Latest news with #DeathRowRecords
Malaysian Reserve
2 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Death Row Records Cannabis and Pure Ohio Wellness Join Forces to Launch in Ohio
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Death Row Records Cannabis, the culture-shifting cannabis brand founded by legendary rapper and entrepreneur Snoop Dogg, is proud to announce its official Ohio debut in partnership with Pure Ohio Wellness, one of the state's leading vertically integrated cannabis operators. Starting this week, Death Row Records Cannabis will be available at Pure Ohio Wellness Dayton and Pure Ohio Wellness London dispensaries. Story Cannabis in Cincinnati will be the first third-party dispensary in the state to carry the brand, with product available beginning August 10, followed by a broader rollout across Ohio in the weeks to come. The launch coincides with Snoop Dogg headlining a special post-game concert at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Monday, August 11, immediately following the Reds vs. Philadelphia Phillies game. Fans can expect a full-length set packed with West Coast classics and timeless hits from one of hip-hop's most influential icons. 'Ohio, get ready,' said Snoop Dogg. 'I'm bringin' that Death Row energy to the stage and to your dispensaries.' The Ohio launch features a tenth of Apple Fritter, a popular balanced hybrid strain known for its uplifting effects and sweet, earthy flavor. Additional flower strains and Death Row Records merchandise will also be available soon. Launched in 2023, Death Row Records Cannabis is on a mission to deliver premium, accessible cannabis that honors the legendary record label's influence and connects with a new generation of consumers. With strategic launches across the country, the brand continues to expand its footprint in collaboration with top-tier local operators like Pure Ohio Wellness. 'Death Row Records is a legacy brand that still resonates deeply with people across generations,' said Larry Pegram, Founder and CEO of Pure Ohio Wellness. 'We're thrilled to partner with a brand that not only honors the cultural heritage of hip-hop, but also stands for quality, consistency, and authenticity in the cannabis space. This collaboration brings high-quality flower to patients and consumers in Ohio who have been waiting for a brand with real meaning.' About Death Row Records CannabisLaunched in 2023, Death Row Records Cannabis brings the iconic legacy of Death Row Records into the cannabis space, delivering top-shelf flower, curated strains, and branded products that represent the same bold creativity, authenticity, and edge that made the music label a global force. Created under the vision of Snoop Dogg and supported by a team of industry veterans, the brand honors hip-hop culture while creating a new lane for cannabis consumers who value legacy, quality, and cultural credibility. About Pure Ohio WellnessFounded in 2018 by Columbus-area native and former professional motorcycle racer Larry Pegram, Pure Ohio Wellness is a proudly Ohio-owned and operated medical cannabis company. As a Level 1 cultivator with a state-of-the-art processing facility and three dispensaries across the state, Pure Ohio is committed to producing safe, effective, and affordable cannabis products for Ohio patients. With a strong focus on natural cultivation practices and community involvement, Pure Ohio Wellness continues to set the standard for quality, compassion, and care in the industry.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Donald Trump's celebrity pardons: From Lil Wayne to the Chrisleys — and is Sean 'Diddy' Combs next?
