News of November 19, 2001
Suge Knight Speaks to 700 Students at the University of Southern California
In November 2001, Suge Knight spoke at USC in Los Angeles on business and leadership. When he spoke of Death Row and Tupac, there was applause.
Three months after his release from prison, Suge Knight stood before students. As AllHipHop reported on November 19, 2001, the head of Death Row spoke the previous week in the Bovard Auditorium of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Around 700 listeners attended, and standing on stage with him were six artists from his new label, Tha Row.
Cigar and Advice
Two student groups had invited him, with the topic being business and leadership. Knight smoked a cigar on stage. The most important thing a student could do was to “start his own company”. He handed out his phone numbers and offered work at his label to those who were seriously interested. Contacts were everything, as today’s roommate could be tomorrow’s mayor.
Applause and Protest
Not everyone felt addressed. With derogatory remarks about women, Knight angered part of the audience, and several female students walked out of the hall. When he spoke, on the other hand, about the beginnings of Death Row, the notorious incident with Vanilla Ice and his relationship with Tupac, the room reacted with laughter and applause (more on Knight’s return).