Dr. Dre Wasn’t Initially Thrilled About Snoop Dogg Buying Death Row Records

Snoop Dogg made headlines when he acquired Death Row Records in 2022, reclaiming the iconic label that launched his career. But in a recent interview with AP News, Snoop revealed that his longtime mentor, Dr. Dre, wasn’t exactly thrilled with the decision at first.

“Oh, he didn’t like it,” Snoop said, cutting straight to the point. “He was torn up about it. He didn’t like it.”

Snoop’s acquisition came after years of turbulence for the label. Death Row filed for bankruptcy in 2006 and passed through multiple owners, including WIDEawake Entertainment Group and Hasbro, before landing in Snoop’s hands. Its legacy was marred by financial troubles, and Dre’s skepticism reflected that reality.

“They were like, ‘Why is he buying a bag of problems when he’s already successful? Why bring that back into his life?’” Snoop shared. But for the West Coast legend, this was personal. “I saw my legacy. I saw unfinished business that needed to be handled. I wanted to put some life into Death Row—some beautiful music and happy moments to redefine what it stood for.”

Fast-forward to today, and it seems Dre has had a change of heart. “He loves it now,” Snoop said with a grin. “He’s down with it. I even got him asking for a Death Row jacket.”

Since taking over, Snoop has revitalized Death Row Records, bringing back legendary acts like The Eastsidaz and Tha Dogg Pound while introducing new artists like R&B sensation October London. The label recently made waves with the release of Snoop and Dre’s collaborative album, Missionary, further solidifying its resurgence in the music world.