Donald Trump has never been shy about using presidential clemency, especially when it comes to public figures with name recognition. Since his first term, Trump has issued a string of high-profile pardons and commutations for celebrities, rappers, and reality stars, blurring the lines between pop culture and politics. Now, reports suggest that Sean 'Diddy' Combs could be next in line, and if that happens, it would mark one of Trump's most controversial celebrity pardons to date. Here's a closer look at the famous names Trump has granted clemency to, why they were convicted, and when they walked free. Lil Wayne – Federal gun charge (2021) In January 2021, just hours before leaving office, Trump granted a full pardon to rapper Lil Wayne. The Grammy-winning artist had pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, stemming from a December 2019 arrest when a loaded gold-plated handgun was found on his private jet. Wayne, who faced up to 10 years in prison, was praised in the White House statement for his charitable work and 'generosity.' The pardon followed Wayne's public support of Trump during the 2020 election, which raised eyebrows among fans at the time. Kodak Black – Weapons offense (2021) Alongside Wayne, Florida rapper Kodak Black also benefited from Trump's final clemency wave in January 2021. Black had been sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for falsifying documents used to buy firearms. His sentence was commuted, meaning he walked free but his conviction remained intact. Black later publicly thanked Trump, crediting the decision with saving his life and giving him a second chance. Michael 'Harry-O' Harris – Drug trafficking (2021 and 2025) Michael Harris, the music executive who helped launch Death Row Records, served over three decades in prison for cocaine trafficking and attempted murder. Trump commuted Harris's sentence in January 2021 after heavy lobbying by Snoop Dogg and reform advocates. Then, in 2025, Trump granted Harris a full pardon, wiping his record clean. Harris has since become a vocal supporter of Trump's criminal justice efforts, citing his own case as proof that the system can offer redemption. Todd and Julie Chrisley – Fraud and tax evasion (2025) In one of the more headline-grabbing clemency moves, Trump pardoned reality TV couple Todd and Julie Chrisley on May 28, 2025. The 'Chrisley Knows Best' stars had been serving lengthy sentences after being convicted in 2022 of bank fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion involving millions of dollars. They had maintained their innocence throughout, and their daughter, Savannah Chrisley, lobbied openly for their release. Trump reportedly informed her of the decision personally, citing 'unjust prosecution' in a statement that sparked mixed reactions across political and entertainment circles. NBA YoungBoy – Firearms and prescription fraud (2025) Also included in Trump's May 2025 pardon list was rapper NBA YoungBoy, real name Kentrell Gaulden. In late 2024, he had pleaded guilty to federal charges involving firearms and prescription drug fraud, facing up to 20 years in prison. His legal team argued that he was targeted unfairly, and several advocacy groups supported his clemency request. Trump granted him a full pardon, lifting restrictions tied to parole and probation. YoungBoy later posted a video thanking the former president. Rod Blagojevich – Public corruption (2020 and 2025) Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was convicted in 2011 of trying to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat for political favors. Trump commuted his 14-year sentence in 2020 after Blagojevich had served nearly eight years. Then, in February 2025, Trump issued a full pardon. The move reignited debate about political influence and accountability, but Trump defended it by saying Blagojevich had 'paid a steep price already.' Topeka K. Sam – Drug trafficking (2020) Though not a celebrity in the traditional sense, Topeka K. Sam became a prominent advocate for criminal justice reform after serving time for cocaine trafficking. Trump granted her a full pardon in December 2020, citing her post-release advocacy work. Sam later helped advise Trump's clemency team and supported several reform policies introduced during his term. The Diddy speculation Now, the clemency spotlight is on Sean 'Diddy' Combs. The hip-hop mogul is currently facing serious federal charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and conspiracy related to a sprawling investigation that spans multiple states. With a trial set for October 3, 2025, Diddy faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted. Trump recently commented on the rumours, saying he hasn't received a formal request from Diddy's legal team but would 'consider all the facts' if asked. Given Trump's history of pardoning high-profile entertainers and his ongoing efforts to court Black celebrity support, some believe a Diddy pardon is possible, especially if the trial becomes a national flashpoint. Whether you see them as acts of mercy or political theatre, Trump's celebrity pardons have consistently drawn global attention. From rappers with gun charges to TV stars convicted of fraud, his clemency list reads more like a tabloid column than a legal document. And if Diddy ends up on that list, it would be Trump's most sensational clemency move yet. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
