West Coast Connection Forum
DUBCC - Tha Connection => West Coast Classics => Topic started by: LarsVerb on December 13, 2013, 07:26:32 AM
-
This interview is with the Chief Engineer from Death Row, Rick Clifford. He worked with artists like Michael Jackson, 2Pac, Daft Punk and many more.
In part 1 of the interview we talk about:
-Suge Knight
-Dre Leaving Death Row
-The Makaveli Album
-And Much More
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udeCub17sGI
-
Holy shit.. after all these years, big time story is released about why Dre left, very interesting. Dammit, I love Suge, but if he could of just let Dre keep creative control of who was signing to the label. I've heard Dre mention it before about guys signing to the label and he's like "who are you"... but they've never said who the group actually was. My guess is that it was Operation From The Bottom. But no telling who it was.
-
That particular story isn't all that new and was mentioned briefly in the book Have Gun Will Travel. I don't think the group was OFTB, since they were already around Death Row well before that time. Plus I have a hard time seeing OFTB on some groupie shit with Dre.
-
Lol quality of this is terrible. Do this interview via Skype next time.
-
That particular story isn't all that new and was mentioned briefly in the book Have Gun Will Travel. I don't think the group was OFTB, since they were already around Death Row well before that time. Plus I have a hard time seeing OFTB on some groupie shit with Dre.
Certainly the story of rappers signing to the label and greetin Dre and Dre's like "who the fuck are you", those stories have been around since 96. But the part that was a little new for me was Dre actually explaining that the agreement was he was supposed to have full creative control over who signed to the label, and how he wanted to uphold a standard of quality and so on...
Certainly these things have been hinted at in previous interviews but I never heard the story detailed as clearly as it was now with the anecdote from the night it actually happened. Now I'm just curious who the group was and I still think it was OFTB until I hear otherwise...
Also that was a dope story about Dre bringing by the reels for 2pac for "California Love". It was a generous move by Dre and something Pac should've given him more credit for. Although "Dear Mama" will be Pac's magnum Opus, the impact the "California Love" video had at the time of it's release was larger than life and really catapulted Pac to the top of the rap game. Easily his second biggest hit after "Dear Mama" and really at the time of it's release it was more popular than "Dear Mama" when that song was released.
-
Although "Dear Mama" will be Pac's magnum Opus, the impact the "California Love" video had at the time of it's release was larger than life and really catapulted Pac to the top of the rap game. Easily his second biggest hit after "Dear Mama" and really at the time of it's release it was more popular than "Dear Mama" when that song was released.
I believe California Love is actually the bigger hit.
-
Dre Wanted To Sign Freestyle Followship To Death Row
-
That particular story isn't all that new and was mentioned briefly in the book Have Gun Will Travel. I don't think the group was OFTB, since they were already around Death Row well before that time. Plus I have a hard time seeing OFTB on some groupie shit with Dre.
Ofcourse it is a rumour since 1996 that dre left because of creative control. But its about the new details Rick Clifford gives about Dre leaving, the 2pac situation etc. A big rumour is that dre was forced to give California Love to 2pac, but its nice to hear another story now.
-
Dre was unhappy about Hammer being signed.
-
Dre was unhappy about Hammer being signed.
Was just going to say that. And not only that, but Suge wanted Dre to produce a full Hammer album.
-
Seriously? Dre didn't like hammer? Or he just didn't like fact that Hammer is signed with no permission from him?
-
The claims of Dre leaving Death Row due to him feeling that he was losing creative control is nothing new. He mentioned this back in 1996. Dre also claimed that him and Suge had discussed him working with 2Pac and it was Dre, who decided to give 2Pac "California Love". It was gonna be on The Chronic II, that Dre was working on that project (off/on). Jewell even said the same as part of the reason behind Dre leaving, on the Welcome to Death Row documentary. No, the group wasn't OFTB. Flipside (from OFTB, Rest In Peace) pretty much address that in an interview prior to his death. Dre liked OFTB, according to Flipside (RIP).
-
Ronin Ro's book mentions Hammer as being one of the artists that Dre was upset about Suge signing but I take a lot of what is written in that book with a grain of salt. Though it has been mentioned in several stories and Dre has even publicly mentioned that Suge's signing of new artists was one of the things that bothered him. With the timeline, it is pretty clear that around 1994-95 was where things were starting to change. The two soundtracks, Murder Was The Case and Above The Rim, showcased a much bigger Suge influence and the departures of DOC and RBX happened around that time. Dre was reportedly beginning to stop working at Can-Am as much and begun using his home studio as his base of operations because many artists claimed he didn't enjoy the environment at the Death Row studios. In 1995, he had no credited songs on "Dogg Food" and his biggest hit he produced before Pac came home and recorded "California Love" at the tail end of the year was done for Priority Records for their Friday soundtrack with "Keep Their Heads Ringin".
-
Ronin Ro's book mentions Hammer as being one of the artists that Dre was upset about Suge signing but I take a lot of what is written in that book with a grain of salt. Though it has been mentioned in several stories and Dre has even publicly mentioned that Suge's signing of new artists was one of the things that bothered him. With the timeline, it is pretty clear that around 1994-95 was where things were starting to change. The two soundtracks, Murder Was The Case and Above The Rim, showcased a much bigger Suge influence and the departures of DOC and RBX happened around that time. Dre was reportedly beginning to stop working at Can-Am as much and begun using his home studio as his base of operations because many artists claimed he didn't enjoy the environment at the Death Row studios. In 1995, he had no credited songs on "Dogg Food" and his biggest hit he produced before Pac came home and recorded "California Love" at the tail end of the year was done for Priority Records for their Friday soundtrack with "Keep Their Heads Ringin".
