Death Row Greatest Hits
Encyclopedia
Death Row Greatest Hits is a 33-track compilation released by Death Row Records
, and contains singles by artists such as 2Pac, Snoop Dogg
and Dr. Dre
. The CD also includes previously unreleased remix tracks. The album was re-released in 2001 and digitally re-mastered.
Disc Two
speculated that this was because most tracks featured Snoop Doggy Dogg and that by adding artist names to the tracklisting, Snoop's contribution to Death Row's catalogue was glaringly evident. Snoop had recently left Death Row Records, a move that label founder/CEO Suge Knight
resented. The re-release distributed by Koch Records
added the artist names to the tracklisting.
Furthermore, singles and tracks from Death Row's more recent releases such as Snoop's Tha Doggfather
and 2Pac's All Eyez on Me
were not included, possibly as a move to counter cannibalisation of sales from the actual releases.
prior to his signing with Death Row. The tracks were able to be included as Interscope was formerly Death Row's parent and distribution company.
and Snoop Dogg, the release confusingly included diss tracks directed towards the rappers:
"Fuck Wit Dre Day" was not the original Dr. Dre release, but a cover version performed by Jewell
. In addition, "Who Been There Who Done That" was a diss track aimed at Dr. Dre, parodying his "Been There Done That" single from the Aftermath
compilation "Dr. Dre Presents...". The absence of artist names within the rear cover tracklisting meant the potential buyer was unaware of the inclusion of cover versions.
The inclusion of Ice Cube
's "No Vaseline
", an old diss track aimed towards his fellow N.W.A group members that had no association with Death Row releases, was rumored to be a Suge Knight directive.
Death Row Records
Death Row Records is a record label founded in 1991 by Marion "Suge" Knight Jr., Andre Young , Tracy Lynn Curry and Michael Harris . It is known to have been home to many popular West Coast hip hop artists such as Dr...
, and contains singles by artists such as 2Pac, Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
and Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
. The CD also includes previously unreleased remix tracks. The album was re-released in 2001 and digitally re-mastered.
Track listing
Disc One- Nuthin' But a "G" Thang - Dr. DreDr. DreAndre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
Feat. Snoop Dogg - Gin & Juice - Snoop DoggSnoop DoggCalvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
- Afro PuffsAfro Puffs"Afro Puffs" is the first single released by The Lady of Rage in 1994 from the Death Row labeled Above the Rim: The Soundtrack. The Extended, video and instrumental version on the single samples "Superman Lover" by Johnny "Guitar" Watson...
- Lady Of RageLady of RageRobin Yvette Allen , better known by her stage name The Lady of Rage, is an American rapper and actress best known for collaborations with several Death Row Records artists, including Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg on the seminal albums The Chronic and Doggystyle... - Natural Born KillazNatural Born Killaz"Natural Born Killaz" is a single from the reunited duo of Dr. Dre and Ice Cube originally intended for the scrapped album 'Heltah Skeltah'. It is the first time the two had been on a single together since their rap group N.W.A had split up. The single was released in 1994 in the US and 1995 in the...
- Dr. Dre/Ice CubeIce CubeO'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,... - Who Am I (What's My Name)?Who Am I (What's My Name)?"Who Am I? ", is the solo debut single from rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg's debut album Doggystyle. The song was a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #8 in 1994.-Background:...
- Snoop Dogg - Keep Their Heads Ringin'Keep Their Heads Ringin'"Keep Their Heads Ringin" is a single by Dr. Dre taken from the soundtrack of the movie Friday. Although the album was released on Priority Records, Death Row Records still owns the masters to the song...
- Dr. Dre - No VaselineNo Vaseline"No Vaseline" was a highly controversial song by Ice Cube from his second album, Death Certificate. The song was produced by Ice Cube and Sir Jinx...
- Ice Cube - Doggy Dogg WorldDoggy Dogg World"Doggy Dogg World" is the third single from Snoop Doggy Dogg's debut album Doggystyle. It is the first European-only release with an American video TV-play. It features '70s funk band The Dramatics, with guest rap verses from Kurupt and Daz Dillinger , and chorus singing by background vocalist...
