Snoop Dogg has bought Death Row Records from the Blackstone-controlled company MNRK Music Group.
According to Business Wire, the rap legend will be leading the brand for the coming years as its new owner. Snoop originally joined Death Row in 1993 where he dropped his critically acclaimed debut album, Doggystyle. Snoop will also be releasing his upcoming album, B.O.D.R. under the label on Feb. 11.
In a press release shared by Blackstone, Snoop Dogg emphasized how excited he is to have acquired such a significant brand to the culture like Death Row.
“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,” the rap icon said. “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. 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. I’m looking forward to building the next chapter of Death Row Records.”
Founded by Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, The D.O.C., and Dick Griffey, Death Row has been home to some of the greatest West Coast rappers in hip-hop history. Snoop is one of those legendary artists who got his start at the label, so it’s only fitting that he will now take the reins and own it. A source close to Variety also told the publication that this transaction might usher the beginning of the rapper and entrepreneur acquiring the music rights from the label as well.
Along with this new acquisition, Snoop Dogg will also be partnering with Gala Games to release B.O.D.R on blockchain as an exclusive stash box of NFTs ahead of its drop on streaming services. When talking about blockchain and music coming together, the rapper said he believes it to be the natural evolution of the industry,
“If anything is constant, it’s that the music industry will always be changing,” Snoop said. “Blockchain tech has the power to change everything again and tip the table in favor of the artists and the fans, and we’re going to be right at the front of the pack with this Gala Music deal.”
