Death Row Greatest Hits Explained

Death Row Greatest Hits
Type:	greatest
Artist:	various artists
Cover:	Death Row Greatest Hits.jpg
Released:	November 26, 1996
Recorded:	1992–1996
Prev Title:	Murder Was the Case
Prev Year:	1994
Next Title:	Christmas on Death Row
Next Year:	1996

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.^[1] The album peaked at number 35 on the Billboard 200^[2] and was certified platinum on August 12, 1999.^[3]

Background

2Pac's inclusion

To counter cannibalising sales of other 1996 Death Row releases, no songs from 2Pac's All Eyez on Me and The 7 Day Theory and Snoop Dogg's Tha Doggfather were included on the compilation.^[4] From the seven tracks on the compilation that feature 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.^[5] Four of the other five tracks were songs previously released under Interscope Records before his signing to Death Row. The other track, "Pour Out a Little Liquor", was recorded before 2Pac's time at Death Row, however, it was originally released on the 1994 Death Row soundtrack, Above the Rim.^{[6] [7]} The four songs not affiliated with Death Row were able to be included on the album because Interscope, at that time, was the parent company and distributor of Death Row Records. In 2003, tracks from the other 1996 Death Row albums were featured on the compilation's follow-up, Death Row Greatest Hits, Volume 2.^[8]

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 1995 single and original album release.^{[9] [10]}

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

• "Let Me Ride (RMX)", a remix produced and featuring a verse by Daz Dillinger, not included in the original song.^[11]
• "Daydreaming", a new song by Michel'le and cover of the 1972 Aretha Franklin song, "Day Dreaming".^[12]
• "I Get Around (RMX)", a remix featuring a chilled jazz beat and an extra verse by 2Pac.^[13]
• "Hit 'Em Up", a non-album 2Pac track that could previously only be found on the B-side of "How Do U Want It".^[14]
• "Who Been There, Who Done That?", a new song by J-Flexx and parody of the Dr. Dre song "Been There, Done That".
• "Me in Your World", a new song by Tha Dogg Pound. This song was later remixed and included on the 2012 Dogg Pound compilation, Doggy Bag.^[15]
• "Smile For Me Now", a new song by 2Pac and Scarface which was released as a single in remix form three months later, retitled, "Smile".^{[16] [17]}

Diss tracks aimed at Dr. Dre

Following suit with 2Pac's The 7 Day Theory,^[18] 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 because Priority Records, the song's distributor, and Interscope Records, the album's distributor, are both divisions of Universal Music Group.^{[19] [20] [21]}
• "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.^[22] The diss track, which takes shots at Dr. Dre for allegedly stealing songwriting and production credits and taking all of the royalties,^[23] was made into a music video and released as a single .^{[24] [25]}

It is heavily rumoured that Suge Knight is responsible for casting the inklings of animosity towards Dr. Dre on the album, as he, CEO of Death Row Records and known instigator, served as executive producer on the album.

Artwork

The album's cover and insert artwork was designed by California based artist, Ronald "Riskie" Brent, a recurrent Death Row collaborator. Brent was also commissioned to create 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.^[26]

Track listing

Sample credits^[27]

• Track 1 contains samples from "I Want'a Do Something Freaky to You" as recorded by Leon Haywood and interpolations from "Uphill Peace of Mind" written by Frederick Knight
• Track 2 contains samples from "I Get Lifted" as recorded by George McCrae and interpolations from "Watching You" written by Slave
• Track 3 contains samples from "Love That Will Not Die" as recorded by Johnny "Guitar" Watson
• Track 5 contains interpolations from "Atomic Dog" written by George Clinton, Garry Shider & David Spradley
• Track 6 contains interpolations from "Funk You Up" written by The Sequence and Sylvia Robinson
• Track 7 contains samples from "Dazz" as recorded by Brick
• Track 8 contains interpolations from "If It Ain't One Thing, It's Another" written by Richard "Dimples" Fields
• Track 9 contains samples from "Be Alright" as recorded by Roger Troutman and interpolations from "O-o-h Child" written by Stan Vincent
• Track 11 contains samples from "Little Getto Boy" as recorded by Donny Hathaway
• Track 13 contains interpolations from "La Di Da Di" written by Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh and "Sukiyaki" written by Rokusuke Ei & Hachidai Nakamura
• Track 14 contains samples from "If It Don't Turn You On" as recorded by B. T. Express and "Do Your Thang" as recorded by Isaac Hayes
• Track 16 contains samples from "In My Wildest Dreams" as recorded by Joe Sample and interpolations from "Sadie" written by Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes & Charles Simmons
• Track 17 contains samples from "Inside My Love" as recorded by Minnie Riperton and "Walk on By" as recorded by Isaac Hayes
• Track 23 contains samples from "Computer Love" as recorded by Zapp
• Track 25 contains interpolations from "Don't Look Any Further" written by Franne Golde, Dennis Lambert & Duane Hitchings
• Track 26 contains samples from "Forget Me Nots" as recorded by Patrice Rushen
• Track 28 contains samples from "Cry Together" as recorded by The O'Jays
• Track 31 contains samples from "Let Me Love You" as recorded by Ray Parker Jr.

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 illustration
• T.J. Johnson – inlay illustration
• Edge Films – photography
• Ken Nahoum – photography
• Suge Knight – liner notes
• Roy Tesfay – project coordination
• Norris Anderson – project supervision

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1997)	Position
US Billboard 200^[28]	116
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[29]	65

Notes and References

1. Web site: Album release and track listing. .
2. Billboard peak. .
3. Web site: American album certifications – Various – Death Row's Greatest Hits. .
4. Billboard chart from the week of album's release, featuring the named 1996 Death Row albums. .
5. Web site: 2Pac non-album tracks. 5 December 2016 .
6. Web site: 2Pac/Above the Rim. . 22 May 2021 .
7. Web site: 2Pac discography. .
8. Web site: Death Row Greatest Hits, Volume 2. .
9. Web site: Dear Mama, original mix (1995). . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/S0Zc8ofInSQ . 2021-12-15 . live.
10. Web site: Dear Mama, Death Row Greatest Hits Mix (1996). . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/BC0u_wPv67M . 2021-12-15 . live.
11. Web site: Let Me Ride (RMX) info and lyrics.
12. Web site: Michel'le discography. .
13. Web site: I Get Around (RMX) found on the songs single release and Death Row Greatest Hits. . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/Hx4qsT4NOsE . 2021-12-15 . live.
14. Web site: How Do U Want It single release. .
15. Web site: Tha Dogg Pound discography. .
16. Web site: Erlewine. Stephen Thomas. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Death Row Greatest Hits - Various Artists Songs, Reviews, Credits AllMusic. March 11, 2021. AllMusic. en.
17. Web site: Scarface's "Smile" info. .
18. Web site: The 7 Day Theory album review. 5 November 2018 .
19. Web site: No Vaseline: Info and lyrics.
20. Web site: Priority Records and UMG.
21. Web site: List of UMG labels.
22. Entertainment Weekly review. .
23. Web site: Who Been There, Who Done That?: Lyrics and info.
24. Web site: J-Flexx discography.
25. Web site: J-Flexx on ghostwriting for Dr. Dre. . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/xGFegIutbt4 . 2021-12-15 . live.
26. Web site: About Ronald "Riskie" Brent.
27. Death Row Greatest Hits. Knight. Suge. Liner notes. en. Death Row Records. 1996. Suge Knight. USA. 0 4992-50677-2 9.
28. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1997. Billboard. May 5, 2021.
29. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1997. Billboard. May 5, 2021.