Reggie Wright Explains Why Suge Knight Never Released Nate Dogg's Album on Death Row!

[@Ramble79]

Nate Dogg is the king of hooks. No one did it better. On east coast or west coast songs. Rip Nate.

[@Ramble79]

@@reggiewright don’t forget Akon but Nate just made it soulful.

[@almightytre3730]

Pimp C is underrated when it comes to hooks

[@trollgod7565]

Akon is better

[@antoniotrevino5785]

@@trollgod7565Akon even says Nate dog is the king of the hooks

[@MichaelBrown-ti1un]

@@trollgod7565 nah. Go check both their versions of the hook on Boss Life with Snoop, and it's not even close. Nate's version is way better.

[@LankyJay601]

That album is a certified gem. If it would’ve had the right promotion, Nate Dogg album would’ve been one of death row top seller probably. But Nate still became legendary in due time without Suge.

[@LankyJay601]

@@reggiewright you’re right

[@christianpaul-cp6746]

@@reggiewright Merry Christmas Reggie. Do you have any stories about Bo Roc & the Dove Shack? Back in the mid 90’s Bo Roc’s hooks were right up there with Nate Doggs.

[@tarallbain4415]

8

[@tarallbain4415]

18

[@Bonescratcher]

@@reggiewright Dont matter who Suge saved from prison, he was a scum bag

[@wood_rat]

It amazes me how much Death Row material was never released at the height of their fame. Hundreds of tracks never saw the light of day

[@D1Snr]

True. He tried to make being part of death row very exclusive. Very few different artists actually released albums on death row

[@mrkilo-g8794]

This is why they did the soundtracks

[@herculesking8054]

@@D1Snr Snoop, Dre, Tupac and The Dog Pound. Those were were the only album releases on Death Row. To go with the Murder Was the Case and Above the Rim soundtracks.

[@D1Snr]

@@herculesking8054 Wow. That really is a select group

[@tyliekinc.]

@@herculesking8054don’t forget about the Gridlocked & Gang Related soundtracks

[@TheRolling123]

Yeah I remember the late 90s and early 2000s Nate was on everyone's albums, just makes you think how many more legendary tracks he would of been part of or made

[@DeezWebbos1978]

I remember waiting to get this Album. I had bought the “Never Leave Me Alone” cassette single. And I think it was “Sam Goody” had the release date posted and I went to go see if it was there and…. Nothing! I asked the guy at the counter about the album and he couldn’t give an answer lol I always wondered what happened. Thank you Reggie for giving us some answers to these questions!

[@adictiveadictive]

Copped my shit from Sam Goody. Shit was expensive. Everything at that store seemed overpriced lol

[@theodorebelmont7922]

That Nate Dogg double album was dope. My favorite song is The Hardest Man In Town

[@jay-leeofficialcctv]

That's my favourite song from the album too, such a classic song.

[@theodorebelmont7922]

@@jay-leeofficialcctv i love the 2nd verse, as his singing as his gun

[@RalphHund]

Really great song.

[@jaypeso1980s]

reggie is dope. i love and cherish these stories. this is hip hop and i grew up a little boy listening to death row records. salute to reggie and bomb 1st.

[@jaypeso1980s]

@@reggiewright same to you.

[@FBA_259]

@@reggiewrightay Reg, why is Kurupt on Art channel talking like he was still around Death Row during the time Pac was murdered? I wanna support Kurupt but that dude is starting to show himself as a liar bro. We gotta preserve the Death Row legacy not contaminate it. This sh!t not cool man😡

[@pokerstar18]

me and my homies with nate dogg and pac was a classic track in my opinion!!

[@Zonedout420]

It was the end of 96’ when Never leave me alone came out 98’ is when Nate released it on a different label

[@jonokay9768]

G Funk Classics Vol.1 was criminally slept on!

[@lavishd.4347]

That Cd was slept on - I think if Interscope had promoted it wud have blown up - it had some slappers on it !!!!

