Death Row Greatest Hits

Death Row Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album and second double album released by Death Row Records. Released on November 26, 1996, the thirty-three song compilation contains hits by former and then-current Death Row artists as well as previously unreleased tracks and remixes.[2] The album peaked at number 35 on the Billboard 200[3] and was certified platinum on August 12, 1999.[4]

Death Row Greatest Hits
Greatest hits album by
ReleasedNovember 26, 1996
Recorded1992–1996
Studio
Genre
Length2:28:01
Label
Producer
Death Row Records chronology
Murder Was the Case
(1994)
Death Row Greatest Hits
(1996)
Christmas on Death Row
(1996)
Singles from Death Row Greatest Hits
  1. "Who Been There, Who Done That"
    Released: 1996
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Background

2Pac's inclusion

To counter cannibalising sales of other 1996 Death Row releases, no songs from 2Pac's All Eyez on Me, The 7 Day Theory and Snoop Dogg's Tha Doggfather are included on the compilation.[5] From the seven tracks on the compilation that features 2Pac, only two were recorded during his time spent at Death Row Records; "Hit 'Em Up" and "Smile For Me Now", which are both non-album tracks.[6] Four of the other five tracks were songs previously released under Interscope Records before his signing with Death Row. And one track, "Pour Out a Little Liquor", was recorded before 2Pac's time at Death Row, however, was originally released on the 1994 Death Row soundtrack, Above the Rim.[7][8] The four tracks not affiliated with Death Row were able to be included as Interscope, at that time, was the parent company of Death Row and distributor. In 2003, tracks from the 1996 Death Row albums were featured on the compilation's follow-up, Death Row Greatest Hits, Volume 2.[9]

Rare and exclusive music

"Dear Mama"—found on disc one of the compilation—although not listed as a remix, is a completely different mix than what is found on the single or original album release.[10][11]

Disc two of the compilation is mostly made up of remixes and new tracks, notable inclusions being:

Diss tracks aimed at Dr. Dre

Following suit with 2Pac's The 7 Day Theory,[20] Death Row continues to show animosity towards former signee and co-founder, Dr. Dre, by including a diss track directed towards the rapper/producer on each disc of the release. The diss tracks included were:

  • "No Vaseline" by Ice Cube; a 1991 diss track aimed at Dr. Dre and fellow N.W.A group members. Although the song had no association with Death Row Records before the release of the compilation, the song was able to be included as Priority Records, the song distributor, and Interscope Records, the album's distributor, are both divisions of Universal Music Group.[21][22][23]
  • "Who Been There, Who Done That?", written and performed by one of Dr. Dre's former ghostwriters, J-Flexx, is an album exclusive and parody of Dr. Dre's post-Death Row single, "Been There, Done That"—which was also written by J-Flexx.[24] The diss track, which takes shots at Dr. Dre for allegedly stealing songwriting and production credits as well as taking the royalties,[25] was released as a single in promotion for the album.[26][27] In the song's music video, Dr. Dre, clearly depicted as a closeted homosexual, grasp with the reality that the truth has been uncovered—the truth being that he has been receiving undeserved credit for the writing of several hit songs. As the music video progresses, the fictionalised Dr. Dre has to deal with bailiffs entering his home and taking away his possessions.[28]

Although it's heavily rumoured, one can also presume Suge Knight is responsible for casting the inklings of disdain, as he, CEO of Death Row Records and known instigator, served as executive producer on the album.

Artwork

Death Row Greatest Hits insert art by Ronald "Riskie" Brent.

The album's front cover centres on the Death Row Records logo—a death row inmate sat in an electric chair—which was created by Henry "Hen Dog" Smith.[29] However, this version of the Death Row symbol—not by Smith—does away with the bag over the inmates head and displays an electric current running through the inmate's body. The album's cover and insert artwork was designed by California based artist, Ronald "Riskie" Brent. Brent, a recurrent Death Row collaborator, was commissioned to create numerous covers and inserts for albums such as All Eyez on Me, The 7 Day Theory, Tha Doggfather, Christmas on Death Row and Retaliation, Revenge and Get Back.[30]

