Snoop Dogg Introduces Latest Death Row Records Signee, Charlie Bereal

Snoop Dogg became the owner of Death Row Records after acquiring the label in 2022. The label, which Dr. Dre, 2Pac, and Snoop himself called home in the early 1990s, was inactive for nearly twenty years. Former boss Suge Knight landed himself in legal troubles that ended with Knight and Death Row filing for bankruptcy in 2006. Now, with Snoop Dogg in charge, Death Row is once again trying to find a place in an ever-changing hip-hop and R&B space.

Snoop Dogg signed several artists, including Rhythm + Flow winner D Smoke and singer October London. London recently appeared on the Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge (NxWorries) track “FromHere” from their new album Why Lawd? The track also featured Snoop, who delivered a short outro. Snoop even signed Tha Dogg Pound, who released their first album on the label in nearly three decades. With a roster of up and comers and established veterans, Snoop added another veteran to the mix. R&B and gospel singer Charlie Bereal. Snoop took to Instagram to promote his new signee on Wednesday afternoon.

Snoop Dogg Signs Charlie Bereal To Death Row Records

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Death Row Records (@deathrowrecords)

Fans reacted in a generally positive way to Snoop Dogg’s latest signee. Bereal’s sound is similar to that of a 1970s R&B artist, which fans acknowledged. “We need this kind of music again,” said one user. “Sounds a lot like The Stylistics,” wrote another user. Others lamented the way that Death Row’s sound changed, moving from mainly hip-hop to a roster of mostly R&B acts. “What happened to the real sound of Death Row?” asked one user.

Charlie Bereal (pronounced Burell) was previously a member of the gospel group The Soul Seekers. He released his debut solo album Testimony in 2017 and followed it up with 11-11-11 in 2019. He is also a multi-instrumentalist, known primarily for his abilities on the guitar. In addition, Bereal is also a Grammy-nominated artist. He received the nod for his work on the BJ the Chicago Kid track “Bring It On Home To Me.” Hopefully, the move helps boost Bereal’s status as an artist and he benefits from being signed to Death Row in the long run. Bereal’s debut single on his new label, “Never Gonna Take Away My Love,” releases on Friday.

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Ray Vaughn Builds “Sandcastles” With Ab-Soul On New Single

Ray Vaughn tapped TDE labelmate Ab-Soul for a new track, “Sandcastles.” Moreover, both MCs deliver impassioned, emphatic, and high-impact verses over a heavy banger beat. With a new project coming soon from the recent signee, Vaughn might just make his big splash this year.

INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Rapper Ray Vaughn performs on the Sahara Stage during Weekend 2, Day 2 of the 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 23, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella)

Furthermore, the last we heard from the Long Beach native was back in August of 2022 with the Isaiah Rashad-assisted “Dog House.” On that track, Vaughn matched Rashad’s often low-key but intoxicating delivery over a smooth beat. This time around, it seems he’s boasting and matching the energy of one of TDE’s premier MCs.

In fact, the California label has a lot to celebrate recently. Moreover, Ab-Soul just dropped his long-awaited album Herbert to critical acclaim last December. While Ray Vaughn isn’t featured on that project, this new single displays some strong chemistry between their performance styles. Both have their energy on high, command fast and aggressive flows with ease, and add a lot of conviction to the track.

Meanwhile, the instrumental is a mid-tempo banger with heavy bass, sharp snares, and eerie piano chords. For those enamored by this beat, producer Wallis Lane worked with the likes of Mac Miller, Drake, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and many more. Even if it falls into an engaging bounce assisted by the MCs’ triplet flows, you could remix that melody into some creepy stuff easily. Throughout the verses, the instrumental relies on muted plucked strings and ethereal synth pad samples to switch things up.

Still, what did you think of Ray Vaughn’s newest single with Ab-Soul, “Sandcastles”? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments and peep some standout lines from the track below. Also, if you haven’t heard it yet, you can find the song on your preferred streaming service. As always, check back in with HNHH for the best new drops in hip-hop.

Quotable Lyrics

The lil’ homie got five hundred when he ran it up off EDD
A year later, he back broke, robbin’ white folks on Beverly
All F on my report card, got a list full of felonies
Better learn to choose your words better, that’s the quickest way to put your life in jeopardy