[@micheal8509]

I think a nate dogg album would've sold pretty well if they had put the 2pac tribute "why" on it and released it as a single with a video. We saw how well puffy did with "I'll be missing you"

[@mrkilo-g8794]

Yeah missed opportunity

[@ReyHugoTelevision614]

I still have it on cassette. It came out on Breakaway Records, but the album cover and liner notes still had the font used on Deathrow releases.

[@jackmothwa7449]

Nate Dogg’s single “Never Leave Me Alone” came out before Tha Doggfather dropped. I had the promo vinyl. Nate’s album was supposed to drop first quarter of 97. Some of the cds made it to retail and there’s proof.

[@djhaynes99]

Yeah he says when Suge was sentenced feb 97, that his album is being released April 97. It was pressed up, but never released until 1998.

[@tylerhall1288]

the album came out officially overseas in 97 and ive heard that copies were released and then recalled in the US. very interesting history for a really great album that should've got so much more shine

[@djhaynes99]

I think some copies were sold in Canada for a week, then the album was pulled. The other copies I’ve seen are tapes that were only for advanced listening. The French one says release date 7th April 1997. So the album was very close to being put out.

[@learnmathwithme3864]

I actually had copies of the Nate album, ie., I worked as truck driver and would dump stuff at the landfill. Sometimes I would find boxes, and bring it home. Nate album was there....

[@themostsecretscience6409]

Thank you Regg for clearing up all the back of house confusion on the last days of Death Row Records. You were there steering a sinking ship and people call you "just a security guard".

[@treyveon1456]

Nate doggs vocals! Sheesh, there’s nothing like it !!

[@ikejalife1156]

Facts 😢😢😢

[@Yaro79]

@ikejalife1156 best spots in ikeja?

[@queenmaggies2677]

Jodeci

[@MrScrooge1980]

This definitely makes sense, the machine was no longer behind Suge, and, Nate and Kokane are the Kings Of Hooks!!!!

[@kris2shawn]

Reg, I still want to put you in touch with my homie David Kendrick. He was Danny Boy's Assistant... He's got stories...

[@damaged2810]

That album shouldn't have been a double disc. Just cause you can make hooks don't mean you can make hits

[@ladyofpain]

I am stoked on this. Thanks!

[@viciousjerm]

Tupac and Nate Dogg songs was too good. 💯👍

[@alan6196]

Skandalouz🤯

[@MichaelBrown-ti1un]

Yep. They never missed. Was just playing How Long Will They Mourn Me the other day.

[@MrTee12]

Teardrops and Closet Caskets Me and My Homies

[@OnlyUknow2]

Me and my homies... Nate & pac RIP

[@alan6196]

@@OnlyUknow2 yes

[@user-wb7nv9ht1g]

Nate could go from singing with the voice and emotions if s female and then act like a tough guy. He had a range

[@BihorPanaMor]

What I don't quite understand is why it took so long for Nate's album anyway. It seems it was finished around 97-98, that's over 5 years after his debut on The Chronic and over 3 years after Regulate. Warren G already had two albums out by that time.

[@fyreleomh1896]

This never made sense to me, considering Tupac was complaining about paying Nate's child support. Reggie explained why that was done but if Suge had a problem with Nate why would he care if Nate's cs was paid? I would've said "f that neggas kids, if he got paid he should've paid it himself",If had a problem with him like that.