The Independent
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Rapper Snoop Dogg becomes Swansea City co-owner
The 53-year-old American rapper hinted at hinted at investing in the club by helping promote the Welsh club's shirt launch earlier this week, and it has now been confirmed. He said: 'My love of football is well known, but it feels special to me that I make my move into club ownership with Swansea City. 'The story of the club and the area really struck a chord with me. This is a proud, working class city and club. An underdog that bites back, just like me. 'I'm proud to be part of Swansea City. I am going to do all I can to help the club, and I look forward to getting to know all my YJBS.' The Swans said in a statement: 'Swansea City is delighted to announce global rap superstar and multi-platinum selling artist Snoop Dogg has become the club's latest high-profile co-owner and investor. 'The 53-year-old, who caused a social media sensation when he helped launch our 2025-26 home shirt on Saturday, comes on board a few months after Croatian football great Luka Modrić became part of Swansea City. 'Snoop is renowned as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time, and has sold 35 million albums worldwide across a performing and recording career spanning more than 30 years. 'The Death Row Records owner has won countless awards and received 17 Grammy nominations. 'He has also always had a deep love of sport, and football in particular. At one point he was a brand ambassador for the FIFA video game series, and has been pictured wearing a variety of team jerseys over the years. 'Swansea's home kit may be the latest in that sequence, but Snoop's ties to the club will run deeper than the donning of the famous white shirt as he formally becomes a member of club ownership. 'And it is hoped his global profile and love of football can play an important part in helping us spread the Swansea City name as far and wide as possible in order to boost our commercial performance to further support our aspirations as a club.' The club say they have unveiled a mural of Snoop Dogg on the stadium's West Stand. Swansea City chief executive Tom Gorringe, added: 'It is very exciting for us as a football club to formally welcome Snoop Dogg as a co-owner and investor into Swansea City. 'His enjoyment and love of football is well documented, and he has often spoken of a desire to get more involved in the sport. We are delighted he believes that being part of Swansea City is the right way to realise that ambition. 'Dogg is passionate about this project and helping us continue to raise the profile of the club to as wide an audience as possible.' The investment comes three months after Luka Modric purchased a minority stake in the second-tier side. Modric, 39, who joined AC Milan as a player on a one-year deal this week after his contract at Real Madrid expired, took a non-controlling stake in the club. Modric has joined shareholders Andy Coleman, Brett Cravatt, Nigel Morris and businessman Jason Cohen, after the four bought out former majority owners Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan last November. Modric said: 'This is an exciting opportunity. Swansea has a strong identity, an incredible fanbase, and the ambition to compete at the highest level. 'Playing at the highest level, I believe I can provide my experience to the club. My goal is to support the club's growth in a positive way and to help to build an exciting future.' Swansea finished 11th in the Championship last season.
New York Post
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Outlawz rapper Young Noble, who collaborated with Tupac Shakur, dead at 47 as Snoop Dogg leads tributes
Rapper Young Noble, who belonged to the hip-hop group Outlawz, has died at age 47. The musician, who was a frequent collaborator of the late rapper Tupac Shakur, died by suicide in Atlanta on July 4, TMZ reported. A GoFundMe has since been launched by his family to raise funds for funeral expenses. Advertisement 4 Rapper Young Noble, who belonged to the hip-hop group Outlawz, has died at age 47. @young_noble/Instagram The Post has reached out to the Atlanta Police Department for comment. Following the news of Young Noble's death, rapper Snoop Dogg led tributes to Noble, whose real name was Rufus Lee Cooper III, on social media. Advertisement 'DAMN Mental health is real,' wrote Snoop, who was on Death Row Records with Noble and Shakur in the lead up to his 1996 death. The 'Drop It Like It's Hot' hitmaker, 53, shared the post on his Instagram Story to Shakur and Outlawz's track, 'The Good Die Young.' Elsewhere, musician Damien 'Big Percy' Roderick paid his respects to the late rapper, writing, 'Damn @outlawznation @theoutlawzofficial REST EASY HOMIE @young_noble wish I could change our last call we had DAMN PRAYERS UP.' 4 The musician, who was a frequent collaborator of the late rapper Tupac Shakur, died by suicide in Atlanta on July 4. @young_noble/Instagram Advertisement Fellow Outlawz member E.D.I. Mean also shared a heartfelt tribute about his former groupmate. 'Today I got some of the worst and unexpected news imaginable,' he wrote on Instagram. 'My brother and partner for over 30 years took his life this morning. Rest in Power Rufus Young Noble Cooper.' He added that he's in 'no shape to talk about this right now.' 4 Young Noble joined Outlawz in 1996 after being personally selected by Shakur. Getty Images Advertisement 'Mental illness is a real battle being fought by so many. CHECK ON UR FOLKS!' he wrote. He captioned the heartbreaking post, 'I'm at a loss for words. 💔' Snoop rushed to the comments section, writing, 'Damn cuz 🙏🏾. 🕊️. Sending prayers to the family,' as co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records Suge Knight's son, Suge J. Knight, wrote, '🙏🏽 Long Live a Legend.' The rapper joined Outlawz in 1996 after being personally selected by Shakur, who put the group together in 1995. He was the last member to join the popular hip-hop group. The group signed with Death Row Records in 1997 following Shakur's death and remained on the label until 1999. He went on to collaborate with the 'Changes' hitmaker on a total of four tracks on Shakur's 1996 album 'The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory,' including the hit song 'Hail Mary.' As for his solo music, Noble released the 'Noble Justice' album in 2002, followed by 'Son of God' in 2012. Advertisement 4 The group signed with Death Row Records in 1997 following Shakur's death and remained on the label until 1999. @young_noble/Instagram In his final social media post before his untimely death, Noble shared a message on Instagram that read, 'You're not reading this by accident. This is your confirmation. You're going to make it. No matter what it looks like right now.' 'God is going to send blessings, solutions, healing, love, and positive change your way. So hold on, be strong and don't give up. You are next in line for your miracle,' his June 22 post added. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or go to
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Yahoo
Suge Knight Reveals Bombshell New Claims About Tupac's 1996 Death — Including Alleged Connections of Rapper's Mother and Diddy (Exclusive)
Suge Knight interviewed with PEOPLE from prison to discuss the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur, claiming his mother assisted him in his death and friends smoked his cremated ashes Duane 'Keefe D' Davis has been charged with Shakur's murder and pleaded not guilty Court filings include past police interviews in which Davis claimed Sean "Diddy" Combs was involved in ordering the hit on Shakur and rap mogul Suge Knight. Combs has long denied any involvement in the shooting and Las Vegas police say he "has never been considered a suspect"Nearly three decades ago, around 11 p.m. on September 7, 1996, Marion 'Suge' Knight — then the 31-year-old CEO of Death Row Records and one of the most feared kingpins in the music business — drove a black BMW 750 sedan east through Las Vegas, a block off the strip. In the passenger seat sat rapper Tupac Shakur aka 2Pac, just 25, whose cultural footprint had already eclipsed his multi-platinum catalog. Dressed in a Versace shirt and gleaming gold chain, Shakur was still out on bond, still basking in the glow of stardom, brushing off a violent altercation with a Crip gang member inside a Sin City casino that had transpired just hours earlier after a Mike Tyson boxing match. Trailing behind Knight and Shakur was the Death Row convoy of about ten cars that snaked through traffic like shadows. Then, at the corner of Flamingo and Koval, beneath the buzz of the Strip's neon haze, a white, late-model Cadillac pulled up alongside. According to Las Vegas prosecutors' July 2024 filings, South Side Compton Crips member Orlando 'Baby Lane' Anderson didn't have the correct angle to shoot. This came after a separate court filing in December described him as the alleged shooter. Anderson allegedly handed the semiautomatic .40 Glock to fellow gang member Deandre 'Big Dre' Smith, who opened fire from the backseat of the vehicle — 13 shots in total. Four bullets struck Shakur in the chest, arm and thigh. Knight was grazed in the head by shrapnel but survived. Shakur, who had worn a bulletproof vest regularly, was not wearing one that night. Related: Tupac Shakur Murder Suspect Once Claimed Diddy Was Involved in Ordering Hit on Rapper and Suge Knight Inside the BMW, Tupac's unreleased 1997 track 'Never Had a Friend Like Me' was playing, Knight recalls. Speaking from California's Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, where he is serving 28 years for a fatal hit-and-run, Knight, now, 60, reflected on the moment that altered everything as the only living witness to the deadly shooting. 