They did not belong to Thug Life and were not part of the Outlawz: when Tupac was working on All Eyez on Me in the winter of 1995/96, Tha Dogg Pound were his most important labelmates. The two Los Angeles rappers and producers, Kurupt (Ricardo Brown) and Daz Dillinger (Delmar Arnaud), had already signed with Death Row in 1992 as some of the label’s earliest artists. They were not a permanent part of Tupac’s personal circle, but they decisively shaped the sound of his final months.
Dr. Dre’s Advice Brings Number 1 for “Dogg Food”
Dr. Dre reportedly recommended that the two perform as a group after the recording sessions for The Chronic (Wikipedia). Their debut album Dogg Food was released on October 31, 1995, just under three weeks after Suge Knight had gotten Tupac out of prison. According to Wikipedia, it debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and later achieved double platinum status. The lead single Let’s Play House made it into the top 50 of the Hot 100.
Daz Dillinger Shapes the Sound of “All Eyez on Me”
On Tupac’s double album, Daz Dillinger was one of the producers who shaped the sound. How many tracks he actually contributed differs depending on the source. Wikipedia lists three hits produced by him, including 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted. In his 2026 lawsuit, however, Daz speaks of five songs that he co-wrote and produced: Ambitionz az a Ridah, Skandalouz, Got My Mind Made Up, 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted, and I Ain’t Mad at Cha (Billboard).
Kurupt raps on Got My Mind Made Up together with Daz, Method Man, and Redman (Method Man). Dr. Dre was withdrawing from the studio during this time and left Death Row in March 1996 (Dr. Dre).
Shots in Brooklyn and No Target on “Hit ‘Em Up”
In December 1995, Tha Dogg Pound and Snoop Dogg shot the video for New York, New York in Brooklyn. On the East Coast, the song was seen as a provocation. According to reports, shots were fired at the set; the shooter was never identified. The song fit into the feud between Death Row and Bad Boy Records that escalated in 1996 (East vs. West). When Tupac attacked Bad Boy, The Notorious B.I.G., and their circle with Hit ‘Em Up in June 1996, Tha Dogg Pound were not a target: they were on Tupac’s side.
A story from a 2003 interview with Daz has circulated: Tupac allegedly went after an intoxicated Kurupt in Cancún after he had knocked over a bottle in the studio. That is the account of one participant years later; Kurupt has made no documented comment on it.
Label Collapse, Name Dispute, and Return to Snoop Dogg
Following Tupac’s death in September 1996 and Suge Knight’s prison sentence in 1997, the label fell apart. Kurupt left Death Row in January 1998, Daz in December 1998. Because Death Row claimed the rights to the group name, they performed for a time as D.P.G., including on the album Dillinger & Young Gotti (2001). Daz sued Death Row and Knight in August 2001 for more than $1 million in royalties; how the proceedings ended could not be determined.
In late 2002, Kurupt surprisingly returned to Death Row in an executive role, leading to a feud with Daz and Snoop Dogg’s camp. In April 2005, the two made peace and released Dillinger & Young Gotti II; Cali Iz Active followed in 2006 with Snoop Dogg as executive producer. On May 31, 2024, the album W.A.W.G. (We All We Got) was released on Death Row-the label that has belonged to Snoop Dogg since 2022 (Death Row Records).
Royalty Lawsuit: Daz v. Amaru in 2026
The courtroom aftermath also links the group to Tupac. On May 8, 2026, Daz Dillinger sued Amaru Entertainment for royalties on more than a dozen Tupac songs. Amaru denies this and accuses him of selling archival material (HotNewHipHop, August 2026). According to the sources reviewed, Kurupt is not involved in the proceedings. The allegations have not been decided.