This documentary surprised me. At first I saw it because I am a rap fan especially of the old Death Row. I was blown away by the style and production of this movie. Two huge things make this documentary worth wild. First off the film is completely impartial. You just get the facts and opinions of those directly involved and few from those outside. The other factor is that other people who aren't rap fans will find this interesting. After my viewing I showed this to many friends and all were deeply interested despite any real interest in rap music. Great topic because of it's controversy and it's impact over the nation. If you give it an honest shot you'll find it interesting and very well done.
7 Reviews
Very interesting....
ultraviolated13 November 2001
Well I must say that this documentary was quite interesting. It takes you way back to the early days of "NWA" and the friction between Eric "Easy E" Wright and the true talent of the group, Dr.Dre. It is then that Marion "Suge" Knight steps in to help but he gets taken in by the Industry and develops his own(thug)ways. And in between all of this there are people you haven't heard of talking about their whole Death Row experience but they do paint quite a picture for the audience. There are interviews with Dr.Dre, Suge Knight, and priceless interviews with Snoop Dogg that lets you know that this guy is truly a talent in more ways than one. Bottom line if you can't find a good movie to rent and you see this on the shelve, pick it up and see what all the fuss was about.
Good flick
pred126 January 2004
I thought this was a very well done documentary. It keeps the viewer interested from start to finish. I even wanted to see more when it was done! The movie explains all of the different relationships and characters involved in Death Row records. It's very interesting to see how some of these guys started out with nothing, and grew into an empire. Im not even a rap fan, but i found it to be a great documentary. Well worth your time.
They don't mince words or hide the truth in this one
craigto26 January 2005
This is a true documentary (no frills, no filler) depicting the reasons behind the rise and fall of one of the most influential record labels in music history. Death Row Records started out as the brainchild of a few players in the local LA Rap Scene, and at its peak, it was a legitimate force in business, politics, media and entertainment on a national scale. The documentary is captivating because it only focuses on the footage, accounts, memories and thoughts of those who were central figures in the company and industry at the time. In the early and mid-90's, gangsta rap, east coast/west coast feuds, Biggie and 2Pac, drugs, rap music videos, and multi-platinum hip-hop records became extremely profitable and recognizable byproducts of pop culture -- and Death Row Records was at the center of it all. Kudos to the director and producers for never getting sidetracked as they allow those who were involved (from Dre to Snoop to 2Pac to Suge to writers to security guards) to tell it like it was.
Awesome Documentary
bradtheman186 April 2012
I am a big fan of hip hop documentaries. If you've seen any Tupac Shakur, Jam Master Jay, or Notorious B.I.G. documentaries, then you'd like this one. It touches on everything from N.W.A. to Tupac's Death. Explain's the role of: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Daz Dillinger, Kurupt, Ice Cube, Vanilla Ice, Suge Knight, Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., and more. It cleared up a lot of questions for me about Tupac's Death. You see interviews from Tupac, his security guards, Biggie Smalls, most producers from Death Row, their lawyers, detectives, witnesses, and even Suge Knight. If you are into West Coast Hip Hop or just the story of Tupac, then you will love this. I gave it an 8, because it starts off well, but then it gets a little dull in the middle, but it ends up to be an exciting and interesting story and I loved it. I learned a lot from it and you really see the stages Tupac went through in his life, from a child, to a back up dance, to being featured on a song, to gangsta rap, to getting shot, to smooth hip hop, to his passing, and why their are over 250 songs that came out after he died. I really appreciate the west coast style a lot more now
Truth Was The Case They Gave Us
Deloreanguy7922 July 2022
Excellent Documentary!
francoischristana6 May 2023
This documentary, in my opinion, was extremely well-produced. The entire time, it keeps the audience intrigued. Even after it was finished, I yearned for more. The film details how Michael Harris, Suge Knight, and David Kenner each contributed to the founding of Death Row. It covered every person involved in the label and how they contributed such as Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac. We were able to hear how the company changed from music oriented to gang affiliations which is how death row became the most invincible empire. You should invest the time because it is worthwhile and very informative.
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