TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Welcome To Death Row [2001]


RRP: £5.99
Our Price: £5.39 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Welcome to Death Row tells the unauthorised history of the most notorious rap label ever. And what a story it is, with enough blood and betrayal to satiate the Borgias and machinations that would make Machiavelli proud. The rise and fall of Death Row and its power-hungry CEO, Marion "Suge" Knight, makes The Godfather look like a bedtime story. The film centres on the testimony of Michael Harris--also known as "Harry O", as in octopus, because he had his business fingers in so many pies--who provided Suge Knight with the seed money to set up Death Row, and assigned his lawyer David Kenner to oversee the label's business affairs. The film traces the entire controversial history of the label, which at its height was turning over $500 million a year, and the impact it had on not only the music industry but American culture. "It was like working in a prison", says Doug Young, the label's record promoter, of Suge Knight's predilection for hiring gangsters and ex-felons. The film also details the relationship between Death Row and its biggest star, Tupac Shakur, and the effect that Shakur's sudden death in a Las Vegas drive-by shooting had on the label's fortunes (a story told in greater depth in Savidge's film Thug Immortal).

Although none of the major players in this drama are represented on tape--Dr Dre and Interscope Records heads Jimmy Iovine and Ted Fields are as conspicuous by their absence as lawyer David Kenner and Suge Knight, the villains of the piece--the producers have unearthed an alarming number of believable behind-the-scenes sources including record promoters, managers, private investigators and former associates and employees of the label. Director Savidge wisely uses talking heads to tell his story, weaving into it a wealth of archive material and previously unseen home-video footage. The epic narrative is split into discrete chapters but, with so much information and opinion flying about, at times the chronology of events becomes confused. Yet this does little to spoil a documentary that goes a long way to revealing the intimate connection between the music industry and organised crime, and the desire for power and glory that drives them both.

On the DVD: As if there wasn't enough information to digest in the documentary (which is presented in a clean 1:85.1 anamorphic format), the extra features on the DVD provide even more supplementary evidence. There are outtakes from the interviews used in the main feature, as well as additional interview footage of Snoop Dogg and Harry O. There is uncensored security camera footage of a fight in the lobby of the MGM Grand involving the Death Row entourage that preceded the death of Tupac Shakur by minutes, a music video for "Deep Cover" (the song that launched Snoop Dogg) and a fascinating audio commentary by director Savidge and producers Jeff Scheftel and Stephen A Housden, in which they relate the difficulties encountered in obtaining the trust of those they interviewed and the factors they took into consideration when constructing the film. Savidge recalls that the model they had in mind was the fractured, multi-perspective narrative of Kurosawa's Rashomon. --Chris Campion


INTERESTING
Review date: 2007-10-18 Rating: 8 out of 10

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.

Similar Products

Reviews


Gets behind the scenes like no other DVD
Review date: 2005-03-08 Rating: 6 out of 10

So much has been written and said about the East vs West Coast rivalry of the mid 90s and most of the books and films made all feature the same periphary figures giving the same tired view about the events leading up to the deaths of dozens of gang associates and most infamously, Tupac Shakur and later the Notorious B.I.G. Obviously this documentary focuses on these major events but it is unlike any other that I've seen in that it really gets begind the scenes of the organisation that was Death Row Records. Behind all the hype, glamour and violence that we know about was politics and events that were just as controversial but less publicised. Certainly the business behind this label was as dirty as the lyrics of the music it was promoting. Fascinating as an example of how the music business sometimes works, and obviously of special interest to anyone familiar with rap music

Gets behind the scenes like no other.
Review date: 2005-01-17 Rating: 8 out of 10

So much has been written and said about the East vs West Coast rivalry of the mid 90s and most of the books and films made all feature the same periphary figures giving the same tired view about the events leading up to the deaths of dozens of gang associates and most infamously, Tupac Shakur and later the Notorious B.I.G. Obviously this documentary focuses on these major events but it is unlike any other that I've seen in that it really gets begind the scenes of the organisation that was Death Row Records. Behind all the hype, glamour and violence that we know about was politics and events that were just as controversial but less publicised. Certainly the business behind this label was as dirty as the lyrics of the music it was promoting. Fascinating as an example of how the music business sometimes works, and obviously of special interest to anyone familiar with rap music.

Stranded on Death Row
Review date: 2003-11-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

Although not being the big rap fan I once was in high school, I have always been fascinated by Death Row Records and all of the controversy that surrounded the notorious record label since day one. "Welcome to Death Row" is a thought-provoking documentary that tells the story of how a dangerous and popular record label changed the music industry, and how it all came falling apart. The documentary is filmed with new interviews with Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and other former Death Row artists, as well as interviews with big names in both the music and media industry. They tell their side of the story and reveal just what exactly went on while working for Death Row.

I found this documentary to be extremely fascinating and well-done. It seems to stick with the facts for the most part, instead of reverting to a bunch of conspiracy theories. There's enough respected people who appeared on the film, which makes it easier to believe. While it answers some questions, it doesn't answer all of them. We still to this day do not know who shot Tupac and for what reason. And although it reveals most of what went on at Death Row, I am sure there are more untold stories that have yet to see the light of day.

The DVD is really impressive for a documentary. It's shot in widescreen, which is something I wasn't expecting. The picture and sound quality is really good. The extra features are also very impressive and make their presence felt. Some of the features are extensive interview outtakes, commentary from the filmmaker, the trailer, and more.

"Welcome to Death Row" is an intriguing and interesting documentary. Filled with things we had known all along and things we never knew, this is a documentary worth watching over and over again. You don't even have to be a big rap fan to enjoy it. If you know enough about the record label's history and you are a music fan, I think you'll really find this all interesting. Very well worth the money and very well worth the time.

Good but lacking the total package
Review date: 2003-08-27 Rating: 8 out of 10

I thought the film brought out many unknown facts about Death Row Records, however it failed to inform people about the current situation of the Tupac and Biggie murder investigations which I think could have helped people understand the conspiracies believed to be explanations of the 2 rappers' deaths.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Lamont Blumfield
William J. Bennett
John 'B.J.' Bryant
Frank Alexander
Sam Gideon Anson

Creators:
Frank Alexander (Primary Contributor)
Sam Gideon Anson (Primary Contributor)
Jeff Scheftel (Producer)
Jeff Scheftel (Writer)
Allen Gordon (Producer)
Eric Jerstad (Producer)
Ian T. Haufrect (Producer)
Lydia Harris (Producer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Mia Video Entertainment Ltd
Manufacturer: Mia Video Entertainment Ltd
EAN: 5024571700331
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2001-10-08
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2001-09-25
Language: English (Original Language)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional