Suge Knight: From Hip-Hop Icon to 28-Year Prison Sentence

Suge Knight, the controversial co-founder of Death Row Records, played a pivotal role in shaping West Coast hip-hop in the 1990s. In collaboration with rapper and producer Dr. Dre, Knight launched Death Row Records under Time Warner’s Interscope imprint. The label’s breakthrough came with Dre’s seminal album The Chronic in 1992, followed by the success of Snoop Dogg’s 1993 debut album and the 1994 Above the Rim soundtrack. These releases helped establish Death Row as a dominant force in the hip-hop world, particularly on the West Coast. However, the label’s rise was marred by constant controversy. Knight, known for his tough persona, was also involved in various business ventures outside music, such as a car hydraulics business and opening the Las Vegas nightspot Club 662. Despite these ventures, Death Row’s involvement in alleged racketeering, gang activity, and drug trafficking sparked investigations by authorities. Knight himself had multiple run-ins with the law, facing charges ranging from weapons possession to assault and attempted murder. Additionally, the violent and misogynistic lyrics featured in many Death Row songs attracted significant criticism, including from C. Delores Tucker, the head of the National Political Congress of Black Women. One of the label’s most significant signings came...