It’s hard to discuss Hip-Hop’s legendary impact without mentioning certain names, and one of those is West Coast icon Snoop Dogg.
From his debut song “Who Am I? (What’s My Name?)” to his commentary on the 2024 Olympic Games, Snoop Dogg has become a household name across various intersections of the entertainment industry. As the current owner of Death Row Records, he is reconnecting more intentionally with his musical roots.
According to a previous AFROTECH™ report, the deal follows the release of Snoop Dogg’s latest album, “B.O.D.R.,” which dropped on Feb. 11, 2022.
“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 52-year-old emcee said in a statement to NPR in 2022. “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.”
Snoop Dogg is now entering more deals thanks to a publishing deal with Reservoir Media, which includes domestic publishing for the artist’s entire catalog and publishing catalog of Death Row Records.
According to the label website, Reservoir is the first female-founded and led, publicly traded independent music company in the U.S. It has expanded since being established in 2007 as a family-owned music publisher to represent over 150,000 copyrights and 36,000 master recordings.
After acquiring the label in 2023, the “Doggystyle” creator launched a new publishing division under the Death Row brand, representing numerous songwriters from the Death Row family. Reservoir’s latest deal with this publishing arm grants rights to iconic tracks like Tupac’s “Hail Mary,” “I Ain’t Mad At Cha,” and “Picture Me Rollin’,” along with many others.
Upon signing the deal with Reservoir, Snoop said, “I’m so honored to have them as a partner and excited for all the great things to come with the catalog as well as new music ventures. 2024 and beyond.”
Reservoir founder and CEO Golnar Khosrowshahi commented, “This deal also marks a unique moment to help further the legacy of an important and valuable brand like Death Row. Snoop has come full circle with Death Row, showcasing his ongoing dedication to upholding its rich history — something Reservoir has proven as a core value and area of expertise across our business.”
