News of June 23, 2009
Death Row Under New Ownership Plans Album with Unreleased Tupac Material
In January 2009, Death Row went to Canada's WIDEawake for 18 million dollars. In June, the new owners announced a Tupac album for 2010.
Following the bankruptcy of Death Row Records, the label changed hands in January 2009. For 18 million dollars, the Canadian WIDEawake Entertainment Group acquired the catalog, which according to AllHipHop included more than 10,000 released and unreleased songs, among them recordings by Tupac, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, and Nate Dogg.
Old Tapes Instead of New Music
In June 2009, the new owners revealed their plans. Instead of recording new music, they intended to exploit the archives: first, Dr. Dre’s The Chronic was to be released as The Chronic Re-Lit with unreleased bonus tracks and a DVD. For Tupac’s birthday in 2010, an album of unreleased Tupac music was planned. Worldwide administration of the rights was taken over by music publisher EverGreen.
In September, Death Row head Lara Lavi reaffirmed the plan. The Tupac release was reportedly part of the birthday celebration for Tupac and was also to include a DVD with unreleased video footage. But first came Snoop Dogg, with an album from his Death Row era.
Who actually owned the tapes with Tupac’s music was disputed: as early as 2007, Afeni Shakur had filed suit against the sale of unreleased songs from the bankruptcy estate.