Tupac Shakur's Record Labels: A Complete History from Death Row to Interscope

Tupac Shakur's Record Labels: A Complete History from Death Row to Interscope

By Marcus Bennett

March 8, 2025 at 06:59 PM

Throughout his career, Tupac Shakur was signed to several major record labels, with Death Row Records being his most notable and final label affiliation. Let me break down his complete record label history chronologically.

Tupac's first major label deal was with Interscope Records in 1991, where he released his debut album "2Pacalypse Now." This partnership with Interscope continued through the release of his second album "Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z..." in 1993.

In 1995, while still technically under Interscope, Tupac signed to Death Row Records in a deal that would change his career forever. Suge Knight, Death Row's co-founder, famously posted Tupac's $1.4 million bail in exchange for signing with the label. This led to the release of "All Eyez on Me," Tupac's first Death Row album and the first double-disc rap album to be released.

During his time with Death Row Records, Tupac was still technically associated with Interscope, as Death Row operated as a subsidiary of Interscope Records. This arrangement allowed for wider distribution of his music while maintaining the Death Row brand.

Before his mainstream success, Tupac was briefly associated with Atron Gregory's TNT Records in the early 1990s as a member of Digital Underground, though this wasn't a formal solo artist contract.

The label timeline looks like this: - TNT Records (1989-1991) - As part of Digital Underground - Interscope Records (1991-1995) - Primary label - Death Row Records/Interscope (1995-1996) - Final label until his death

After Tupac's death in 1996, his unreleased recordings have been managed by his estate through various labels, including Death Row Records and Interscope, resulting in several posthumous album releases.

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