Welcome to Death Row (Video 2001)

Directors:

S. Leigh Savidge, Jeff Scheftel

Writer:

Jeff Scheftel

Stars:

Frank Alexander, Sam Gideon Anson, William J. Bennett

Cast

Credited cast:
Frank Alexander	...	Himself - Tupac Shakur's Bodyguard
Sam Gideon Anson	...	Himself - Investigative Reporter: L.A. Weekly
William J. Bennett	...	Himself (archive footage)
Lamont Blumfield	...	Himself - Artist Manager: Kurupt
John 'B.J.' Bryant	...	Himself - Former Security Officer: Death Row Records (as BJ)
Hank Caldwell	...	Himself - Former President: Death Row Records
Jonathan Clark	...	Himself - Former Executive: Motown Records
Sean Combs	...	Himself - CEO: Bad Boy Records (archive footage) (as Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs)
The D.O.C.	...	Himself - The D.O.C.
Ton Def	...	Himself - Rap Artist
Nate Dogg	...	Himself - Rap Artist
Snoop Dogg	...	Himself - Rap Artist
Bob Dole	...	Himself - U.S. Senator (archive footage)
Dr. Dre	...	Himself - Rap Artist / Producer
Eazy-E	...	Himself - Member of NWA (archive footage) (as Eazy E)

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

music industry

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Taglines:

It Started in Compton. It Ended in Infamy.

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [fr] Xenon Pictures, Inc.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 September 2001 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

KDA Productions, Oliver Entertainment, Xenon Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Edited into And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Vesti La Giubbia"
Act 1, Canio
Ruggiero Leoncavallo, I Pagliacci
Performed by Gaetano Bardini (Tenor)
Prague National Theatre Orchestra
Conducted by Jan Stych

User Reviews

They don't mince words or hide the truth in this one

This is a true documentary (no frills, no filler) depicting the reasons behind the rise and fall of one of the most influential record labels in music history. Death Row Records started out as the brainchild of a few players in the local LA Rap Scene, and at its peak, it was a legitimate force in business, politics, media and entertainment on a national scale. The documentary is captivating because it only focuses on the footage, accounts, memories and thoughts of those who were central figures in the company and industry at the time. In the early and mid-90's, gangsta rap, east coast/west coast feuds, Biggie and 2Pac, drugs, rap music videos, and multi-platinum hip-hop records became extremely profitable and recognizable byproducts of pop culture -- and Death Row Records was at the center of it all. Kudos to the director and producers for never getting sidetracked as they allow those who were involved (from Dre to Snoop to 2Pac to Suge to writers to security guards) to tell it like it was.