- Snoop Dogg - Keep Ya Head UpKeep Ya Head Up"Keep Ya Head Up" is a late 1993 hit by Tupac Shakur. #11 in About.com's Top 100 Rap Songs, with "Dear Mama" voted #4.It was first released in Shakur's 1993 album Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., later appearing after his death in 1996 in his Greatest Hits compilation...
- 2Pac - Murder Was the CaseMurder Was the CaseMurder Was the Case is a 1994 short film and soundtrack album starring Snoop Doggy Dogg. The 18 minute film was directed by Dr. Dre and Fab Five Freddy and chronicles the fictional death of Snoop Dogg and his resurrection after making a deal with the Devil...
- Snoop Dogg - Lil' Ghetto Boy - Dr. Dre Feat. jean-claude
- Ain't No Fun - Snoop Dogg Feat. 213
- Lodi Dodi - Snoop Dogg
- Stranded On Death Row - KuruptKuruptRicardo Emmanuel Brown , better known by his stage name Kurupt, also known as Kurupt Tha Kingpin, Kurupt Young Gotti or Young Gotstra is an American rapper and former Executive Vice President of Death Row Records...
, Bushwick BillBushwick BillRichard Shaw , better known by the stage name Bushwick Bill, is a member of the American hip hop group Geto Boys. He was born in Jamaica, but moved to Brooklyn, NY as a young child.- History :...
, Snoop Dogg, Lady of Rage & RBXRBXEric Dwayne Collins, better known by his stage name RBX , is a former rapper and R&B singer from Long Beach, California... - The Shiznit - Snoop Dogg
- Dear MamaDear Mama"Dear Mama" is a hip hop song by American hip hop artist 2Pac. The track was produced by Tony Pizarro for 2Pac's third solo album, Me Against the World, which was released in 1995. The song was written by 2Pac as an ode to his own mother, Afeni Shakur....
- 2Pac - Me Against the World - 2Pac
Disc Two
- Let Me Ride (RMX) - Dr. Dre Feat. Snoop Dogg & Daz Dillinger
- Gin & Juice (RMX) - Snoop Dogg
- Dayreaming - Michel'leMichel'leMichel'le Toussant better known as Michel'le, is an American R&B singer-songwriter known for her squeaky, child-like speaking voice, which is a startling contrast to her strong vocals.-Career:...
- Who Am I (What's My Name) (RMX) - Snoop Dogg
- Nuthin But A G Thang (RMX) - Dr. Dre Feat. Snoop Dogg
- I Get Around (RMX) - 2Pac
- Lil Ghetto Boy (RMX) - Dr. Dre Feat. Snoop Dogg
- Hit 'Em UpHit 'Em Up"Hit 'Em Up" is a diss song by rap artist 2Pac , featuring his group the Outlawz. It is the B-side to the single "How Do U Want It", released on June 4, 1996, from the album All Eyez on Me. The song’s lyrics contain vicious insults to several East Coast rappers, chiefly among them, Shakur's former...
- 2Pac - Who Been There, Who done That - J-FlexxJ-FlexxJames E. Anderson better known as J-Flexx is a former artist/producer of Death Row Records.-Life On Death Row:J-Flexx spent several years ghostwriting lyrics for Dr. Dre during his tenure at Death Row Records. The first song he co-wrote in that collaboration, "Natural Born Killaz," became a Top 40...
- F-ck Wit Dre Day (RMX) - Jewell
- Pour Out A Little Liquor - Thug LifeThug LifeThug Life: Volume 1 is the debut album by the group Thug Life, started by rapper Tupac Shakur, and was released on September 26, 1994. The album was originally released by Shakur's label Out Da Gutta Records. Due to heavy criticism on gangsta rap at the time, the original version of the album was...
- What Would You Do - Tha Dogg PoundTha Dogg PoundTha Dogg Pound is a rap group made up of Daz Dillinger and Kurupt. They were signed to Death Row Records in their early careers and were key to the label's success. The group made their 1992 rap debut on Dr. Dre's The Chronic, on various songs. They also appeared on Snoop Dogg's debut album...