Track listing

Disc one of two
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Nuthin' but a G Thang"Dr. Dre3:41
2."Gin & Juice"
Dr. Dre3:31
3."Afro Puffs"4:45
4."Natural Born Killaz"
4:46
5."Who Am I (What's My Name?)"
Dr. Dre4:07
6."Keep Their Heads Ringin'"
  • Dr. Dre
  • Sam Sneed (co.)
3:58
7."No Vaseline"
Sir Jinx4:04
8."Doggy Dogg World"Dr. Dre4:40
9."Keep Ya Head Up"DJ Daryl4:22
10."Murder Was the Case"
  • Broadus
  • Arnaud
  • Young
Dr. Dre4:19
11."Lil' Ghetto Boy"
Dr. Dre4:20
12."Ain't No Fun"Dr. Dre4:09
13."Lodi Dodi"Dr. Dre4:24
14."Stranded on Death Row"
Dr. Dre4:40
15."The Shiznit"
  • Broadus
  • Young
Dr. Dre4:15
16."Dear Mama"
  • Shakur
  • Joe Sample
  • Bruce Hawes
  • Charles Simmons
  • Joseph Jefferson
4:55
17."Me Against the World"Soulshock and Karlin4:39
Disc two of two
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
18."Let Me Ride (Rmx)"Dat Nigga Daz6:01
19."Gin & Juice (Rmx)"Dat Nigga Daz5:02
20."Daydreaming"Aretha Franklin
  • Kevyn "Cavi" Lewis
  • Kurt "Kobane" Couthon
  • Reggie Lamb
4:53
21."Who Am I (What's My Name?) (Rmx)"
  • Broadus
  • David Spradley
  • Garry Shider
  • Clinton, Jr.
Dat Nigga Daz4:09
22."Nuthin' But a G Thang (Rmx)"
  • DJ Jam
  • Tommy D
4:33
23."I Get Around (Rmx)"Kevyn "Cavi" Lewis4:00
24."Lil' Ghetto Boy (Rmx)"
  • Tony G.
  • Julio G
4:52
25."Hit 'Em Up"
 5:10
26."Who Been There, Who Done That?"
4:29
27."Fuck wit Dre Day (Rmx)"
Kevyn "Cavi" Lewis4:36
28."Pour Out a Little Liquor"
  • Shakur
  • Leon Huff
  • Kenneth Gamble
Johnny "J"3:28
29."What Would You Do"
Dat Nigga Daz5:08
30."Come Up to My Room"
4:36
31."Come When I Call"DJ Quik4:55
32."Me in Your World"
  • Arnaud
  • Brown
Dat Nigga Daz3:47
33."Smile for Me Now"4:47
Total length:2:28:01
Sample credits[31]

Personnel

Vocalists

  • Andre "Dr. Dre" Young – performer (tracks: 1, 4, 6, 11, 14, 18, 22, 24)
  • Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus – performer (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 12-15, 19, 21, 29)
  • Robin "The Lady of Rage" Allen – performer (tracks: 3, 14)
  • O'Shea "Ice Cube" Jackson – performer (tracks: 4, 7)
  • Barbara Wilson – performer (track 6)
  • Dorothy Coleman – performer (track 6)
  • Nancy Fletcher – performer (tracks: 6, 13)
  • Delmar "Daz Dillinger" Arnaud – performer (tracks: 8, 10, 19, 21, 29, 30, 32)
  • Ricardo "Kurupt" Brown – performer (tracks: 8, 12, 14, 29, 30)
  • The Dramatics – performers (track 8)
  • Tupac Shakur – performer (tracks: 9, 16, 17, 23, 25, 28, 33)
  • Dave "The Black Angel" Hollister – performer (track 9)
  • Nathaniel "Nate Dogg" Hale – performer (track 12)
  • Warren Griffin – performer (track 12)
  • Eric "RBX" Collins – performer (track 14)
  • Outlawz – performers (tracks: 17, 25)
  • Puff Johnson – performer (track 17)
  • Jewell Caples – performer (tracks: 18, 27, 29)
  • Michel'le – performer (track 20)
  • Digital Underground – performers (track 23)
  • O.G.Enius – performer (track 24)
  • James "J-Flexx" Anderson – performer (track 26)
  • Sean "Barney Rubble" Thomas – performer (track 26)
  • Jodeci – performers (track 30)
  • "Danny Boy" Stewart – performer (track 31)
  • Brad "Scarface" Jordan – performer (track 33)
  • 816 – performer (track 33)

Instrumentalists

  • Priest "Soopafly" Brooks – keyboards (tracks: 4, 18, 19, 21, 29, 30)
  • Stewart "Stu-B-Doo" Bullard – keyboards (track 6)
  • James "Timbali" Cornwell – percussion (tracks: 18, 23)
  • Fernando Harkless – horns (tracks: 18, 20, 27), flute (track 20)
  • Rahmlee Davis – horns (tracks: 18, 20, 27)
  • Steve Baxter – horns (tracks: 18, 20, 27)
  • Tyrone Griffin – horns (tracks: 18, 20, 27)
  • Cornelius "Corny" Mims – bass (tracks: 20, 23, 27)
  • Kevyn "Cavi" Lewis – keyboards (tracks: 20, 23, 27)
  • Warryn Campbell – keyboards (track 20)
  • Ricardo Rouse – guitar (tracks: 22, 23, 27)
  • Derek Organ – drums (tracks: 23, 27)
  • Darrel Crooks – guitar (trackS; 23, 27)
  • Cassandra O'Neal – keyboards (tracks: 23, 27)
  • Sean "Barney" Thomas – keyboards & programming (track 26)