Yeah, Dre and Suge didn't see eye to eye on several things in regards to the business side. Dre still was working back in 1994 and 1995. Yeah, 1994 was the start of the change at Death Row Records. As far as Ronin Ro's book, I wouldn't dis-credit the book just yet. The DOC pretty much said that on Dubcnn, years ago. LOL!
-
I'm not saying everything in the book is a lie but there are a number of things that have been proven to be incorrect. As an author, Ro takes certain liberties with artists that he likes and paints kind of one-sided views of those he doesn't. It's an entertaining book to read but unless the stories in it are validated by eyewitnesses or have been confirmed in other interviews, I tend to remain skeptical on some of them.
-
Yeah, some of it wasn't true according to those who were around (at that time) and I believe certain parts were not true too. I gotta get that book again. I have the book on Dr. Dre.
-
I agree that Ronin Ro's book does have some inconsistencies, but there's still a lot of interesting information in it, much of which did end up being true. But there was a lot of stuff that was basically jacked from the Welcome to Death Row DVD too (certain word-for-word quotes come to mind), which I thought was kind of cheesy.
I still don't think it was OFTB. Someone else said here that Flipside confirmed that they were cool with Dre while on Death Row (and remember that on that MTV special, Bustop was even talking about Dre's shift in attitude toward the label, and they'd likely have been with Death Row for at least a year or so to really see the difference). The story about Dre being unhappy about some group being signed was supposedly in 1995, and remember that OFTB was already with Death Row in 1994 and recording music.
Dre was pissed with Hammer being signed and being asked to produce his album because even if Death Row had the capability of making almost anyone into a star, the fact of the matter was that Hammer was already viewed as being wack and having fallen off. Dre worked on-and-off as it is, and it would have been a waste of his time and talent to try to re-create Hammer, who had already fucked up on his own and blown an eight-figure fortune and fallen into bankruptcy. But Suge and Hammer were cool from before, so Suge put his hand out to him.
While Suge was taking over the company more than necessary, it just doesn't seem like Dre was doing anything about it. Not that he needed to punk Suge or anything, but I don't know if Dre was ever sitting down with Suge and telling him about his qualms with how the company was being run. Even a lot of the interviews he did before were saying how "nothing was being done," almost like he expected things to change on their own or for someone else to initiate it. It just seems like Dre was too scared to do anything, then he retreated to his own home studio. I really don't think that anyone on Death Row would have hated on him for wanting to work productively and make the best music possible, which is what generated money -- most of the shit that they talked about him was just him not being in the studio. I don't think anyone cared about Dre not participating in beatdowns, which aren't what put millions of dollars into their accounts.
Does anyone know when Suge signed Six Feet Deep? Maybe it was them, since they were around Death Row in 1995-1996.
-
Dre doesnt' have character and he's not too confident. Watch any video from 90's with him and another rapper with the same fame. He's always hidding - first with Eazy, then with Suge and Snoop (I saw some video from a Death Row party and Dre didn't know what to say to camera, Suge easily talked some bullshit and Snoop was high :D), then with 2Pac (making of California Love and watch who has more confidence). Then Aftermatch and background of Up In Smoke Tour - Snoop on first plan and Dre still hiddin'.
-
I don't think it's really much of a secret that Dre is a bit of a introvert and recluse but I think it sort of sets him apart from the Puffys and Kanyes.
-
you got to remember Dre's life had change during this time. He was a different person after he was released from jail. He wanted to be more responsible with his life and his lable. him being jailed i think was his life's wake up call. as Dre moved in a more positive/business direction, his baby (deathrow) had turned more and more street/irresponsible....why would anyone want to stick around for that....2pac knew this but by then it was too late. Dre was smart and left, Snoop was smart and left, Daz was smart and left, and so on and so on...
-
Dre doesnt' have character and he's not too confident. Watch any video from 90's with him and another rapper with the same fame. He's always hidding - first with Eazy, then with Suge and Snoop (I saw some video from a Death Row party and Dre didn't know what to say to camera, Suge easily talked some bullshit and Snoop was high :D), then with 2Pac (making of California Love and watch who has more confidence). Then Aftermatch and background of Up In Smoke Tour - Snoop on first plan and Dre still hiddin'.
Wrong. Watch "Express Yourself" with NWA, Dre clearly shines and that was one of their biggest singles.
Dre identifies himself as a producer not a rapper, so he's fine with playing the background, but don't label that as a negative that is actually a positive in Dre's favor. It's certainly not a case of him being "outshined". It's more a case of him playing the role of mentor and letting the other artist catch some shine but never has Dre not came in full effect
-
Daz left because he thought he could get more money for less work (although granted, he was given a heavy workload at Death Row) but the man was a coward. He would stay in his hotel room at night whenever Tha Row went out to promote the material that would later appear on Chronic 2000
-
E
Daz left because he thought he could get more money for less work (although granted, he was given a heavy workload at Death Row) but the man was a coward. He would stay in his hotel room at night whenever Tha Row went out to promote the material that would later appear on Chronic 2000
Id be hiding out in my hotel too if I were Daz.. no way I'm promotin that trash album after the quality he had put out for years