'Tupac is my favorite person in the world. It was a part of me that changed my life forever,' he says, voice quivering. 'He didn't have to die. A part of me died when he died.' Related: Suge Knight Says Diddy Belongs in Prison for Assaulting Cassie: 'Never Disrespect a Woman Like That' (Exclusive) For nearly 30 years, no one was held accountable for Shakur's murder. The shooting occurred on one of the most surveilled intersections in America, amid surging tensions between rival gang-affiliated record labels. Many have pointed to a deeper reason the case went cold: an unwillingness to cross lines of influence, power and fear that ran far beyond music. But in September 2023, the tides finally turned. Duane 'Keefe D' Davis — a former Crips leader and the last known living suspect from the infamous white Cadillac that night — was arrested and charged with orchestrating the hit. Prosecutors allege Davis played point man in the murder that's haunted hip-hop for decades. Months later, in a bombshell court filing dated July 18, 2024, the Clark County District Attorney's office revealed a long-buried 2009 police interview in which Davis, speaking as a former confidential informant for two years, not only allegedly detailed his own role in the killing — but repeatedly pointed the finger at music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs, then known as Puffy, as the man who allegedly ordered Tupac Shakur's assassination. Related: Tupac Shakur Murder Suspect Once Claimed Diddy Was Involved in Ordering Hit on Rapper and Suge Knight Davis accused Combs of being enraged by Tupac's relentless taunts. The DEA and U.S. Department of Justice also released a report about a 2008 interview in which Davis claimed Combs said he "needed to get rid of Knight and Shakur" and offered Davis $1 million to "handle the problem." Knight, still grappling with it all, doesn't mince words: 'I end up with a bullet an inch into my skull, but at the same time, everybody knows where a million dollars came from,' he says, pausing momentarily. "Like what would Pac want? What he really want is truth. I believe that if something smells like sh--, look like sh--, it's sh--.' Combs has long vehemently denied any role in the shooting, and a public information officer for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told PEOPLE on July 24, 2024. "Sean Combs has never been considered a suspect in the Tupac Shakur homicide investigation." He has never been charged in connection to the murder. Combs is currently facing serious unrelated federal charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. His fate will be decided by twelve jurors in the coming weeks in the Southern District of New York. Related: Sean 'Diddy' Combs Is Not Testifying at His Sex-Trafficking Trial (Exclusive) Davis, who pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, remains in custody awaiting trial, which is now delayed until February 9, 2026. His defense claims new witness testimony could place him outside of Vegas and 300 miles away in Los Angeles during the time of the incident. But prosecutors continue to cite his own confessions, most notably his 2019 memoir Compton Street Legend. Back in '96 in Vegas, after shots were fired, Knight — bleeding from his scalp — made a frantic U-turn and headed west at a high speed toward Las Vegas Boulevard. Meanwhile, two patrol officers on an unrelated call nearby had heard the gunfire and called for backup. They chased down the BMW, which had two blown tires. Once stopped, officers called for medical assistance. 'I got out and tried to tell the officers what happened while I was bleeding everywhere,' says Knight. 'Also, I then was getting Tupac out the car, even when the door was open. I had to go over there bleeding everywhere, take the seat belt off him. When we get into the ambulance, Pac is funny as f---. He cracking jokes. I'm cracking jokes. Pac's like, 'Sh--, when we heal up, you know what we doing.' That type of sh--.' The ambulance transported them to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. At the hospital, Knight was treated for minor injuries and released while Shakur was listed in critical condition. 