suge, which would change his life forever. In 1991, Suge teamed up with rapper, Dr. Dre, to start the recording company, Death Row Records, appropriately named because almost everyone in the company had been in trouble with the law at some point. Business was slow in the beginning, but soon a new generation of artists emerged including Snoop Doggy Dogg and Tupac Shakur whose albums sold millions. The money began to roll in and for a time it seemed that Death Row Records was unstoppable. But even the strongest superpowers can be brought down. Activists began to protest the gangsta style as a glorification of violence and illegal behavior. The lyrics were only part of the problem as the artists themselves were continually in legal trouble. After a short reign at the top, Death Row Records fell apart quickly when Tupac was murdered and Suge was given a lengthy prison sentence for multiple criminal charges. Although it achieved only brief success, Death Row Records managed to play a defining role in the sound and style of music of that time. This book should appeal to anyone interested in the rise of rap and gangsta music. Included in this book is a chronology of events, index, glossary, internet resources, and suggestions for further reading. Part of the "Hip-Hop Hitmakers" series. Reviewer: Heather Kinard

Children's Literature - Heather Kinard

Gr 6?9—This series details the growth of four major record companies. Each title is illustrated with color photos of popular musicians and chronicles the ups and downs of the often violent hip-hop music industry as well as the difficulties of building a business (i.e.,"Dre was also feeling the pressure of helping others succeed, especially since he was now running a record label."). The pages are packed with text, colorful borders, and lots of "Fast Fact" boxes. Almost every chapter has a sidebar of additional information; frequently, it contains a portrait of an artist produced by the company such as Teena Marie, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. The books lend themselves more easily to skimming for facts than start-to-finish reading.

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