Producers

  • Dr. Dre – producer (tracks: 1-6, 8, 10-15)
  • Daz Dillinger – producer (tracks: 3, 18, 19, 21, 29, 30, 32)
  • Anthony "Sir Jinx" Wheaton – producer (track 7)
  • "D.J. Daryl" Anderson – producer (track 9)
  • Tony Pizarro – producer (track 16)
  • Carsten "Soulshock" Schack – producer (track 17)
  • Kenneth Karlin – producer (track 17)
  • Kevyn Lewis – producer (track: 20, 23, 27), horns producer (track 18)
  • Kurt "Kobane" Couthon – producer (track 20)
  • Reggie Lamb – producer (track 20)
  • DJ Jam – producer (track 22)
  • Tommy D. Daugherty – producer (track 22)
  • Antonio "Tony G" Gonzalez – producer (track 24)
  • Julio Gonzalez – producer (track 24)
  • Barney Rubble – producer (track 26)
  • J-Flexx – producer (track 26)
  • Johnny "J" Lee Jackson – producer (track 28)
  • David "DJ Quik" Blake – producer (track 31)
  • Damon Thomas – producer (track 33)
  • 2Pac – producer (track 33)
  • Samuel "Sam Sneed" Anderson – co-producer (tracks: 4, 6)
  • Terrence "DF Master Tee" Thomas – co-producer (track 16)
  • Moses – co-producer (track 16)
  • Donald "DeVante Swing" DeGrate – co-producer (track 30)
  • Marion Hugh "Suge" Knight Jr. – executive producer

Technical

  • Dr. Dre – mixing (tracks: 3, 29)
  • Keston Wright – engineering (track 6)
  • Tommy D – engineering (track 6)
  • Tony Pizarro – engineering (track 16)
  • Paul Arnold – mix engineering (track 16)
  • Jay Lean – mix engineering (track 17)
  • Soulshock – mix engineering (track 17)
  • Dave Aron – mixing (tracks: 19, 33), engineering (track 33)
  • Reggie Lamb – vocal arranger (track 20)
  • Lance Pierre – engineering (track 22)
  • Patrick Shevelin – engineering (track 22)
  • Norman Anthony Whitfield Jr. – mixing (track 28)
  • Dalvin "Mr. Dalvin" DeGrate – vocal arranger (track 30)
  • Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering

Additional

  • George Pryce – art direction
  • Kim Holt – design
  • Ronald "Riskie" Brent – front cover illistration
  • T.J. Johnson – inlay illistration
  • Edge Films – photography
  • Ken Nahoum – photography
  • Suge Knight – liner notes
  • Roy Tesfay – project coordination
  • Norris Anderson – project supervision

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[36] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Death Row Greatest Hits - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  2. "Album release and track listing". AllMusic.
  3. "Billboard peak". Billboard.
  4. "American album certifications – Various – Death Row's Greatest Hits". Recording Industry Association of America.
  5. "Billboard chart from the week of album's release, featuring the named 1996 Death Row albums". Billboard.
  6. "2Pac non-album tracks". 5 December 2016.
  7. "2Pac/Above the Rim". NME. 22 May 2021.
  8. "2Pac discography". AllMusic.
  9. "Death Row Greatest Hits, Volume 2". AllMusic.
  10. "Dear Mama, original mix (1995)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15.
  11. "Dear Mama, Death Row Greatest Hits Mix (1996)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15.
  12. "Let Me Ride (RMX) info and lyrics".
  13. "Michel'le discography". AllMusic.
  14. "I Get Around (RMX) found on the songs single release and Death Row Greatest Hits". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15.
  15. "I Get Around single release".
  16. "How Do U Want It single release". AllMusic.
  17. "Tha Dogg Pound discography". AllMusic.
  18. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Death Row Greatest Hits - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  19. "Scarface's "Smile" info". AllMusic.
  20. "The 7 Day Theory album review". 5 November 2018.
  21. "No Vaseline: Info and lyrics".
  22. "Priority Records and UMG".
  23. "List of UMG labels".
  24. "Entertainment Weekly review". Entertainment Weekly.
  25. "Who Been There, Who Done That?: Lyrics and info".
  26. "J-Flexx discography".
  27. "J-Flexx on ghostwriting for Dr. Dre". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15.
  28. "Who Been There, Who Done That? Music Video". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15.
  29. "HipHopDX interview with Ronald "Riskie" Brent". 5 November 2015.
  30. "About Ronald "Riskie" Brent".
  31. Knight, Suge (1996). Death Row Greatest Hits (Liner notes). USA: Death Row Records. 0 4992-50677-2 9.
  32. "Various Artists Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  33. "Various Artists Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  34. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  35. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  36. "American album certifications – Various – Death Row's Greatest Hits". Recording Industry Association of America.
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