'When I came to see him, Pac was sitting up talking. He [allegedly] said, 'Well, look. One, bring me a blunt. Matter of fact, bring me two blunts.' And I said, 'You going to smoke in the hospital?' He [allegedly] said, 'Yeah, I am.'' Knight chuckles softly recalling that moment — Tupac joking, allegedly requesting Hennessy too. Knight says Shakur grabbed him closer, as Knight kissed him on his forehead, and the two said, "I love you" to each other. But that joy cracked under the weight of what came next. Before the second of two emergency surgeries, including one to remove Shakur's right lung to stop internal bleeding, he made a chilling request. As he lay in his hospital bed, fading in and out of consciousness, Knight claims Shakur allegedly turned to him, desperately begging to be killed. He spoke with eerie clarity, suggesting they could even capture it on camera, that he'd record a will or even lay down a song explaining everything. It wouldn't matter, Shakur said. The world would still make Knight pay the ultimate price for it. Knight recalls them both laughing, but beneath the nervous laughter was a hard truth: Shakur believed he was going to be sent back to prison once the chaos subsided, a payback for the brutal casino beatdown caught on security footage hours before the brutal shooting. Prison, to Tupac, wasn't just a fear — it was a fate he believed was worse than death. "I'll die before I go back," he allegedly told those around him. Still, suicide was off the table. According to Knight, he believed taking his own life would bar him from heaven, a line he wouldn't cross. So instead, he turned to his crew — and then to Knight. "Kill me. Shoot me," he urged. Knight says he refused. 'No, Pac. We can't do it.' In the haze of hospital lights, beeping monitors and heartbreak, Knight claims Shakur made a final, desperate request to his mother, Afeni: let him go. According to Knight, who was by the rapper's side as he lay wracked with pain and failing fast, Shakur pleaded with his mother to help him end his life. Knight claims she allegedly gave him pills in an attempt to honor his wishes. 'The doctors came in and brought him back,' Knight recalls. 'And his mom [allegedly] said, 'Don't ever do that again. If he's having complications, don't touch him. Don't bring him back. Let him go.'' It was a mother's raw act of mercy, Knight says — a final promise to her son to respect his suffering. Doctors, trying to relieve pressure on his battered body, reportedly placed Shakur in a medically-induced coma and hooked him to a respirator, according to Knight. But the damage was irreversible. On September 13, at 4:03 p.m., Shakur was pronounced dead. What followed, Knight claims, was as surreal and raw as Tupac himself. Immediately after his death, Knight says Afeni, who died at age 60 in May 2016, turned to him and insisted her son be cremated, right then and there. 'She came up to me and said, 'Get it done. Now,'' Knight remembers. 'I told her, 'Look, I don't know if I can do that.'' He said he hesitated not out of defiance, but because Shakur, just weeks earlier, had allegedly laid out a different vision for his send-off. They had talked about it in the studio. 'He told me, 'When I go, I want every rapper at my funeral to grab the mic. I want them to kiss me head to toe. Just like in 'Life Goes On.'' Knight pauses. 'He didn't want to be cremated.' Related: Tupac Shakur's Mother Afeni Shakur Davis Dies at 69: Police But Afeni wouldn't hear it. 'She gave me one of those mama looks, like, 'Shut your a-- up and do what I said.' Then she started cussing me out. 'Get this sh-- done!'' Knight says. He did what she asked. 'I paid someone a million dollars cash to take care of it.' Later that night, a circle of Shakur's closest friends gathered to honor him the way they believed he would've wanted. The bag containing Tupac's cremated ashes was passed around. Some, allegedly, were rolled into a blunt and smoked. 'I was so happy to say I was on probation — I couldn't smoke,' Knight says. 'I told his mother, 'Moms, I'd love to, but if I hit that, I'll get in trouble.'' He laughs. 'I was probably the only one who didn't hit him.' Shakur came into the world already bearing the weight of revolution. His lyrics dripped with pain, purpose and paranoia — songs about "thug life," desperation and street justice that read like dispatches from the front lines of America's forgotten neighborhoods. But for all his fire and charisma, Shakur was, at his core, a troubled and sensitive soul. He spent his early years ricocheting through one inner-city zip code after another, chasing stability that never came. By the time the spotlight found him, Tupac had already become a walking contradiction: platinum-selling poet, convicted felon, street prophet, media pariah. Shakur's fourth album, All Eyez on Me, was climbing the charts again and had sold nearly 3 million copies, while his previous release, 1995's Me Against the World, sold 2 million copies. He appeared in three movies: Juice (1992), Poetic Justice (1993) and Above the Rim (1994) and just wrapped two 1997 films—Gridlock'd and Gang Related, in which he played a detective. Since '91, he'd been arrested eight times. He served eight months in prison for a sexual abuse conviction in 1994 and was named in two wrongful-death lawsuits — one involving a 6-year-old boy caught in the crossfire between Shakur's crew and rivals in Northern California in Marin City in 1992. It was settled for an undisclosed amount