Death Row Records was one of the biggest record labels in the 90s. The record label kicked off with the release of The Chronic from Dr. Dre. The Chronic has been called one of the greatest rap albums of all time. One of the most anticipated albums of all time was released the following year. Snoop Dogg and his iconic Doggystyle joint dropped less than a year later. Death Row Records kept the hits coming by releasing the Above the Rim Soundtrack a few months later. The Above the Rim Soundtrack has been called the best overall music soundtrack ever. Later in the year, the soundtrack to the Murder Was the Case short film dropped. Murder Was the Case is a 1994 short film and soundtrack album starring and performed by Snoop Doggy Dogg.
The 18-minute film was directed by Dr. Dre and Fab Five Freddy and chronicles the fictional death of Snoop Dogg and his resurrection after making a deal with the Devil. The film’s title comes from Snoop’s song of the same name from his debut album, Doggystyle, which had been released a year earlier. The Remix to Murder Was the Case was the first single from the soundtrack. Of course, the original appeared on the Doggystyle album. The second single from Murder Was the Case was from Sam Sneed and his classic U Better Recognize. “U Better Recognize” is Sam Sneed’s first and only single while he was on Death Row Records. What Would You Do? was the third single and first official release from Tha Dogg Pound. It is a diss song towards B.G. Knocc Out, Dresta, Eazy-E, and Ruthless Records.
Tha Dogg Pound performed the song live at the 1995 Source Awards on August 3, 1995. What Would You Do? is my featured Throwback Thursday joint of the week. The track was the rollout for Tha Dogg Pound’s debut album. Dogg Food, which dropped the following year. What Would You Do? is a dope record, and with the track they did on Above the Rim, it raised anticipation for their album. The Murder Was the Case Soundtrack would go on to sell over two million copies. Thug Life Volume 1, Kings Disease III from Nas, and a few other projects were all played this week. Check out the video for Tha Dogg Pound’s What Would You Do? up above. Below, you can check out the track listing and stream link to the Murder Was the Case Soundtrack.
Murder Was the Case Track Listing
- Murder Was the Case (Remix)- Snoop Dogg
- Natural Born Killaz- Dr. Dre & Ice Cube
- What Would U Do? – Tha Dogg Pound
- 21 Jumpstreet- Snoop Dogg & Tray Deee
- One More Day- Nate Dogg
- Harvest for the World- Jewell
- Who Got Some Gangsta Shit? – Snoop Dogg ft. Tha Dogg Pound, Lil Style & Young Swoop
- Come When I Call- Danny Boy
- U Better Recognize- Sam Sneed ft. Dr. Dre
- Come Up to My Room- Jodeci ft. Tha Dogg Pound
- Woman to Woman- Jewell
- Dollaz & Sense- DJ Quik
- The Eulogy- Slip Capone & CPO
- Horny- B Rezell
- Eastside-Westside- Young Soldierz
