Welcome to Death Row Multiple Choice Quiz | Writers, Producers & Record Labels

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1. Co-founder of Death Row Records, Dr. Dre, was also the first artist to release an album on the new label. Having no previous experience as a solo artist, his first effort demanded quality and the Doctor delivered. What was the name of this album released on December 15, 1992?

Answer: The Chronic

Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" was not only a huge hit, reaching number three on the Billboard 200, but also a trendsetting piece of work with the introduction of the G-Funk sound. Spawning three singles to reach the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and shipping three million copies according to the Recording Industry Association of America(RIAA), "The Chronic" established Dre and Death Row as a legitimate force in the music industry.

2. Death Row's second release, Snoop Doggy Dogg's debut, is best remembered for a milestone that had never been achieved before. What was the name of this album that shot to the pole position on the Billboard 200 in the week of its release?

Answer: Doggystyle

While many albums have reached number one the week of their release, none had ever been an artist's debut album. However, the success of Dr. Dre's "The Chronic", which featured Snoop on most of the tracks, set the table for "Doggystyle". The album shipped over 800,000 units upon its release on November 23, 1993 becoming a first week sales record that wouldn't be eclipsed until Eminem's "The Marshall Mathers LP" in 2000. By that time, "Doggystyle" had been certified 4x platinum by the RIAA.

3. The label's next release was a collaborative effort. Featuring several Death Row artists and producers, as well as artists not signed to the label, this motion picture soundtrack reached number two on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. What was the name of the movie, and thus the soundtrack, that featured Tupac Shakur in both works?

Answer: Above the Rim

The "Above the Rim" soundtrack featured several Death Row artists including Tha Dogg Pound and The Lady of Rage. The most successful track on the album, however, was "Regulate" by Warren G, not a member of the label's roster. While achieving double platinum sales, "Above the Rim" would be the last Death Row release not to hit number one on the Album Chart for the next two years.

4. Having tasted previous success with a soundtrack, Death Row Records pursued the format again. This time, however, the label decided to release its own movie as a way of featuring their ever expanding stable of artists. "Murder Was the Case: The Movie", an 18 minute music video, was released on Valentine's Day 1995 and preceded by the soundtrack. Upon which Death Row artist's previous work was the movie based?

Answer: Snoop Dogg Dogg

Featuring an all-star lineup and spending two weeks at the top of the Billboard 200, "Murder Was the Case" was a tremendous success. The title song and music video chronicled Snoop's fictional story of being shot and saved, by selling his soul to the devil, and living out his days in lavish luxury.

The original "Murder Was the Case", a song from Snoop's "Doggystyle", was remixed by Dr. Dre and the soundtrack also featured a single reuniting Dre and Ice Cube. The main objective of the album, besides selling a boatload of copies, was to showcase the production skills of Daz for the upcoming Dogg Pound album.

5. It would be a full year before Death Row would follow up "Murder Was the Case", but the wait would pay off. The company's second consecutive chart topping album, and third overall, was released in October 1995. Which duo, who were featured in all previous Death Row releases, would finally have their time in the spotlight?

Answer: Tha Dogg Pound

Tha Dogg Pound's "Dogg Food", while having a goofy title, was an album swirling with controversy. Shareholders of Death Row's distribution company protested the album and its violent and sexually charged material. However, a three month delay in the record's release couldn't stop Tha Dogg Pound from reaching the pinnacle of the Billboard Album Charts.

While Dr. Dre still held executive producer credits on the album, it was Daz who handled most of the production work on the individual tracks. This would set the stage for future releases as Daz would become the label's in-house producer.

6. Although Death Row experienced nothing but success through 1995, the label's crowning achievement would come in February 1996. The hype and controversy that followed Tupac Shakur to Death Row would be the driving forces behind his successful debut with the company. What was the name of 2Pac's multi-platinum debut release on Death Row Records?

Answer: All Eyez on Me

2Pac's "All Eyez on Me" made history as the first solo rap/hip-hop double album ever recorded. As a double album, every unit shipped or sold gets the benefit of being counted as two units. This method of sales tracking allowed "All Eyez on Me" to be certified 9x platinum by the RIAA. Though less thoughtful and socially aware than Shakur's previous three studio albums, "All Eyez on Me" was powered by the multi-platinum double "A" side single "California Love/How Do You Want It".