in November 1995. Still, nothing could match the chaos that followed his death. Rumors ignited within hours: who pulled the trigger, who ordered the hit, who knew more than they were saying. In a 179-page court filing submitted in 2024, prosecutors finally unpacked years of whispers and street talk in granular detail, laying out an explosive account of what allegedly happened before, during and after that fateful night in Las Vegas. The evening had started with spectacle: Mike Tyson knocked out Bruce Seldon at a boxing title match at the MGM Grand, where Knight and his Mob Piru Blood affiliates were in attendance. After the fight, the entourage ran into Orlando Anderson, an alleged South Side Crip connected to Bad Boy Records, then headed by Sean "Diddy" Combs. It wasn't a random encounter. The crew recognized Anderson from a previous scuffle where he allegedly tried to steal a Death Row necklace off Trevon "Tre" Lane. According to a 2009 police interview with Davis, the response was immediate and violent. Shakur, Knight, and Lane swarmed Anderson, throwing fists and kicks, dislocating his shoulder in the process. Security broke it up. By 8:55 p.m., the Death Row crew had left the building. But police haven't determined if Anderson or Smith allegedly pulled the trigger. The orders, prosecutors allege, came from Davis himself. According to grand jury testimony cited in the filing, Davis allegedly said he 'commanded' his soldiers (Anderson, Smith and driver Terry Brown) to 'confront Knight and Shakur and hunt them down.' Davis, who was riding in the passenger seat at the time of the shooting allegedly said he gave his gang members the 'ultimate green light to do something to their a----.' Davis added, according to the filing: 'Tupac chose the wrong game to play and the wrong n----s to play with." In the 2009 police interview, Davis said he obtained the firearm from drug trafficking associate Eric 'Zip' Martin. Homicide detective Dan Long asked Davis, 'Um, Puffy Combs. Does he play a role in this thing?' 'Yeah, I think he did,' Davis responded. 'That's what we think. That's word on the street.' He claimed that Diddy was terrified of Knight, and once, in front of a crowd of about 45 men, Combs allegedly said, "Man, ah, I would give anything for that dude['s] head," referring to Knight. According to Davis, 'He was real scared of the guy,' he continued. 'He said that s— in front of everybody.' 'Was [Combs] implying that he would pay to have it done?' Davis' attorney asked. 'Yeah, yeah,' Davis responded. 'He said it.' This wasn't the first time Combs and Knight had been at odds. At the 1995 Source Awards in New York City, Knight took a direct shot from the stage to diss Diddy without calling him out by name: 'Any artist out there that want to be an artist and stay a star, and don't have to worry about the executive producer trying to be all in the videos, all on the record, dancing… come to Death Row!' he said. Knight mocked Diddy for inserting his ad-libs on Bad Boy artists' songs and shimmying throughout their videos. 'It was real embarrassing the way he did it,' Davis said in his recorded statement to police. '[Diddy] was real scared of [Knight]. He didn't even want to come out here [to California]. Davis admitted Knight probably would have tried to kill Diddy if he'd had the chance. 'Did Puffy have any problems with Tupac?' Detective Long pressed Davis in 2009. '[Tupac] told [Diddy] he's a f----- and all that s---." Davis replied, claiming Combs had said, 'Yeah, f--- that dude.'" By then, the war between Bad Boy and Death Row was boiling over. After Tupac was ambushed and shot five times in the lobby of Quad Studios in Times Square 1994, he blamed Combs and the Bad Boy crew for setting him up, which Combs has always denied. But a year later, Combs released Biggie's single 'Who Shot Ya?' which was widely viewed as taking aim at Shakur, who responded with the vicious 'Hit 'Em Up,' pushing their rivalry to the brink. In the aftermath of Shakur's murder, new claims emerged. According to a grand jury exhibit cited in the prosecutors' filing in 2024, Davis alleged that Combs asked Davis after Shakur's murder, 'Is that us?' The filing states: 'Sean Combs reached out to defendant [Davis] wondering if South Side Crips were responsible for Shakur's death. Defendant, beaming with pride, answers, 'Yes.'' After the shooting, Davis claimed Combs owed him and his crew money. 'I knew we was like, 'Damn, we can get paid now,'' Davis said to police in 2009. A few months later, Davis said he met "Zip" Martin at a hot wings restaurant in Los Angeles. Although Davis claimed he had plenty of money back then, he wanted his nephew Anderson and his crew to get paid. Davis claimed Martin told him that he would check with Combs and have the money sent to them, but Martin never followed through. 'I wish I never met Puff Daddy, period, I swear to God,' Davis told police in 2009. 