[@MichaelBrown-ti1un]

Wow. You can tell Suge burned his bridges at Interscope. Sounds like they only "tolerated" him for awhile for the posthumous 2Pac projects. They didn't even want to deal with Snoop anymore? Lol. Tha Doggfather was wack, but it still sold 2 million. Dayum. Real interesting background here. I actually bought the G-Funk Classics double discs when it came out, because I was/still am a huge Nate Dogg fan. Always wondered how that album, obviously recorded while Nate was still at Death Row, ended up on something called "Breakaway Records" alongside something called "Dogg Foundation Records," which I guess was Nate's imprint. I just remember that project getting nearly zero promotion despite having that Warren G assisted single, Nobody Does it Better, which wasn't big nationally, but is an L.A./regional classic. My question to Reggie, if you see this, why didn't ya'll just release Nate Dogg's album on Priority Records? Tha Dogg Pound wasn't under Interscope either, but ya'll took Dogg Food to Priority, where it sold 2 million copies. There was definitely a market for a Nate Dogg solo in ''97-98. I bought the Gang Related soundtrack that year, and Nate's song "These Days" with Daz seemed like it did well on radio and tv. That song and video were on Priority Records.

[@herbertcampbell1008]

These days was a banger. Gang related was a dope album

[@MichaelBrown-ti1un]

@@herbertcampbell1008 I love that record. One More Day is my fav Nate song, but that one might be number 2.

[@MichaelBrown-ti1un]

@@reggiewright gotcha 👍👍👍 Appreciate the response.

[@noe1whun]

I loved that soundtrack. Probably the only soundtrack I know to be a double disc

[@acidmack1041]

@herbertcampbell1008 yeah These Days is my favourite Nate solo joint 🔥 love Daz's slick laid back flow on that track too

[@Sneakerveli]

"It's not a hit unless Nate Dogg spit" - Mack 10

[@mrkilo-g8794]

Ice Cube said that 😂

[@RalphHund]

@@mrkilo-g8794 I think Mack 10 said it in the Gangsta Nation song. I think Ice Cube said " It must be a single when Nate Dogg singing on it".

[@Steve-mp7by]

Nate said in an interview he never went to Death Row office or the studio without his gun. He must have saw some crazy shit or got touched up

[@YngfamK9]

Bro it’s so good seeing Reggie Free and Alive. Iykyk. Still praying for a full recovery.💯💪🏾

[@ThesisOriginals]

Why the Medusa/Versace chain instead of a Death Row Chain?

[@travisclark9134]

Merry Christmas Reg.. back in 2000 I think on the chronic 2000 cd book .. there was a death row logo with the dude getting lethal injection. Was it ever planned to change the logo?

[@mason1486]

@@reggiewright The lethal injection with perfection- The Realest

[@vintageVids]

whatever happened to the albums there were already pressed up like you said? did they get destroyed? Do you have any copies of the original Nate Dogg death row album Reggie?

[@stephenlee3495]

October or November of 97. Snoop was already an album deep with No Limit by late 98.

[@MikeyMike-x4z]

Did anyone ever buy Suge a xmas gift in 95 or 96 and if so..who bought it and what was it

[@southernrazed]

Appreciate this Q&A! I’ve always wondered why it wasn’t on Death Row. What happened to the pressed up Death Row version? Are they out here somewhere? Do you know about how many were pressed?

[@theshocker2747]

I think i've seen some copies on eBay every once a while, atleast some 10 years ago. It had the blue cover and a death row logo. Edit:Discogs says that G Funk Classics Vol.1 was indeed released but pulled off a week after its release.

[@trolmct6972]

I always regret never buying the desthrow volume 1 copy from ebay years ago

[@soulstalgiarecords77740]

What was that Song of Nate Dogg and was that video ever released? And the Album name too?

[@soulstalgiarecords77740]

@@reggiewright Thanks for Fast reply Reggie Wright!!

[@centralcal6604]

Nate Dogg ended up making a classic album with elktra records "music and me" rip nate Dogg one of the best hookmans in gangsta rap history.

