The mid-1990s were a time of great change in the rap music industry. The West Coast was at the forefront of the genre and Death Row Records was the label leading the charge. Founded by Suge Knight in 1991, Death Row was home to some of the biggest names in rap, including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. However, in 1996, just months after Death Row signed Tupac, Dr. Dre split with the label over a contract dispute. Dre would go on to partner with Interscope Records’ Jimmy Iovine to launch Aftermath Records.

At the time of his departure, Dr. Dre was one of the most successful producers in the rap industry. He had produced a number of hit songs for Death Row, including Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and Juice” and Tupac’s “California Love”. He was also the executive producer of the label’s biggest album, The Chronic, which was released in 1992.

The contract dispute between Dr. Dre and Death Row Records was the result of a number of issues. First, Dre was unhappy with the way he was being treated by Suge Knight and the other executives at the label. He felt that he was not being given the respect he deserved and that his creative contributions were not being properly acknowledged.

Second, Dre was unhappy with the financial terms of his contract. He felt that he was not being adequately compensated for his work and that he was not receiving the royalties he was owed. Finally, Dre was unhappy with the direction the label was taking. He felt that Death Row was becoming too focused on gangsta rap and that the label was not allowing him to explore other musical styles.

In response to Dre’s dissatisfaction, Suge Knight and the other executives at Death Row offered him a new contract. However, Dre refused to sign the contract and instead decided to leave the label. He then partnered with Interscope Records’ Jimmy Iovine to launch Aftermath Records.

The departure of Dr. Dre from Death Row Records was a major blow to the label. Without Dre’s production skills and creative vision, Death Row was unable to maintain its status as the leading rap label. The label’s fortunes began to decline and it eventually went bankrupt in 2006.

In the years since his departure from Death Row, Dr. Dre has gone on to become one of the most successful producers in the music industry. He has produced a number of hit songs and albums, including Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP and 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’. He has also launched a successful headphone line, Beats by Dre, and has become one of the wealthiest hip-hop artists in the world.

The departure of Dr. Dre from Death Row Records was a major turning point in the rap music industry. It marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. Dre’s success since leaving the label has shown that it was the right decision for him and has proven that artists can achieve success outside of the major labels.