WEST COAST REUNION: SNOOP ACQUIRES DEATH ROW

Hip-hop legend and West Coast ambassador Snoop Dogg has acquired Death Row Records, the label that released his landmark debut album, Doggystyle ("Death Row is the label that pays me").

The news was announced mere days before Snoop is scheduled to take the stage alongside Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem and Mary J. Blige for the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show at Inglewood's new SoFi Stadium.

Snoop acquired Death Row from MNRK Music Group, controlled by private-equity funds managed by Blackstone. In a press release, he stated: “I'm thrilled and appreciative of the opportunity to acquire the iconic and culturally significant Death Row Records brand, which has immense untapped future value. It feels good to have ownership of the label I was part of at the beginning of my career and as one of the founding members. This is an extremely meaningful moment for me. I would like to personally thank the teams at Blackstone, MNRK and especially David Kestnbaum, who worked collaboratively with me over several months to make this exciting homecoming a reality. I’m looking forward to building the next chapter of Death Row Records.”

Founded by Dre, Suge Knight, Dick Griffey and The D.O.C., the label was launched with a roster that included West Coast giants Snoop, Dre, 2Pac, Warren G and Nate Dogg. Death Row released Dre's The Chronic and 2Pac's All Eyez on Me, both stone classics, now properties of Interscope Geffen A&M.

Wow, we're suddenly in the mood for rollin' down the street smokin' indo, sippin' on gin and juice.