[@Infinite0396]

1:50 - October of 97-because Snoops Game is to be Sold album was released on No Limit summer of 98

[@TH4TSR4VEN]

Nate Dogg A Legend🙏🏾RIP

[@Tostyle7]

Hey what’s up Reggie Thanks for info and the great interview. What’s the reason on why we can’t find “Murder was the Case Soundtrack” along with the “Gang Related Soundtrack “ on any streaming services? @Reggie Wright

[@mason1486]

It appears Nate Dogg was a Lone Ranger from about 98-99 with the exception of Warren G. He was doing hooks until Top Dogg, Streetz iz a Mutha, and Chronic 2001. Snoop abandoned everyone for about year once he went to No Limit and saw that new sound wasn’t going to work (Da Game is to be sold, one of my favorite albums). Nate Dog’s album was better than Daz’s album and should’ve been the focus. But, best case scenario was the album going Gold.

[@hiphopculturetv7744]

Nate's album should of came out in 95/96. When Deathrow was on top!!

[@melvinhhcp3615]

Not enough time.

[@MichaelBrown-ti1un]

Yep. Never Leave Me Alone was a platinum selling single. There was a lane during that time for a Nate Dogg solo album.

[@melvinhhcp3615]

@@MichaelBrown-ti1un That was in 1998.

[@dianevrules]

@@melvinhhcp3615 Never Leave Me Alone came out in late 1996. I heard Nate Dogg's album in 1997. When he brought it to a radio station and they played Scared of Love, These Days, Bag O Weed. It didnt come out until 1998. When they did that G Funk Classics Vol 2 bs and released Nobody Does It Better with Warren G. In truth, Nate Dogg shouldve come out when they did the One More Day song on Murder Was The Case soundtrack or Regulate song on Above The Rim. His time was up after that....at least as a solo artist

[@daveblood00]

Beat Street is a Christmas movie.

[@blackjas9007]

I never even knew Nate Dogg or Rage’s album ever came out. & I was one of the ones waiting for them back then. I’ll have to try to find them. Fucked up that Snoop making it hard for ppl to play his own music! I don’t get that shit

[@mikegillins4992]

nate dogg strength was doing hooks Can't imagine a entire album with nate dogg thou unless he is just doing hooks on each track

[@LankyJay601]

Nate was more than just a “hook singer”. His strength was his voice, not just hooks alone. His albums were solid projects

[@King_revenge822]

Nate dogg albums were fire!!!

[@mikegillins4992]

@Lanky Jay I respect your opinion but personally I wasn't impressed with any of nate albums in the early 2000s, I still think nate best music was when he was featured on other people's projects and his legacy starts and ends with that (if they ever put out a greatest hits album on nate 99 percent of the songs would be songs he was featured on before and solo projects)

[@MichaelBrown-ti1un]

Disagree. You didn't enjoy his verses on Regulate, Deez Nuts, Ain't No Fun, Black Mercedes, XXplosive, Oh No etc? I know those songs had features, but those are examples that he wasn't strictly a "hook singer." His best solo work were b-side records, not singles.

[@noe1whun]

@@mikegillins4992 bro they can make a greatest hits just off his first 2 albums.

[@odot8148]

Album was straight 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥too

[@rickjamezz838]

Regg back with another. Merry Christmas to all out there. Bomb1st fam stay up!!!!

[@Theauthenticationguru]

Facts! Business is business!

[@Vendetta4Life202]

Nate R.I.P . Big Co Of Vendetta 4 Life showing support

[@mroctober3583]

Probably Death Row's biggest L not treating or pushing Nate Dogg like the star he was.

[@lenoxwheat438]

6:44 Dave who?

[@billbixby6138]

I think you misspoken Reggie snoop first album on the tank came out august 4th 1998 it must have been 97 that you're talking about

[@ducklife420]

I still bought the priority death row albums. gridlockd and daz. not the dogg father. thanks reggie! merry xmas

[@ducklife420]

i didn't buy the nate dogg album because it wasn't death row and i thought it was a bootleg

[@TheRolling123]

Damn I one of the few Doggfather fans

[@MichaelBrown-ti1un]

Gridlock'd was halfway wack. You could tell it was almost over for Death Row, because it wasn't in the same league as Above The Rim or Murder Was The Case soundtracks. Never Had A Friend Like Me by 2Pac is one of my GOAT songs in his catalogue, however. Lady Heroine, Sho Shot and that Daz solo song were all hard too.

