Dr. Dre Sues Death Row Over 'Chronic' Rights

Tuesday, August 21, 2007
By: Kenny Rodriguez

Dr. Dre

West Coast producer Dr. Dre has sued his former label, the now-bankrupt Death Row Records, over the rights to his 1992 classic album, “The Chronic.”

In a filing last week with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Los Angeles, Dr. Dre said he believes Death Row is trying to sell off the copyright to the album, and alleges that the label has solicited bids from potential buyers in the past month.

Dre, born Andre Young, says he initially granted Death Row a license for the distribution of the album in 1992 in exchange for royalty payments.

In 1996, Dre agreed to relinquish his 50 percent ownership of Death Row, and under a written agreement also handed over full rights to “The Chronic” on the condition he would continue to receive royalties.

According to the lawsuit, Death Row never paid any further royalties, and in 2000 Dre rescinded the agreement and demanded the return of the copyrights.

Dr. Dre now asserts that he is the rightful owner of “The Chronic,” and that Death Row has infringed on his rights by continuing to distribute the album without his permission.

The 1992 album “The Chronic” was a monumental release for the superstar producer, not only for popularizing West Coast hip-hop and the G-Funk sound, but also for its debut of legendary rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg.

(29) Comments | Post a comment »

......dra is late with this law suit, probably because he was afraid of suge..... Just like e-z- e was.......

Posted by evenwhenilie

Nah homey, dre ain't shook... Dre's about his paper. Think about it... When was the last time he dropped an album... Dude's still eating like he dropped the chronic last week or something! sometimes you have to take what rightfully yourz. No matter how long it takez. That album was all dre! but on some real sh*t, you need to peep that death row dvd. Once you see that it will open your eyez on what really went down back in da dayz when cali was puttin hiphop on it's back! sh*t iz cr8zy deep! anyone who has seen it will tell you it goes way beyond what you know up to this point. Check it out and let me know....

Posted by $hort Notice

Death row are only trying to hold on to there most valuble assets . Every company does but it does not help when you are selling albums to make money of off dead people. Rip pac .

Posted by blackey chan

^^^^ so true regarding the above statement

Posted by Hotjoint

There was somebody (the guy who used to run the source i think) said that suge knight was trying to sign biggie back in the day. But nothing ever happened. Whether that's a rumor or not, that wouldve been crazy - big & pac on the same label!

Posted by biggie

All these leeches like dre need to just bow out the game and let real mc's and producers do they thing..dre u aint important no more,the game done passed u by,now we got real nikkas doin it so sit back and enjoy lil whyte album u scrub

Posted by bankhead423

Bankhead423 you alwayz talk with ur butt hole red from getting bankheaded.you make tha south look bad!go to ur room & play wit ur g-spot ...u Bia'ch azz" lil whyte "butt lover.

Posted by TRUTH HURTS

Don't you people reailize that when you own the right of an album, you get cake from every album that ever sells. Even though money isnt the issue, its just a pride things. Its his album, well, kinda (ghostwriters and all, so he derserved to own the rights to it.

Posted by boredasdirt

I forgive u truthhurts..it's probably been a while since u got laid so i'll let it go

Posted by bankhead423

Bankhead you a Bia'ch get off lil whytes nuts hahaha... Los angeles all day 323

Posted by southercali

Death row also have loads off unreleased tupac records why dont they make another one off tupac's albums sponge off the dead common ur death row

Posted by cripz

Dre. Is the best man in music history dre> 4 pres!!!!! ssssssssooooooooo ulgy!!!!!!!!! ya dig!!!!!!

Posted by so ugly

Maybe dre should buy back the rights from deathrow, that means that deathrow has more money to pay their creditors, and dre has his classic album back.

Posted by Mora

Lil whyte album comin soon and all we could talk about trash like dre and southercali momma..damn what the F*ck is this world comin too hahahahaha!!!

Posted by bankhead423

About muthaf*ckin tym

Posted by hated element

Bankhead get off that mans d*#k.......

Posted by grams of white ladie

Yall kiddo's need to show some damn respect, you would probally be listening to some queer techno if it werent for pioneers like dre. Grow up already these message boards are ran by a bunch of little retardz

Posted by Da Doctor

Doctor go take care of that herpes problem u got..."pioneers like dre"?!?! haha u must be on some heavy meds if u think that bum dre is a pioneer hahaha...lil whyte album comin soon go cop it or die!!!!!!

Posted by bankhead423

Bankhead432 dump!!! where do you cum up with this stuff from? dude you a strange cat!!!!! soooooooooooooo ugly!!!

Posted by so ugly

Bankhead432 dump!!! where do you cum up with this stuff from? dude you a strange cat!!!!! soooooooooooooo ugly!!!

Posted by so ugly

Lil whyte gotta be the worst rapper in the game right now.................. This nigg@ bankhead has no heart and no brain...

Posted by grams of RAW!!

^^wait a minute..aint u the one that challenges people to breakdancing battles in the clubs at 3 in the afternoon?!?!?!

Posted by bankhead423

So dre's bank stank. Big surprise. Got greedy and took the cashout back in the day, and now he's whinin' like a lil Bia'ch. Tough sh*t. That's what happens when u sell out. Welcome to the music biz', dre. Come up with some fresh material and stfu. U got gamed. If ya still got game ya might recoup a little, but this lawsuit's goin' nowhere. Take the $400/hr ur lawyer's gettin' and use it to produce. An all u young bucks better take heed. Don't blow ya flow and don't sign nothin' 'til u ponder the long term. The last thing the world needs is another broke, formerly hot rapper/producer.

Posted by CHH

^^do your homework nigg@...flight club is a sneaker store you f*kin idiot....man you got no heart..

Posted by grams of BUTTER!!

^^but i thought u was a rock steady crew b-boy who rocks pumas and kangol hats?!?!? how u go from a breakdancer to e-thug???

Posted by bankhead423

ok back then it was dre day, but now face the facts its not ur day anymore, lil bimboi is working on mix tapes so lil whyte go to bed and dre its over

Posted by lil truth teller bimboi

well lil bimboi soon going platinium for real thats the deal not dre

Posted by lil truth teller bimboi

Wtf ya'll mad a t dre for he just trying to get what he made. Suge was just the muscle behind death row yea and the ceo but any how sh*t i would want my sh*t back. And dre is about music"still takin my time to perfect a beat and still got love for that street" some deez artist now r just that artist they cant flow. Using the same line just to fill the sixteen bars. I.e. Mike jones, soljah boy and many more. West coast all day !!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by CASH RULEZ SQUAD

Word up hommies? i think we just should support dre in this bold descision cos i think he has strong reasons 4 his actions...........

Posted by Yallos