One of hip-hop’s most fascinating and successful labels is tragically one of its most dangerous in the genre’s history. Kurupt recently revealed that he left Death Row Records because Tupac Shakur died under Suge Knight’s watch. Moreover, he made such statements during an interview with The Art Of Dialogue and spoke candidly of his experience. Furthermore, he said that when he requested to terminate his contract, he felt how worn-down Death Row artists were due to the similarities between the label and street life. After years of apparent invincibility, it became to much to bear for the “C-Walk” rapper.
“Everywhere we was going we had to keep our eyes open, 10 toes on the ground,” the Philly-born artist expressed. “We had to stay heated and make sure that we protected ourselves. And then to go to Death Row and feel the same way as when we in the streets: we all kinda got burnt on that.” Moreover, he also spoke on how Dr. Dre leaving the collective gave him a lead to follow. His group mates Snoop Dogg, Daz Dillinger, and Soopafly were still signed to the label after Dre left, and Suge’s presence could no longer assure their safety.
Kurupt Speaks On How Tupac’s Death Under Suge Knight Affected Him
“We all was a little tired of walking on egg shells,” he continued. “Because if we gon be here and it feels the same was as being on the streets, then whats the difference? If a n***a gotta come to the studio heated, what’s the difference? Dr. Dre set up the woo-wop, like, ‘It can be done, you can leave.’ When I saw Dr. Dre do that, then 2Pac died, that was the final straw for me. N***as is getting shot even with Suge. Now that is it.
“Crippin’ and Bloodin’ is real!” he concluded. “This ain’t no joke. This s**t ain’t to play with, this ain’t something you just kick around. Once you in, you in for life; you gotta ride it out homie. And 2Pac is militant! He’s not a gang member. He’s from a Black Panther background, a whole ‘nother background. It’s just not healthy for him. A lot of us gangbang ’cause we wanted to; and a lot of us gangbang ’cause we had to. We lived there; we had to protect our community, you know.” Regardless, let us know your take in the comments and come back to HNHH for the latest on Kurupt, Tupac, Suge Knight, and Death Row.