[@ducklife420]

@@MichaelBrown-ti1un yeh half the album was really good. the realist tracks always were a must skip

[@deejaydosmuchoz5209]

This is just Monday morning quarterbacking, but I think that if they would’ve went hard on a Nate Dogg album after makeveli… because there was a lull… and this is the end of 96 first quarter of 97 I’m talking about… as far as promotion and putting the energy behind it it would have softened the corporate perception of death row… Even though he would’ve been singing about the same stuff they would’ve been rapping about

[@rafa7622]

Merry Christmas Reggie! I appreciate the stories and history you provide to us fans. It's always much appreciated. 😎

[@cameroaugustine4176]

They did nate dogg dirty.. R.I.P

[@mringram]

Informative

[@SamDogg760]

Reggie if Suge wouldn’t have gone to prison in 96 do you think death row would’ve still have distribution through Interscope ? Or would the music industry start black balling suge like they did in the 2000’s.

[@cap536]

One of the rare times Reggie is being 100 percent

[@LuckyJackson2020]

that album is amazing

[@brutus1712]

Whats up Reg? Hope you and the family had a nice Christmas

[@PaleZeus]

RIP Nate Dogg 🐐

[@cmonson2151]

Merry Christmas Reggie from your peoples in the bay . Oakland.

[@nikkipacheco6835]

It's amazing how Reggie can remember things so many years ago especially in detail, I can't remember things anymore I guess maybe it's my age & fried brain cells...much props OG Reggie

[@jblaze1336]

Get off those DRUGS IT MIGHT HELP YOU SOME LOL

[@nikkipacheco6835]

@@jblaze1336 obviously you missed the whole point of the comment your probably the who on drugs lol

[@mrbdx]

I find it absurd that after putting out a GAZILLION hit records during the 1990’s… Suge still had to search for a “benefactor/sponsor” for Death Row. HOW Sway???

[@rossboi706]

Rest in Power Nate Dogg u hate he never got to bless my beats with his voice 😔

[@sadiki227]

The solo album he did finally release was classic still.

[@elgavilan83]

Had to be October ‘97.

[@elgavilan83]

@@reggiewright What’s good, Reg! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family! Have a good one. 💯

[@executive8680]

Merry Christmas, Reg!

[@executive8680]

@@reggiewright Thanks!

[@tyneelilg]

Is it a coincidence that aftermath started in 1998 the year death row fell off is this the same thing jay z did to all the hot rappers in New York he went from roc a fella to ceo of Def jam

[@paulmanton5050]

Merry Christmas to bomb1st and reggie.

[@1takemedia238]

@@reggiewright Merry Christmas Mr Reggie were you satisfied the way they portray you on a Netflix series The mannerism was on point but what about the character and the details

[@1takemedia238]

In the near future would you consider telling your version of the story that would be great for those that were fans of the infamous death row records

[@ThesisOriginals]

I always wonder what Daz Album would have been like.

[@onehitterquitter2130]

Nates Music N Me is a classic.

[@fantasticvoyageatlantis8861]

Most rap labels skip over the HOOK men and women's albums. Lack of vision, promotion and willing to invest. Rage and Nate would have brought the bag certainly $1.2 to balance the $300k. The ARTIST are under contract and can't really PR themself. Bless Nate for hustling inspite of the crapola.

[@Mr.Majestic77]

With an exception to 2Pac, Interscope cut off Death Row water in 1998.

