TDE is bigger than Death Row due to its longevity, Compton rapper Problem has boldly asserted.
The artist, who now raps under the name Jason Martin, chopped it up with Bootleg Kev on Thursday (June 13) to discuss the differences between the two labels.
“[Top Dawg Entertainment], they got it,” he said. “They’re probably the biggest label ever in West Coast history with the longest run. They’re the biggest ever. I know what you on ’cause we older, but Death Row had a four-year run.”
After Kev cited records by 2Pac, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, Problem offered up a retort.
“It’s because of the mess. We’re infatuated with the mess,” he said. “I’m not here to tear down Death Row. Let’s stop here. I’m saying, we have to recognize that there is a company right now, today, that has two of the biggest artists in music. This actual day, and they’ve had them the whole time.”
Check out the back-and-forth below.
People were quick to sound off in the comments against Problem.
One user wrote: “No one wearing TDE shirts in 20 years.”
Another added: “TDE got Talent but Death row Artist All had Platinum Classic albums & they still eating off they old stuff til this day plus there hasn’t been a label since that had the same impact both on music and a street level so I gotta say Death Row….”
A third emphatically stated: “N-ggas say anything when a mic is on. I’m not even from the west coast. There’s not ONE artists from TDE more iconic than the Tupac of the Dogg, not one! Shit, not more iconic than Dre. How can you be better than the shoulders you’re standing on?! How?
“I love Dot but he ain’t even in the conversation. Also, after Dot…who’s next? Again, I love Q…but he’s not bigger than Dogg Pound. N-ggas need to start having reverence for things that come before them. We’re the only culture who does this goofy shit.”
Despite these fans taking issue with Problem’s comments, a Death Row alumni actually echoed the same sentiment.
Back in 2019, Snoop Dogg himself declared TDE to be a “better version” of Death Row and said it was all about an “each one, teach one” mentality.
“I think — and this is me saying it from being in Death Row and being on the outside looking at y’all — y’all are a better version of Death Row Records,” he told TDE president, Punch.
“That’s with no disrespect. That’s with all respect because once you look and you see somebody do it the right way and you see ’em do it the wrong way and then you get a chance to do it your own way, then you able to take the wrong out and do it the right way.”
He added: “That’s why y’all been able to sustain for so long. You and Top Dawg, y’all some top dog bosses.”
Problem’s daily say stupid shit quote. Every Death Row album until the label effectively ended that night in Vegas was an event from its inception. Suge also had crazy quality control with his artists and made sure pure uncut product came out because outside of Pac, those other dudes recorded a lot of bullshit.
Somebody gone pop that balloon real soon. Allowing these frauds in the culture award them these fake white people trophies and medals then they start talking like they are fucking retarded. Need to dead off Bendrick as lesson to the weak.
…and TDE had maybe a 5 year run until it went downhill.
Tde only ever got attention because drake gave a shout out to kendrick and sza. That’s it. Their other artists all flopped and kendrick since left tde to become a drake hater instead
Longer doesn’t equal better. More doesn’t equal better. It’s about QUALITY generated during the period of time. Death Row has timeless classics like The Chronic, Doggystyle, All Eyes On Me, 7 Day Theory, etc. and tons of classic songs from artists like Rage, Dogg Pound, Danny Boy, etc. Seriously who is stupider….This irrelevant nobody “Problem” for saying this nonsensical shit or this super cringy, non-credible, fraudulent, embarrassing, pretending, corny, garbage culture vulture Will the mega fruity Scooby for actually be dumb enough to post this nonsense?
Who is this guy? And TDE artists are mostly irrelevant outside of LA. They don’t have a dre, pac, snoop, or suge that we’ll still be talking about 20 years later.
FIRST THEY HAD KDOT #1 SONG IN HIPHOP THE GKMC #1 ALBUM IN HIPHOP ALL TIMES AND NOW THIS? SMH
Dude punch drunk. Death Row had more plantnum artists. Tupac sold more records than they entire roster combined. Besides ex artist Kendrick Lamar I don’t know none of their rappers. I heard of SZA. I know what she looks like sexy as hell. But I can’t name one of her songs.
Lol I’ll match Kendrick up with Tupac. Just because I like Kendrick,, but they got no Snoop Dogg, and no Dr. Dre. I don’t care if they have a million year run, Still, not even close..
Lol I’ll match Kendrick with pac Just cause kendrick is specia. BUT You got no snoop, dog and no doctor dre, You need a million year run.
Lol I’ll match Kendrick with pac Just cause kendrick is specia. BUT You got no snoop, dog and no doctor dre, You need a million year run.
Lol, Problem didn’t think that over, it’s not a good looking for TDE that a 4 year run filled with classics so heavy, they made an unbreakable barrier for TDE to cross with a few times more releases
Lasted longer than Death Row but Dre’s After Math is from the west coast and it’s still here
LOL Thanks Problem, I needed a good laugh today. You one funny MF, keep em coming! Take Pac, Snoop and Dre out the equation, and Death Row still wins. And after that it’s Aftermath, not TDE.
Death row over TDE all day every day. How many TRUE classics came out of TDE? Maybe 1. Gkmc. But that album, as great as it is, is not the classic that The Chronic, Doggystyle, or All Eyez On Me are. Those are three true classics. Def Jam had a better run than TDE as well. Dmx, Ludacris, JayZ, Biggie 1994 album, Beastie Boys, Kanye, LL Cool J… sure, they weren’t a cohesive team like black hippy, but they had a far better run of great albums than TDE. Tde would be more comparable to Young Money. Soke solid works, and tons of average to bad content.
I swear this TDE thing is some internet shit. Imo, they don’t have any classics that have come out of their label. You had to be there when Death Row hit. It shifted the whole industry. Had G-Funk clones all over the West Coast and the East Coast copied their style. Biggie admits he was a huge Snoop and Dre fan. Then when Pac got there in late 95, it was an event that everybody’s favorite rapper was going to the best label. Like if you’re going to say stupid shit like this, just stay quiet. The Above the Rim soundtrack was some hood shit to the core and did triple platinum just because people wanted to hear what they had to say. Pac being on three of the songs just hyped people up.
Stop if respect to Problem as a rapper but this is stupid. Death Row made artists they were iconic, TDE is overrated the only reason they were known is because Kendrick and he got big because of his Aftermath contract then he co-signed the Black Hippy crew like SchoolBoyQ who already had a deal with Interscope and features from major artists. I swear culture vultures out here spreading lies. If you want to compare Cash Money or MMG to Death Row that’s different those labels were big enough maybe GOOD Music to a lesser extent Bad Boy 2.0, Grand Hustle, We The Best, Rostrum/Taylor Gang, Tha Conglomerate, Coke Boys, and Brick Squad. Girls were wearing Coke Boys merch all over the place.