What’s his name? Snoop Dogg. And he’s now the owner of Death Row Records.
The hip-hop mogul just acquired the label that helped launch his music career and released his debut album in 1993.
The “Who Am I (What’s My Name)” rapper acquired the company from MNRK Music Group, a firm controlled by private equity funds managed by Blackstone, according to a Wednesday press release from the parties involved in the sale. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“I am thrilled and appreciative of the opportunity to acquire the iconic and culturally significant Death Row Records brand, which has immense untapped future value. 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,” Snoop Dogg said in a statement.
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“Snoop is clearly the executive to take Death Row into its next 30 years,” Chris Taylor, MNRK Music Group’s, President and CEO added.
Death Row Records was founded in 1992 by Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, the D.O.C. and Dick Griffey. At its height of success, artists including Dr. Dre, Snoop and Tupac Shakur found a home at the label.
Snoop released his debut album “Doggystyle” with Death Row in November 1993. Over the years, he has released 20 studio albums, sold over 40 million albums worldwide, and received 20 Grammy nominations.
After controversies and lawsuits brought down the label, it had to declare bankruptcy in 2006 and was auctioned off in 2009 for $18 million. It eventually bounced around with different owners before landing with Blackstone and MNRK.
This week has been a busy one for Snoop Dogg with the acquisition of his former record label and as he prepares for his Super Bowl halftime performance along with headliners Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar on Sunday, Feb. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
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