Customer Reviews

Death Row: G.H.

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The logistics of having legendary, multi-platinum artists like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tupac and other veteran West Coast acts under the same roof nowadays is mind numbing. Before money, egos, and beefs got in the way, all these MCs called Death Row Records home. From 1992 to 1996, Suge Knight's label was the most consistent selling label in rap- all their releases went at least platinum until 1996's Christmas on Death Row. To celebrate the success of those glory years, we have Death Row Greatest Hits, a 2-CD package of classic West Coast anthems.

The first disc is by far the stronger of the two, as it includes tracks from the classic releases The Chronic and Doggystyle. Songs like "Nuthin But A G Thang," "Gin and Juice" and "Ain't No Fun" are obvious choices for inclusion. However, there are some strange surprises, like Ice Cube's "No Vaseline," a classic battle track despite the fact that Cube was never on Death Row. Although Tupac was signed to Tha Row in 1995, all of his appearances on Disc 1 come from his early career. With the vast catalog Suge Knight had to choose from, its bizarre that he decided to acquire the rights to these songs for this release. Still, the album is no worse for that fact. Despite leaning a bit too heavily on The Chronic and Doggystyle, Disc 1 comes correct with "Afro Puffs," the Lady of Rage's moment of glory. For anyone who forgot, Rage has skills and flavor to spare on the Dr. Dre-produced track:

Instead of cointinuing Death Row's legacy chronologically on Disc 2, Suge opts instead to pack it with remixes of songs on Disc 1. All "Gin and Juice (Remix)" and "Lil Ghetto Boy (Remix)" do is remind the listener of the original's superiority. The remix to Tupac's "I Get Around" is horrible, laced with saxophone straight from adult contemporary radio. The few R&B songs that Death Row ever did are represented in the form of Jodeci's "Come Up to My Room" and Danny Boy's "Come When I Call." Disc 2 is a mixed bag in the end: the weak Dr. Dre-diss "Who Been There, Who Done That" (performed by J-Flex) is balanced by "Hit Em Up." The disc also gives Dat Nigga Daz a chance to shine producing the hard funk of "Me In Your World" and the breezy, DJ Quik-esque "Let Me Ride (Remix)."

While Death Row Greatest Hits has no shortage of classic songs, when you consider the label's track record and huge catalog of hits, this package is slightly underwhelming. Where is "Regulate," "Dollaz and Sense" and "California Love"? Tupac's All Eyez on Me became the label's biggest hit ever, but it is completely absent here. But considering Death Row's refusal to progress into the future (where is Crooked I, by the way?), Greatest Hits is steeply rooted in its glorious past.

If you want some of the Greatest West Coast rap songs ever to hit the airwaves...then you need look no further. This double-cd collection hosts three premier rap artists ( Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, 2Pac Shakur) that have influenced the entire rap industry in the last 5 years. All starting with Dr. Dre and "Nuttin but a G thang" the hit song that created a paradigm shift in Hip-Hop. Introducing Snoop Dogg and the whole Dogg Pound posse to the world of Rap, this album chronicles their hits that made this label the tops in the rap game. Featuring songs by the immortal rap legend Tupac Shakur, it is truly an album for lovers of rap music and Tupac fans. If you R stilldown then this is an album you should definitely pick up if you haven't already.

I'd like to start off by saying I don't understand why some reviewers said that this album has all the classics and that none are left out. Excuse me??? What about some of the Tupac songs? The only Death Row Tupac song on here is Hit 'Em Up. I have no idea why Keep Ya Head Up, Dear Mama, Me Against the World, I Get Around, and Pour Out a Little Liquor are on here. What about California Love with Dr. Dre?? That's one of Death Row's most classic songs. Also they should have included 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted with Snoop, as well has Hail Mary. I don't understand why they didn't add any tracks from All Eyez On Me or The 7 Day Theory. Those were HUGE albums. They should have left out some of those older Tupac songs, not because they're bad (they're all great), but because they aren't Death Row Songs. What idiot decided to add those and leave out the CLASSIC California Love? Whatever, besides that, they should have added the original songs Dre Day and Let Me Ride. They're much better than the remixes. I thought this was a GREATEST HITS cd. There's no reason to have filler tracks on a cd called GREATEST HITS. CD 2 should have been called GREATEST FILLERS, with some exceptions. Ok, that aside, it's a great album. It has a lot of classics and it's nice to hear them together. I could have created a better selection though. This would have been my choice... Dr. Dre: Dre Day, Let Me Ride, Nuthin' But a G Thang, Deep Cover (from the movie), Natural Born Killaz; Snoop Dogg: Gin and Juice, Who Am I?, Lodi Dodi, Murder was the Case (remix), Doggfather (why wasn't this classic on?); Tupac: California Love, 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted, All Eyez On Me, Ambitionz az a Ridah, Hail Mary, Hit Em Up, How Do U Want It...These are pretty good selections. There are other nice tracks too. I just don't understand why they left out Tupac's Death Row songs. They should create another Greatest Hits album, and leave out all the fillers and remixes and just release all the best songs of the artists from their Death Row Period. This album is a very nice collection though. All the songs are great for the most part. I recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys that old west coast gangsta era.

If you like Death Row and their songs, then you'll like this cd. It's pretty much just all of their awesome songs on 2 discs. Could just make your own greatest hits cd but they do it for ya.

this is one timeless cd, u can listen to it day in, day out, u will NEVER get sick of it, first disk is by far better than the second one, but its still fantastic!

DEATHROW WAS THE THANG FOR A MINUTE UNTIL PAC DIED AND SUGE WAS INCARCERRATED ANYWAY THESE MUGS RULED THE WEST COAST RAP SCENE AND DR. DRE WAS A GENIUS FOR CREATING THE G FUNK SOUND AND INTRODUCING THE WORLD TO ACTS LIKE SNOOP DOGG, NATE DOGG, RBX, DAZ, KURUPT, WARRENG, JEWELL, AND THE LADY OF RAGE.

MUCH SUCESS TO YA'LL ALL OF YOU PUT IN MUCH WORK AND THE DEATHROW LEGACY IS FAR FROM FORGOTTEN.

An awesome complation with classic tracks like 'Gin & Juice',
'Nuthin but a G thang' and 'Ain't no fun' bumping all the way.
The first CD is da bomb but the second should not have been
on there.I think of the remixes and unreleased tracks as a way of
hogging up space.
Still, a great 2CD!

all the west coast ridas on one cd. cop this now

This is a good album to chill to because you have something for everyone. It has remixes of Snoop's big hits, which can be a little annoying, but THIS DISC IS WORTH IT just for "Hit Em Up," one of the hardest songs Tupac ever made. You'll give it up for the women in Lady of Rage's "Afro Puffs," while Ice Cube bangs in "No Vaseline." With Nate Dogg, Kurupt, Dre, etc, this disc can't be bad, but you may already know most of the songs. (A few slow tracks can help you get your groove on...)

this is seriously the best cd that i have ever bought i just bought it today and i have been listening to it straight all day this cd has all the best death row songs on it. DEATH ROW FOREVER!