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Welcome to Death Row

Welcome to Death Row

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $19.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I watched it TWO DAYS straight!!!
Review: When I first saw this I was like "D@#$" at the end! I'm a big Tupac fan and when I heard all this stuff and saw all these events it had me really thinking... and that is actually what this documentary gives you.. something to think about. Everything from the NWA break up to the dreaded night of the greatest rapper of all-time (2Pac) getting shot. And the man who is tied up to all of this is Suge Knight. I love this film but there are certain thing's I don't agree on, and that's not letting Suge tell his side, it seems like the makers and producers where making Suge look like a bad bad guy, but sometimes I wonder if they made him look bad or he's made himself look that way, but this is a very nice film, my blood rushes when I hear 2Pac giving that interview at the MTV music awards dissing Nas, and Bad Boy!!! A+++++, BRAVO!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: "The mainstreaming of deviance must come to an end"-Bob Dole
Review: "Welcome to Death Row" is the story--or at least one of the stories--behind the most notorious label in the music business--Death Row Records. The tale of Death Row Records involves millions of dollars, secret deals, corruption, and murder, so it's highly possible that the entire story behind Death Row Records will never be known.

Death Row Records was formed in 1992 by rapper Dr Dre and Suge Knight, a former bodyguard. The film argues that there was a third, silent partner, Michael Harris--known as Harry O--a former cocaine dealer who wanted to place some of his money into other enterprises. Mr. Harris was serving a 28-year sentence when he financed Death Row Records with 1.5 million. David Kenner, the criminal attorney for Harris also acted as a lawyer for Knight, and according to the film, he hooked up the two would-be entrepreneurs--Knight and Harris--and helped broker the deal.

Harris, who never appears, is heard in voice over comments throughout the film. Viewers should be aware that Lydia Harris, Michael's wife acted as co-executive producer for the film, and litigation between Harris and Knight is a matter of record. It's an incredible tale. Regardless of how Death Row Records was founded (with or without drug money), the company made millions. Death Row had the top names--including Dr Dre, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, but the situation at the record company disintegrated within a few short years. There are interviews with many artists who left the label, employees of the company, journalists, and other record company executives. Suge Knight even gives his version of events, and a fair sized portion of the film deals with the murder of Tupac Shakur (which remains unsolved at this time). Another intriguing section covers the role of C. Dolores Tucker, an activist who campaigned for censorship against the label. For anyone curious about the story behind the headlines, this film is recommended. There are several extras with this film--including additional info from Michael Harris, and scenes from the Death Row launch party in 1992, but most of these features are really quite lacklustre and anticlimactic--displacedhuman

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Tells the Untold story on Death Row
Review: Alot of candid interivews on Death Row's orgins. Documentary moves very fast. Compelling chapters. Much better then the poorly produced/interviews on Tupac: Thug Immortal.

This DVD goes into more detail about the behind the scenes of death row then the VH1 Behind the Music Specials on Dr Dre and Snoop.

Unfortuanely, Dre-Snoop-Outlaws did not contribute to the making of this DVD (scared?), so it falls a bit flat in comparison to the BTM specials.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Stranded on Death Row
Review: Although not being the big rap fan I once was in high school, I have always been fascinated by Death Row Records and all of the controversy that surrounded the notorious record label since day one. "Welcome to Death Row" is a thought-provoking documentary that tells the story of how a dangerous and popular record label changed the music industry, and how it all came falling apart. The documentary is filmed with new interviews with Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and other former Death Row artists, as well as interviews with big names in both the music and media industry. They tell their side of the story and reveal just what exactly went on while working for Death Row.

I found this documentary to be extremely fascinating and well-done. It seems to stick with the facts for the most part, instead of reverting to a bunch of conspiracy theories. There's enough respected people who appeared on the film, which makes it easier to believe. While it answers some questions, it doesn't answer all of them. We still to this day do not know who shot Tupac and for what reason. And although it reveals most of what went on at Death Row, I am sure there are more untold stories that have yet to see the light of day.

The DVD is really impressive for a documentary. It's shot in widescreen, which is something I wasn't expecting. The picture and sound quality is really good. The extra features are also very impressive and make their presence felt. Some of the features are extensive interview outtakes, commentary from the filmmaker, the trailer, and more.

