Snoop Dogg made headlines after he announced that he acquired Death Row Records.
With the announcement, Snoop also said that he owns Dr. Dre’s ‘The Chronic’ and other Death Row records.
Turns out that might not be true according to Dre’s lawyer.
The lawyer, Howard King, issued a statement saying
“There are false reports out regarding ownership by Death Row of Dr. Dre’s The Chronic. Dr. Dre owns 100 percent of The Chronic.” The news came after Snoop went on to say the deal he struck to get Death Row Records would find him owning ‘The Chronic’ along with the other previously mentioned albums.
Snoop did say he doesn’t have the masters for Tupac’s Death Row music but says he thinks they can work something out with Pac’s family.
“As far as 2Pac’s masters, 2Pac’s masters came back to him last year. But I got a great relationship with his estate, and I’m pretty sure we’re going to be able to work something out…to continue some Death Row 2Pac business now that Snoop Dogg is in control of Death Row,”.
While The Chronic remains in Dre’s possession, Snoop Dogg did list off the impressive catalog of LPs he gained when he purchased Death Row, including many of his own standouts: Doggystyle and Tha Doggfather, Tha Dogg Pound’s Dogg Food, the Above The Rim and Murder Was The Case soundtracks, and Dr. Dre’s 1992 single “Deep Cover,” which marked Snoop Dogg’s Death Row debut. “I got all those records,” Snoop Dogg said.
Back in 2011 the company that owned tried to release The Chronic but that is when it was noted that Dre owned it 100%.
A federal judge ruled yesterday that the current incarnation of Death Row Records does not have the rights to sell Dr. Dre’s landmark album The Chronic digitally. The ruling does not call for a halt on digital sales of the album, but does entitle the rapper and producer to 100 percent of all proceeds from online sales. The label will only be allowed to sell the album in the formats covered in the original contract – CD, vinyl, cassette and 8-track tape.
Only time will tell.
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