Death Row Greatest Hits

Death Row Records Greatest Hits
Greatest hits album by Death Row Records
Released November 26, 1996
Recorded 1992 - 1996
Genre Gangsta Rap, G-funk, West Coast Hip Hop, R&B
Label Interscope Records The New and "Untouchable" Death Row Records
Producer Suge Knight
Professional ratings
Review scores
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Allmusic link

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.

Track listing

Disc One

  1. Nuthin' But a "G" Thang - Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg
  2. Gin & Juice - Snoop Doggy Dogg
  3. Afro Puffs - the Lady of Rage
  4. Natural Born Killaz - Dr. Dre/Ice Cube
  5. Who Am I (What's My Name)? - Snoop Doggy Dogg
  6. Keep Their Heads Ringin' - Dr. Dre feat. Nanci Fletcher
  7. No Vaseline - Ice Cube
  8. Doggy Dogg World - Snoop Dogg feat. The Dramatics and Nanci Fletcher
  9. Keep Ya Head Up - 2Pac
  10. Murder Was the Case - Snoop Dogg
  11. Lil' Ghetto Boy - Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg
  12. Ain't No Fun - Snoop Dogg feat. 213 and Nanci Fletcher
  13. Lodi Dodi - Snoop Dogg feat. Nanci Fletcher
  14. Stranded On Death Row - Kurupt, Bushwick Bill, Snoop Dogg, Lady of Rage & RBX
  15. The Shiznit - Snoop Dogg
  16. Dear Mama - 2Pac
  17. Me Against the World - 2Pac

Disc Two

  1. Let Me Ride (RMX) - Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg & Daz Dillinger
  2. Gin & Juice (RMX) - Snoop Dogg
  3. Dayreaming - Michel'le
  4. Who Am I (What's My Name) (RMX) - Snoop Dogg
  5. Nuthin But A G Thang (RMX) - Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg
  6. I Get Around (RMX) - 2Pac
  7. Lil Ghetto Boy (RMX) - Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg
  8. Hit 'Em Up - 2Pac
  9. Who Been There, Who Done That - J-Flexx
  10. F-ck Wit Dre Day (RMX) - Jewell
  11. Pour Out A Little Liquor - Thug Life
  12. What Would You Do - Tha Dogg Pound
  13. Come Up To My Room - Jodeci
  14. Come When I Call - Danny Boy
  15. Me In Your World - Dat Nigga Daz
  16. Smile - Scarface feat. 2Pac

Track listing controversy

Upon initial release, the rear artwork containing the track listing contained only the track titles and not performer names. Former Death Row producer Sam Sneed speculated that this was because most tracks featured Snoop Doggy Dogg and that by adding artist names to the track listing, 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 track listing.

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.

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 Records 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. Dre 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 track listing 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.

References

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