In a series of unreleased quotes from Suge Knight’s interview with Rolling Stone’s Paul Cantor, the former Death Row Records CEO spoke on Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar, the influence of West Coast rap, and more.
While speaking on the influence of West Coast rap, Knight went on to call out Kris Kross, Da Brat, 50 Cent, and the late Notorious B.I.G. According to Knight, all of the artists mentioned were heavily influenced by the sound coming out of the West Coast at that time.
The former Death Row Records head says he even let Diddy sample The Chronic for Biggie’s Ready To Die at no cost.
“The West Coast has been dry not because the talent hasn’t been there,” said Knight. “You’ve got to let these young guys be them. You got Problem, YG, Joe Moses… you got some real talented [guys]. What usually hurts these guys is that people steal their style and sound before they get famous. The Dogg Pound was coming out, then all of a sudden Kris Kross starting hanging with them and they started rapping like Daz and Kurupt. Da Brat started thinking she was Snoop. That’s how she got on. They’re mimicking the shit that already been done. And not knocking 50 [Cent], 50 came out and had an incredible album, but at the same time 50’s record is all West Coast. If you look at Biggie’s album, Biggie’s album is all West Coast. The first album. When they did the Biggie album, I helped them with that fucking record. I let Puff use every [The Chronic] sample on [Ready to Die], the hottest record of all time, and didn’t charge them. To show some love. Like here. It ain’t shit. We do this shit like we do. I don’t care if it’s a Down South record or East Coast record. If it’s successful, it’s a West Coast vibe.”
In addition to sharing his thoughts on the influence of West Coast rap on people from other regions, Knight also gave props to TDE wordsmith Kendrick Lamar. He referred to K-Dot as an “incredible artist” and said the rapper’s aggressiveness is instilled in him due to the neighborhood he grew up in.
“Kendrick is a dude that’s an incredible artist,” said Knight. “I’m not surprised because he’s from Compton. He grew up in Compton, that’s where he lived at, hung out at, and the guys he hangs with from his neighborhood, is p-folk. So there’s no way it wouldn’t rub off on him. There’s no way that his vision wouldn’t be aggressive or that he wouldn’t have the lyrics he has, if he didn’t grow up there. Kendrick know, anybody from Compton, that’s pretty much saying they’re a Death Row artist. That’s what they grew up to, that’s what they know, that was the people they’re involved with… they mimicked their stuff off of the blueprint I laid down. But Kendrick by far is one of them guys that they can’t fuck with. They can’t fuck with that boy lyrically and they better not sleep. Kendrick got a whole army behind him. He got real love out here.”
Suge Knight’s newly-released interview with Rolling Stone serves as his first official interview in nearly a decade. In the published interview, Knight shared the story of former Def Jam Records execs Russell Simmons and Lyor Cohen attempting to convince Snoop Dogg to sign with them in 1992.
“If you’re Russell Simmons and Lyor Cohen, you can’t say ‘[Snoop], you got the best deal in the world,’” he said. “You’re gonna say, ‘You got the worst fucked up deal in the world and I can make it better for you.’ And that’s what Russell and them did. Russell went to Snoop and flew him to New York and said, ‘I want to do a deal with you for Doggystyle.”
Yawn. Suge Knight still trying to hold onto relevance by talking about how hard he was in Death Row days. He’s nearly a 50 year old man who hasn’t done anything since 1996.
Relevant enough to get on Rolling Stone mag. You don’t call them they call you.
LOL like Rolling Stone has mattered in years
It sure matters more then DX which is a low level site you losers are posting on. FOH
Oh it matters did yall hear the fuss kicked up when Wayne got on the cover lol
Suge’s been a joke for years, especially since a barber half his size knocked his ass out.
Size don’t matter
I’m sure ya heard that before son
Fuck Suge Knight!!
upto I saw the draft which said $4945, I have faith …that…my cousin was truly erning money part time on their computer.. there best friend had bean doing this 4 less than 17 months and recently repayed the morgage on there mini mansion and purchased a great Jaguar XJ. browse around this website… http://www.Fb39.com
while 50 sk will more then likely get pushed back for the 63rd time.. gunits nomore its not 2004 in this bitch its a new day move on.. oh yea, and game stole 50’s basketball rim!!!!!!!!!!!
Black ass lotso huggin bear
Niggas from the West Coast always be thinkin they run shit…Don’t get me wrong, I love WC music, but “If it’s successful, it’s got a West Coast vibe.” Lmao, nigga you serious?
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New York sucks dick.
just like your mother punk!
i know many bitches in new york who sucka dick your point is… oh you havent got one you flaccid dick!
this nigga smoking west coast vibe fuck outta here ready to die was a new york sound
Everyday this clown breathes a word , it makes him look and sound like an undercover fruit. We get it, homie, you only have the past, good for you. Now what have you done lately? Oh, oh wait, getting knocked down, suing people for dumb shit? Get a job dude or dudette, McD’S still hiring.
name more than 2 songs on ready to die that has a west coast vibe foh
big poppa had some e40 slang. to say its a westcoast album its bullshit but it had some influeneces
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOoj3N5o8hY
666
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClF1RM7t0HM
Hey Suge sign me to a deal. Could really use the help big poppa!
Biggie’s album was all West Coast! What? This is the second day in a row that Suge has been featured on HHDX. What’s up?
The only song on Ready 2 Die that had a West Coast vibe was Going Back to Cali and Notorious Thugs
Stop confusing ‘Ready To Die’ for ‘Life After Death’ homie. ‘Ready To Die’ from top to bottom had west coast sound, back when it came in out ’94 heads couldn’t believe a Brooklyn cat as heralded as Biggie would put out an album full of west coast sound and not the traditional ‘boom-bap’ NY shit. All the mags from that era brought up this point i.e The Source, Word Up!, Vibe, Rap Masters and Right On! to name a few. So Suge is right on the money on that one…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVuiM3dmw3Y
http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/_yZ_mRxGpv0/default.jpg
http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/ii6YkwsTH9U/default.jpg
http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/CiNDzWZ2zIU/default.jpg
1 two
13th
Going back to Cali and Notorious Thugs weren’t even on Ready to Die. They were on Life After Death. Don’t matter what sound or style they used Biggie and Tupac had styles that were All World. They was bumping in cars from Cali to Ny to Down south.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbhiTDooqz8
Suge Knight is best rapper ever and anyone who disagrees is straight ignant.
suge dont rap u fuckin pussy. he dont dance in videos. thats puffy.
You fucking retarded? Suge don’t rap? Dude your a fucking moron.
Let’s take a little drive to Vegas, Kendrick.