[@mrkilo-g8794]

UMG influenced Interscope to do so

[@scaleshenry]

Business wise this makes sense! Now, we see the source of the money and how things changed

[@blueshirt725]

Reggie eyes knows all 😳

[@jaybo797]

I dont know reg not to like him but he drop jewels

[@louisgordon7865]

If he is your artist shouldn’t you pay for the video

[@CEE662]

I remember they showed the album in the sales paper....I get all the way up there!....nope it ain't came out yet😡

[@Bobby813Blaze]

Death Row f****d up by letting nate dogg go. He still became a star on his own and his voice will forever be one of a kind but man i really wish suge would have kept it together. Suge turned out to be his own worst enemy

[@waynemarshall8836]

Reggie always looking like he’s about to shit on someone 😂 my guy

[@christophermunoz205]

Merry xmas reg

[@DONCHAPAVELI]

WHAT UP DOE REGGIE U MY GUY💯💯💯 BUT PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TELL THE HOUSE OF BLUES STORY THAT NEVER GETS TOLD THEY TALK AROUND IT AND THATZ THE 2PAC KEITH MURRAY INCIDENT. WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT REG????

[@DONCHAPAVELI]

@@reggiewright TY REG💯💯💯💯💯

[@iddycent1866]

Rigge is a legend

[@ExoTheDrakoXIII]

Nate was a Master of Hooks and could lay your Chorus down in mere minutes!!! But... As far as a complete album or even mixtape from Nate? I just don't see how it could work unless it is a compilation album and you either invest a lot of money or you have many many artists jump on as a favor or out of Love for Nate, I could see what I could companies struggling to profit off of it and not wanting to release it though it's sad because the fans and listeners go without but that is just the Game of America, on a small scale, sadly... The Americans simply only invest in certain people and that is usually based on the favors you do for that or what you could do for them or whether or not you could turn a profit but these people do not stand on values and morals so they hardly ever do what's right for the artist and consumer

[@croplaya]

Never forget Nate dogg did a song about using groupies like it wasnt nothing for a playa and he could give a shit about a chick. Made it sound like he could just go get another bitch at anytime. But then he was arrested multiple times for stalking his ex because he was so hung up on her

[@jacobgrohman7981]

G funk classics. Classic album!!!!!

[@abear9184]

Nate dogg❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@mccflo99]

What Nate Dogg CDs were already pressed up?

[@djhaynes99]

G funk classics was pressed up, and released in Canada in 1997 for about a week.

[@mustardegg2]

Happy Christmas Reg 🎄 Do you think Suge burned too many bridges or Nate Dogg had no regulate on his album ? If Interscope thought there was a massive hit then they would have distributed the album ? I think the Nate Dogg album is good but no real hits. He is a great artist but 3 verses of Nate dogg is too much for one song. Two verses and one rap verse is good.

[@mustardegg2]

@@reggiewright True. That album was definitely as strong as the Doggfather. Platinum at the very least.

[@Cultured_Barbarian]

These are some really high level business classes

[@WBSmith-ol7sn]

Hey Reg was you around Suge when him and Eazy had beef over him still getting paid off Dre

[@WBSmith-ol7sn]

@@reggiewright You got any stories about that Suge Dre & Eazy situation you can share with us.

[@KevoVision1]

We're inspiring, motivating people to discover and walk in their original purpose

[@andrewmoore7927]

Nate is a good guest artist on other artist's songs/albums, but to have a album where he is the feature artist, wouldn't work.

[@peteyjames1829]

Where have you been??

[@S93-x1m]

Finally a real question 😂

[@leebutz4727]

It ain't a Hook if Nate Dogg ain't singing on it

[@MarkWhippy]

That album could have saved Death Row for another few years. Never Leave Me Alone was a big hit. Although Snoop had already left so he probably wouldn’t have helped promote the single anyway.

[@ogfred]

REGGIE “but anyway” WRIGHT

[@jasonflowers4173]

@ReggieWright hey Reggie can you address what the deal was with Tha Realest at all? Did he really meet Pac and Suge and audition? Thanks big homie. Merry Christmas to you and yours!