This would mark the last Death Row release to include Dr. Dre in the credits as the mega-producer would leave to start his own label amidst turmoil and contentiousness.

7. Colloquially speaking, Death Row would strike while the iron's hot by rushing the label's next album. Oddly titled "The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory", the album would go on to sell 664,000 copies in its debut week. The most unusual aspect of the album was the artist responsible for it. Not only was there nobody named Makaveli on the Death Row roster, but he turned out to be deceased upon the album's release. So, just who was Makaveli?

Answer: 2pac

"The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory", written, recorded and mixed in just one week, was the final album recorded by Tupac Shakur before his death on September 13, 1996. Shakur's earlier success with Death Row and his recent murder pushed the album straight to the top of the charts, regardless of the name on the album cover. Makaveli was an alias that 2Pac first used on the "All Eyez on Me" record as an homage to Italian philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli.

There has been speculation that 2Pac rushed to finish "The 7 Day Theory" because it would have released him of his three album contractual obligation to Death Row. Rumors have persisted that Shakur wished to leave the record company, but his untimely death would keep that from ever happening.

8. Snoop Doggy Dogg would return to the limelight just one week after the Makaveli album. Snoop would never again reach the same level of success that he did with his debut, but his sophomore effort would become another chart-topping album for Death Row. With a title reminiscent of a Mario Puzo novel, what was the name of Snoop Doggy Dogg's second solo album?

Answer: Tha Doggfather

With Dr. Dre's departure and 2Pac's murder, Death Row's rap music empire was beginning to crumble. Even Snoop Dogg, the artist who most epitomized the company's excesses, couldn't bring the label back to their previous glory. Although "Tha Doggfather" would become Death Row's sixth number one album, the run was coming to an end.

The label would continue to support itself with re-releases and greatest hits albums, most notably unreleased 2Pac material, but a mass exodus would ensue including Snoop in 1997.

9. While most of Death Row's roster would fade into obscurity, Dr. Dre would continue his path of professional success. Dre would continue to discover new talent, such as Eminem and 50 Cent, but not with Death Row. What was the name of the record label Dr. Dre founded after he left Death Row?

Answer: Aftermath Entertainment

Under his new label, Aftermath Entertainment, Dr. Dre slowly but surely began to rebuild a rap music empire. Beginning with the collaborative effort, "Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath", Dre pursued new acts and stressed a "quality over quantity" approach.

The real success for Aftermath came in 1999 with the release of Dre's much anticipated follow up to "The Chronic" and the debut release for Detroit-based rapper, Eminem. From 2000-2003, Aftermath Entertainment would produce five albums, three of which were certified Diamond (10 million units sold) by the Recording Industry Association of America.

10. Finally, I would be remiss if we didn't discuss the muscle behind Death Row Records. The CEO of the record company was not a musician, but an ex-NFL replacement player and bodyguard. Who was this man, known for his strongarm tactics, that raised the capital to get Death Row Records up and running?

Answer: Suge Knight

Marion "Suge" Knight, a man of tremendous physical stature, is alleged to use his size and threats to influence others to give him what he wanted. By some accounts, he coerced Ruthless Records execs to release Dr. Dre from his contract so they could start Death Row. To secure money for the label's start up, Suge convinced Vanilla Ice to sign over royalties and publishing credits to one of Knight's associates for the mega-hit "Ice Ice Baby". Reports on how Knight accomplished this vary from logically explaining his position to physically holding Vanilla Ice over a balcony and threatening to let go. Regardless, Suge Knight accomplished what he set out for: To make Death Row Records the Motown of the 1990s.

Source: Author shadowzep

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Welcome to Death Row Trivia Quiz

Founded in 1991, Death Row Records quickly became rap music royalty. As the match that sparked the East Coast/West Coast feud, the label lives in infamy; however, they should also be remembered for the dizzying success the company achieved.

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