Product Details

• Actors: Frank Alexander, Sam Gideon Anson, William J. Bennett, Lamont Blumfield, John 'B.J.' Bryant
• Directors: Jeff Scheftel, S. Leigh Savidge
• Writers: Jeff Scheftel
• Producers: Jeff Scheftel, Allen Gordon, Eric Jerstad, Ian T. Haufrect, Lydia Harris
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Xenon
• VHS Release Date: September 25, 2001
• Run Time: 104 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005NBDK
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #388,381 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A highly impressed reviewer...., November 3, 2001

By 

Knyte "To The Stars" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Welcome to Death Row (DVD)

For me, this film raised a lot of interesting questions -- like for one, in the wake of the damaging press on Death Row's alleged "drug money" funding, why hadn't Interscope heads Jimmy Iovine or Ted Fields ever been questioned? When Death Row received all the bad press during the East Coast/West Coast feud, or when stories of Death Row's alleged brutality in their studios came to light, how and why did Jimmy Iovine and Ted Fields come away unscathed, with not so much as one speculative article? These two guys literally owe their fortunes (about $400 million from Death Row) to Suge Knight and the rest of Death Row records, who only saw about half as much. Interscope Records was going out of business -- the Chronic album saved it...

I have never witnessed interviews as candid and intriguing as these, and from such a wide variety of (as far as I can tell) credible sources. For me, the value of this documentary isn't so much in the slandering of anyone's name. Rather, "Welcome To Death Row" provides extremely valuable lessons on the pitfalls of show BUSINESS, because it is a business (Jerry Heller, David Kenner, Ted Fields, and Jimmy Iovine never forgot that!). Snoop Dogg has over 10 minutes of an interview where he discusses his very beginnings. We get to hear from a man named Michael Harris, and I'll leave that at that. Folks at S.O.L.A.R. records, (where Babyface got his start), early Nate Dogg, D.O.C., Death Row's launch party, it's all here. My man Kevin Powell (the only journalist to ever really get close to the late Tupac Shakur) also adds some great insights. Right now you are reading the words of a highly impressed reviewer.

Your viewing experience of this film will not be complete without the DVD extras. If you don't have a DVD player, buy a DVD player; Snoop's solo interview (DVD only) is by far one of the best segments on here. Also look out for clips of the Death Row launch party in Beverly Hills, and outtakes (featuring great footage) of the various sources interviewed. I cannot say enough about this film. "Welcome To Death Row" is not a music video -- it wasn't made to "entertain" anyone. If you're serious about the URBAN music industry, then this is required viewing...

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome to Death Row, October 4, 2002

By 

SID "Punk" (BOSTON) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Welcome to Death Row (DVD)

This documentary surprised me. At first I saw it because I am a rap fan especially of the old Death Row. I was blown away by the style and production of this movie. Two huge things make this documentary worth wild. First off the film is completely impartial. You just get the facts and opinions of those directly involved and few from those outside. The other factor is that other people who aren't rap fans will find this interesting. After my viewing I showed this to many friends and all were deeply interested despite any real interest in rap music. Great topic because of it's controversy and it's impact over the nation. If you give it an honest shot you'll find it interesting and very well done.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The WHOLE story..., October 1, 2001

By 

D. Johnson "oasisgnr" (Rockford, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Welcome to Death Row (DVD)

This video is worth getting if you're a fan of the old Death Row. There is so much information and details about the rise and the fall of Death Row. It was interesting to see how Suge Knight went from being a regular bodyguard to being one of the music's worlds must notable names. The DVD traces Suge's history from being Bobby Brown's bodyguard to the infamous Vanilla Ice scandal. Not a single detail is missed on this DVD. There are also additional features aside from the Documentary, including an indepth Snoop Dogg interview. If you are interested in the deep history of Death Row, buy this DVD. If you're not a huge old school Death Row fan, it may be a little dull.