Death Row Records is a record label founded in 1991 by Marion "Suge" Knight Jr. and Andre Young (Dr. Dre). It was record label of many popular West Coast hip hop artists such as 2Pac, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg and rap group Tha Dogg Pound consisting of rappers Kurupt and Daz Dillinger also Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of TLC although most departed from the label after its demise following the murder of Tupac Shakur in 1996.
The collapse of Death Row Records meant its title as a powerful hip-hop label was subsequently revoked despite attempts from the last remaining founder and CEO at the time, Suge Knight, that included signing new talents and releasing many compilations of previously unreleased content recorded by ex-Death Row artists. The label filed for bankruptcy in 2006 and on January 15, 2009, Death Row Records was successfully auctioned to entertainment development company WIDEawake Entertainment Group, Inc. for $18 million.
Death Row has sold nearly 50 million albums worldwide, and generated close to $750 million in revenue.
...in short there ain't no Death Row Records without Dr. Dre.
