Dr. Dre Was Against Snoop Dogg Buying Death Row Records: “He Didn’t Like It”

Snoop Dogg‘s acquisition of Death Row Records marked a watershed moment in Hip-Hop, as it signaled the evolution of an artist into an owner of the label they helped build.

However, the move came with some scrutiny, as not everyone was initially on board with the move, one person being Snoop’s longtime musical partner Dr. Dre.

In a recent interview, Tha Doggfather revealed that Dre was initially displeased with Snoop’s purchase of their former label home, as he felt it would lead to unnecessary drama given the label’s tumultuous history.

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“Oh, he didn’t like it,” the 53-year-old said of Dre’s reaction to him acquiring Death Row, a deal that was finalized in 2022. “Nah, he didn’t like it when I bought Death Row. He was vocal about it, he said it. He spoke to it, but at the same time, he didn’t know what I was doing. Nobody did.”

He added, “It just look like, ‘Why the f**k is he buying a bag of problems when he’s living a life of success and not having to deal with the [problems]? Why would he bring that back into his life?’”

Despite Dre’s misgivings, Snoop forged forward, as he felt the purchase would be a defining chapter in his career arc.

Dr. Dre (L) and Snoop Dogg participate in a live episode of the podcast “Drink Champs” at ComplexCon 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on November 16, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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“They didn’t see what I had seen,” he explained.

“I seen my legacy. I seen certain things that were connected to me that needed to be finished, as far as unfinished business. And also to protect my legacy by putting some beautiful music in Death Row putting some happy times in Death Row and some life rather than death.”

Now, Snoop says that The Chronic creator has fully embraced the revival of Death Row Records, even going as far as personally requesting his own official Death Row jacket.

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“He f**king loves it,” the Long Beach native says of his Compton counterpart’s change of heart. “He represents it, he’s down with it.”

Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre both starred on Death Row Records during the early ’90s, when incarcerated rap mogul Suge Knight was running the label. Both artists would depart from Death Row during the early ’90s, with Dr. Dre founding Aftermath Entertainment, and Snoop going on to sign deals with No Limit Records, Interscope Records, and other independent ventures.

Earlier this month, Snoop and Dre reunited for Snoop’s latest album, Missionary, a follow-up to Snoop’s 1993 solo debut, Doggystyle. Entirely produced by Dr. Dre, the album includes features from Eminem, 50 Cent, Sting, Method Man, Jelly Roll, BJ the Chicago Kid, Jhené Aiko, Alus, K.A.A.N., and more.

(L-R) Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California.

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Snoop recently spoke with Zane Lowe of Apple Music about his collaborative chemistry with Dre and his creative process at this point in his own career. “He knows exactly what he wants,” Snoop told Lowe.

“You may not hear it, you may not know exactly what it is or you may feel like he’s making you do unnecessary things or repetitive things. But once it’s all finished, he needs what he needs to create the masterpiece. And his ear and his brain is a little bit different than ours, so he don’t hear or see what we hear or see in the studio.”

He continued, “Back in the day, it was more like we was doing it together, because we was both learning. And it was more about me writing for him, writing for myself, and trying to paint a picture of what I thought he should be and what he should sound like.”

(L-R) Honoree Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg speak during the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony for Dr. Dre on March 19, 2024 in Hollywood, California.

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“And then you speed the clock up to now, you got him writing for me, and painting a picture for me on what I should be and what I should sound like.”

See Snoop Dogg speaking on Dr. Dre’s reaction to his purchase of Death Row Records below.