Unfortunately, WIDEawake went bankrupt in 2012. In 2009 a company called WIDEawake acquired 100% of Death Row at auction for $18 million. As a result, the Suge lost the company and its assets eventually hit the auction block. So the label was forced for file for bankruptcy in 2006 to protect itself from Lydia's judgement. Unfortunately, by this point Suge Knight and Death Row Records were not exactly dominating the charts. Amazingly, a judge and jury ultimately AGREED and awarded Lydia a $107 million civil court judgment against Suge Knight. Michael's existence as Death Row's 50% owner really came to light in 2005 when his wife Lydia filed for divorce and demanded half of his half of the company. Unfortunately within a few years that incarcerated drug dealer Michael Harris came calling for his 50% cut. The label would eventually generate more than $400 million during its brief existence. In its first four years of operation, Death Row Records generated $325 million in revenue after selling nearly 20 million records. (Photo credit should read POO/AFP via Getty Images) The blurry brown head of hair to his left (on the right side of the photo) is David Kenner: Snoop Dogg.īelow is a photo of Snoop learning he was found not guilty of murder at his 1996 trial. At one point alone, Kenner was defending no fewer than SIX cases against Death Row artists and employees, including murder charges against…. Kenner also became the label's in-house criminal defense attorney. Kenner acted as the go-between for Harris and Suge Knight. To manage the investment, which constituted a 50% stake in the label, Kenner created a holding company called Godfather Entertainment.ĭavid Kenner became crucial in overseeing the business for Michael. His criminal lawyer was a man named David Kenner. Harris was in jail pending a murder and drug trafficking charges which would eventually result in a 28 year sentence. Dre, Suge Knight and The D.O.C., using $1.5 million in drug money borrowed from an incarcerated cocaine kingpin named Michael "Harry-O" Harris. Landing under Snoop's ownership is the latest in a wild, roller coaster of an existence for Death Row Records.ĭeath Row was founded in 1992 by Dr. In addition to the Death Row acquisition, he's got a new album coming out entitled "B.O.D.R." (for "Back on Death Row") as well as a new line of NFTs.Įmma McIntyre/Getty Images The History of Death Row MNRK Music Group's president and CEO Chris Taylor says Snoop has a "30-year" plan for the label, but he seems to have plenty on his plate in the short-term too. We wish him success in the years ahead as the brand moves forward under his leadership and vision." We are excited to put the Death Row Records brand back in the hands of a legend like Snoop Dogg. "We at Blackstone are strong supporters of the artist and creator community in our entertainment investments. 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."īlackstone's David Kestnbaum also released a statement: "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. But first, here's a press statement from the Doggfather himself: I'll give you the top-level overview of that history in a moment. Did you get all that? Actually the history of Death Row is pretty incredible. The catalog will remain an asset of a company called MNRK Music Group which is a division of private equity giant The Blackstone Group. He did not buy the label's extremely valuable catalog of master recordings from artists like Dr. To be clear, he bought the Death Row brand name for an undisclosed price. Snoop Dogg is officially the new owner of Death Row Records.
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