Tha Dogg Pound
West Coast hip-hop duo known for their Death Row roots.
Connie Lodge · via Wikipedia: Tha Dogg Pound · CC BY-SA 2.0
Tha Dogg Pound is a hip-hop duo from the West Coast, made up of rappers Kurupt and Daz Dillinger. They were some of the first artists to join Death Row Records in 1992. Their first album, *Dogg Food*, hit number one on the Billboard 200 and went double platinum.
The two met while working as solo artists before Dr. Dre noticed their chemistry during sessions for *The Chronic* and suggested they form a group. They appeared on *Doggystyle* and various soundtracks. Between 1993 and 1994, they worked with Hammer on *The Funky Headhunter*, alongside Suge Knight. Their biggest hit from *Dogg Food* was "Let's Play House," which cracked the Billboard Hot 100's top 50. The video for "New York, New York" showed Kurupt, Daz, and Snoop stomping around New York City like Godzilla, taunting East Coast rivals. Later in 1995, Tupac Shakur was bailed out by Suge Knight in exchange for releasing four albums on Death Row. In 1996, Tha Dogg Pound appeared on 2Pac's *All Eyez on Me*—Kurupt on "Got My Mind Made Up" and "Check Out Time," Daz producing hits like "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted"—and on Snoop Doggy Dogg's *Tha Doggfather*.
Kurupt left Death Row in January 1998 but stayed in the group. He released solo albums *Kuruption!* (1998) and *Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha* (1999), both featuring Daz and the rest of DPG. Daz put out his only Death Row solo album, *Retaliation, Revenge and Get Back*, in 1998, then started his own label Mobstyle Muzik. Its first release failed, so he returned to Death Row and later launched DPG Recordz with Christopher "Big C-Style" Bowden. Daz left Death Row for good in December 1998 and released the independent album *R.A.W.* in 2000, followed by the Tha Dogg Pound album *Dillinger & Young Gotti*. After the group fully left Death Row, Suge Knight claimed ownership of the name "Tha Dogg Pound" and any tracks recorded before their departure. To avoid a legal fight, Daz rebranded the group as D.P.G. (Dogg Pound Gangstaz). In 2001, Suge released a Dogg Pound album called *2002*, made of unreleased tracks.
Over the years, Tha Dogg Pound had beef with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, rooted in Death Row's feud with Eazy-E's Ruthless Records.
- Formed
- 1992
- Origin
- United States
- Genre
- Hip-hop
- Label
- Death Row Records, D.P.G. Recordz, Doggystyle Records
- Members
- Kurupt, Daz Dillinger
- Notable album
- Dogg Food (1995)
Lore & Background
Tha Dogg Pound formed after Dr. Dre suggested Kurupt and Daz Dillinger become a group, having heard their chemistry while recording The Chronic. They featured on Doggystyle and various soundtracks before releasing their debut album Dogg Food in 1995. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and went double platinum, with singles like 'Let's Play House' and 'New York, New York' gaining significant attention.
Internal struggles at Death Row after Tupac Shakur's murder in 1996 led to Kurupt and Daz leaving the label in 1998 and 1999 respectively. A feud erupted in 2002 when Kurupt signed back with Death Row, leading to diss tracks and albums from both sides. The duo reconciled in April 2005 and released Dillinger & Young Gotti II in November 2005, followed by the reunion album Cali Iz Active in 2006, executive produced by Snoop Dogg.
Reader's Guide
Tha Dogg Pound's significance lies in their role as foundational artists on Death Row Records during the label's peak in the 1990s. Their debut album Dogg Food exemplified the G-funk sound and West Coast hip-hop dominance of the era. The duo's internal feud and subsequent reunion reflect the volatile dynamics of Death Row after Tupac Shakur's murder and the label's decline. Their later independent releases, including Dillinger & Young Gotti II and Cali Iz Active, demonstrated their ability to sustain a career outside the major label system. The group's legacy is tied to their contributions to the Death Row catalog and their influence on West Coast gangsta rap.
Did You Know?
- Tha Dogg Pound's debut album Dogg Food debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and went double platinum.
- The duo's feud in 2002 began when Kurupt signed back with Death Row Records, leading to diss albums from both members.
- Snoop Dogg executive produced Tha Dogg Pound's reunion album Cali Iz Active in 2006.
- Daz Dillinger changed the group's marketing name to D.P.G. to avoid a legal battle with Suge Knight over the name 'Tha Dogg Pound'.
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