'He messed up my life, man. I was rich, up under the radar, all that, man. It's all gone.' Related: Tupac Shakur Murder Suspect Once Claimed Diddy Was Involved in Ordering Hit on Rapper and Suge Knight Years later, Knight finally got the confrontation he'd imagined. In June 2007, he says the moment he'd long anticipated finally arrived: an alleged face-to-face with Combs. But this wasn't some back-alley confrontation in Compton or backstage standoff, it happened at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, with Prince allegedly playing puppet master. 'I'm sitting there, eating,' Knight recalls, leaning into the memory like a punchline. 'And everybody's always thinking the gangster's the guy in the room looking all hard and tough. But let me tell you, the gangster was Prince.' According to Knight, the icon himself sent someone mid-show to summon him. 'They come over and say, 'Man, Prince is performing right now, and he wants you to come watch the show.' Who gonna say no to Prince? Sh--' Knight says, laughing. 'You already know.' Escorted through the venue, Knight was led to a special table Prince had set aside, which was prime real estate in a packed house. 'Prince comes up playing the guitar, I never seen Prince smile so much in my life,' Knight remembers. 'Laughing, happy. And I tell him, 'We both had two of the best rappers in hip-hop.'' Then, Knight saw the seating arrangement. 'He set me down at this table where Puffy was there. Nas was there, other people. Prince knew what he was doing. Must've been pissed at Puffy. I think he [allegedly] planted me at that table on purpose.' Knight claims the tension cracked soon after. 'I got under Puff's skin,' he says, claiming he whispered some things in his ear, it probably hit a nerve. 'I told him, 'Let's go to the restroom together and get it out of the way.' You know, settle it.' But Combs, Knight claims, wasn't interested in squaring up. 'He stood up, heated. That's when I realized he wasn't ready for it — 'cause not only did they rush him out, they [allegedly] threw coats and shit over his head so you couldn't see his face and had jackets to hide him.' For Knight, the moment was peak Hollywood meets hip-hop war story, velvet rope diplomacy brokered by the most unlikely shot-caller in purple. "This story is beyond ridiculous and completely false," Combs told in 2008 about a retracted Los Angeles Times story that claimed he had knowledge of Shakur's death. "Neither Biggie [Smalls, the late rapper] nor I had any knowledge of any attack before, during or after it happened. It is a complete lie to suggest that there was any involvement by Biggie or myself." Combs' legal team could not be reached for comment. 'I just want to take a deep breath and heal,' Knight says quietly, reflecting on the night that changed everything. Then, without hesitation, he adds: '[I believe] Diddy does deserve jail for it.' Knight also told PEOPLE in June he believes Combs deserves to be behind bars for assaulting Cassie Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel on March 5, 2016. Related: Suge Knight Says Diddy Belongs in Prison for Assaulting Cassie: 'Never Disrespect a Woman Like That' (Exclusive) For Knight, everything — his empire, his purpose, his identity — shifted after Tupac's death. He says it altered his life. It wasn't just the end of a great friendship; it was the death of an era. 'There is nothing better than Pac. There is no one greater than him, better than him,' Knight says, his voice thick with finality. The loss ran so deep, it pushed him out of the very world he helped define. 'After Tupac's passing, I exited the music business. 'Cause there was just... no way. I didn't wanna be in the studio with another artist. I didn't wanna go on tour with another artist. I didn't wanna. I lost trust in so many people. I lost trust in hip-hop.' Related: Tupac Shakur's Death: Details of the Rapper's 1996 Murder and Ongoing Investigation Even now, while incarcerated, he can't bring himself to play Tupac's music. The memories, once electric, are too heavy. 'Every time I heard a Tupac song, I didn't play it. Because it brought back so much... great things. But it made me wanna do bad things.' What still haunts him most is the look in Tupac's eyes that night in Vegas: the trust, the bond, the unspoken vow between them. 'When those bullets was going in the car, I knew I saved his life — for a little while. He trusted me. I knew he really loved me, and I loved him,' Knight says. 'I grabbed him, pulled him down. It was like slow motion. When something hits you in the head, your thoughts slow down. You just know, you're pretty much dead. And when Pac died, I saw the whole sky turn a reddish orange.' Knight didn't feel the pain. Not then. All he felt was responsibility. 'That was my watch. I got him out of prison. It was on me to make sure he became the artist everybody knew he already was… the best.' And even now, all these years later, Suge Knight is still trying to make peace with the weight of that promise. Read the original article on People