- Come Up To My Room - JodeciJodeciJodeci is an American band, whose repertoire includes R&B, soul music, and new jack swing. The group consists of two pairs of brothers from Hampton, Virginia and Charlotte, North Carolina: Cedric & Joel Hailey and Donald & Dalvin DeGrate, all respectively known by their stage names: K-Ci & Jojo,...
- Come When I Call - Danny BoyDanny Boy-Background:The words to "Danny Boy" were written by English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly in 1910. Although the lyrics were originally written for a different tune, Weatherly modified them to fit the "Londonderry Air" in 1913, after his sister-in-law in the U.S. sent him a copy. Ernestine...
- Me In Your World - Dat Nigga Daz
- Smile For Me Now - ScarfaceScarface (rapper)Brad Terrence Jordan , better known by his stage name Scarface, is an American rapper, and recording artist from Houston, Texas and a member of the Geto Boys. He is originally from South Park, Houston.-Life and career:...
ft. 2Pac
Tracklisting Controversy
Upon initial release, the rear artwork containing the tracklisting contained only the track titles and not performer names. Former Death Row producer Sam SneedSam Sneed
Sam Sneed is a producer and rapper. He originally got his start working as a producer for K-Solo and the Hit Squad.-Death Row Records:...
speculated that this was because most tracks featured Snoop Doggy Dogg and that by adding artist names to the tracklisting, Snoop's contribution to Death Row's catalogue was glaringly evident. Snoop had recently left Death Row Records, a move that label founder/CEO Suge Knight
Suge Knight
Marion "Suge" Knight, Jr. is the founder and CEO of Black Kapital Records and co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records. Death Row Records rose to dominate the rap charts after Dr. Dre's breakthrough album The Chronic in 1992. After several years of chart successes for artists including...
resented. The re-release distributed by Koch Records
Koch Records
E1 Music , the primary subsidiary of E1 Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe under the name E1 Universal...
added the artist names to the tracklisting.
Furthermore, singles and tracks from Death Row's more recent releases such as Snoop's Tha Doggfather
Tha Doggfather
Tha Doggfather is the second studio album by American rapper Snoop Dogg; released by Death Row/Interscope Records on November 12, 1996. The album was re-released July 11, 2005. Snoop spent much of 1995 preparing for the case, which finally went to trial in late 1995. In February 1996, he was...
and 2Pac's All Eyez on Me
All Eyez on Me
All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac, released February 13, 1996 on Death Row Records and Interscope Records....
were not included, possibly as a move to counter cannibalisation of sales from the actual releases.
2Pac's Inclusion
Out of the five 2Pac tracks on the compilation, only one was actually recorded under his contract with Death Row Records. The other four releases were singles previously released under Interscope RecordsInterscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
prior to his signing with Death Row. The tracks were able to be included as Interscope was formerly Death Row's parent and distribution company.
Diss Tracks Aimed at former Death Row rappers
In an early sign of Death Row's animosity towards former signees Dr. DreDr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
and Snoop Dogg, the release confusingly included diss tracks directed towards the rappers:
"Fuck Wit Dre Day" was not the original Dr. Dre release, but a cover version performed by Jewell
Jewell (singer)
Jewell is a female R&B singer who was signed to Death Row Records from 1992-1996. She was working part-time - though still unsigned - for IV Life Records. She had a video and charting hit "Woman to Woman", that reached 72nd on the Billboard Hot 100...
. In addition, "Who Been There Who Done That" was a diss track aimed at Dr. Dre, parodying his "Been There Done That" single from the Aftermath
Aftermath Entertainment
Aftermath Entertainment is an American record label founded by Dr. Dre. It operates as a subsidiary of, and is distributed through, Universal Music Group's Interscope Records. Current acts include Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent and Slim da Mobster, with former acts including Busta Rhymes, Game, Raekwon,...
compilation "Dr. Dre Presents...". The absence of artist names within the rear cover tracklisting meant the potential buyer was unaware of the inclusion of cover versions.
The inclusion of Ice Cube
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
's "No Vaseline
No Vaseline
"No Vaseline" was a highly controversial song by Ice Cube from his second album, Death Certificate. The song was produced by Ice Cube and Sir Jinx...
", an old diss track aimed towards his fellow N.W.A group members that had no association with Death Row releases, was rumored to be a Suge Knight directive.