"Welcome to Death Row" is an intriguing and interesting documentary. Filled with things we had known all along and things we never knew, this is a documentary worth watching over and over again. You don't even have to be a big rap fan to enjoy it. If you know enough about the record label's history and you are a music fan, I think you'll really find this all interesting. Very well worth the money and very well worth the time.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Stranded on Death Row
Review: Although not being the big rap fan I once was in high school, I have always been fascinated by Death Row Records and all of the controversy that surrounded the notorious record label since day one. "Welcome to Death Row" is a thought-provoking documentary that tells the story of how a dangerous and popular record label changed the music industry, and how it all came falling apart. The documentary is filmed with new interviews with Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and other former Death Row artists, as well as interviews with big names in both the music and media industry. They tell their side of the story and reveal just what exactly went on while working for Death Row.

I found this documentary to be extremely fascinating and well-done. It seems to stick with the facts for the most part, instead of reverting to a bunch of conspiracy theories. There's enough respected people who appeared on the film, which makes it easier to believe. While it answers some questions, it doesn't answer all of them. We still to this day do not know who shot Tupac and for what reason. And although it reveals most of what went on at Death Row, I am sure there are more untold stories that have yet to see the light of day.

The DVD is really impressive for a documentary. It's shot in widescreen, which is something I wasn't expecting. The picture and sound quality is really good. The extra features are also very impressive and make their presence felt. Some of the features are extensive interview outtakes, commentary from the filmmaker, the trailer, and more.

"Welcome to Death Row" is an intriguing and interesting documentary. Filled with things we had known all along and things we never knew, this is a documentary worth watching over and over again. You don't even have to be a big rap fan to enjoy it. If you know enough about the record label's history and you are a music fan, I think you'll really find this all interesting. Very well worth the money and very well worth the time.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Death Row is Dr. Dre, Snoop, Daz, Kurupt, Makaveli & Outlawz
Review: Every damn Death Row documentary focuses on the same sh_t. Come on, tell me about the early days and how DPG came to be. Tell me how Daz met Kurupt, and how Dre signed all of them. There was only 10 basic members to the first Death Row family. And here they go again focusing on Suge (boring story heard a million times) and Dre leaving. No talk about DPG & Outlawz??? Barely anything interesting on Makaveli & Snoop*. Same East vs. West sh_t we been hearin'. Tell me about how Makaveli created these masterpieces, not what he thought of Biggie. I know that sh_t, its old. Snoop* - there was a side interview in the special features that had Snoop talking about Daz, D.O.C., Above The Law. Stuff I never knew, but it wasn't even in the main feature. That is the reason why I gave it 3 stars. Rent, don't buy it. Go buy some DPG albums instead.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Nice Documentary
Review: For anybody who used to be a Deathrow fan, you will like this. This video is basically behind the scenes at deathrow. It has interviews with a number of people affiliated with DeathRow Records. Its really full of intresting facts that have never been told, from how the record label came about and how it went down. It also has some footage of Tupac, and footage of the East Coast and West Coast feud. You wont regret gettin this.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A highly impressed reviewer....
Review: 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...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The is the real story you gotta hear
Review: I actually seen "Welcome to Death Row" 'bout I don't know 6, 7, or some times on Starz which I have on Comcast (I know ya'll don't have cable like I do) This is one of the documentaries that changed how I feel about hip-hop and how its changing right now. I think of the matter of it is is we always have to watch ourselves when we say things to people that are not right or will not changed around the nation. People need to understand there is so much going on around this world who are sacrificing to live a free life. That's why the 2 rappers of today Tupac and Biggie have changed their history of becoming most hip-hop's biggest stars. Now they're not here, they definitely live on in our hearts. This story tells it all from the day NWA came out, how Snoop Dogg got in trouble of a murder he commit in '93 but was soon acquitted of the charge in '96, how Tupac became the biggest rap star in town to help create a masterpiece like "All Eyez On Me" and so and on, when he a success in the rap business, the beef going on with him and Biggie at the SOURCE Awards due to the East Coast/West Coast rap feud, etc.

I highly recommend this to those who like Tupac, who loves hip-hop more than I do, who are not big fans to the rap genre and/or never even heard a rap genre like this before. 'Cause it'll change your life literally.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: don't buy it
Review: i felt like this dvd was thrown together purely to... row fans(or in my case 2Pac fans) into buying it. i've actually seen many of the interviews from VH1 behind the music. It also... me off that they said 2Pac was just in the rap game for money, i think they oversimplified him, and obviously didn't do any research on his personality. Personally i thought the real kicker was when this one guy kept referring to him as "2Pack." Basically you'd be a lot better off watching VH1's "behind the music"--its a lot less expensive.


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