Snoop Dogg's Record Label: The Complete History & Current Status
Snoop Dogg owns and operates Death Row Records, which he acquired in February 2022. However, throughout his career, he has been associated with multiple record labels, both as an artist and an executive.
Currently, Snoop's main record label ventures include:
Death Row Records - Acquired in 2022 Doggystyle Records - Founded by Snoop in 1995 Death Row NFT - A digital extension of Death Row Records
Before owning Death Row Records, Snoop was signed to several major labels:
Death Row Records (1991-1998) No Limit Records (1998-2001) Priority/Capitol Records (2002-2009) EMI Records (2009-2012) RCA Records (2012-2022)
When Snoop purchased Death Row Records from MNRK Music Group (formerly eOne Music), he acquired the label where his career began. Death Row was originally founded by Dr. Dre and Suge Knight in 1991, and it was where Snoop released his iconic debut album "Doggystyle" in 1993.
Doggystyle Records, Snoop's first independent label venture, operates as a subsidiary of Death Row Records. Through this imprint, he has signed and developed various artists while maintaining creative control over his music projects.
Under Snoop's ownership, Death Row Records has expanded into the digital space with Death Row NFT, focusing on blockchain technology and digital music distribution. The label continues to release both new music and manage its extensive catalog of classic West Coast hip-hop recordings.
I should note that Snoop's acquisition of Death Row Records didn't include some of the label's most famous releases, as the rights to albums by Dr. Dre and 2Pac were not part of the deal. However, he owns the rights to his own Death Row releases and continues to expand the label's portfolio with new artists and projects.
Death Row Records' headquarters are located in Los Angeles, California, where Snoop manages both the traditional music business and its digital initiatives. The label represents a significant part of hip-hop history while evolving to meet modern music industry demands.