Death Row Records co-founder Michael 'Harry-O' Harris explains how management friction at Ruthless Records opened the door to creating Death Row Records with Dr. Dre and Suge Knight.
“I don't think that Eazy-E, rest in peace, and Jerry Heller, also deceased, understood what, understood Dre's value to the point where it shouldn't have been, ah, overlooked, and so that opened up an opportunity”
quote is from the automated transcript, cleaned for reading:
filler sounds and stutters are removed, nothing is rephrased. names can be misheard
(the analysis reads context, assessments check outside sources). how →
More from Michael "Harry-O" Harris
What-if
Harris: Suge Knight could have been a top entrepreneur without imploding
“I think Shud was really creative, and he was in the right place at the right time, and he was able to connect the right people, and so in the beginning, Shud, to me, could have been one of our Biggest entrepreneurs. Had he not, ah, imploded, you know”
Michael "Harry-O" HarrisFeb 17, 2023▶ 45:47The Story Of Death Row Records Co-Founder Harry-O (#421)
Disclosure
Harris: My cocaine operation generated approximately $2 million per day at peak
“Yeah, I think it said two. I'm not proud of that, so.”
Michael "Harry-O" HarrisFeb 17, 2023▶ 19:16The Story Of Death Row Records Co-Founder Harry-O (#421)
AssertionSupported
Harris: Attorney David Kenner helped me assemble Death Row from prison
“I worked with my attorney at the time that was working with me on my appeal. David Kenner was also part of that partnership that helped assemble that company for me while I was behind bars.”
Michael "Harry-O" HarrisFeb 17, 2023▶ 29:11The Story Of Death Row Records Co-Founder Harry-O (#421)
AssertionNot checkable as stated
Warner Brothers almost exited the music industry due to Death Row
“From Universal to increasing their distribution because of his relationship with Death Row and Interscope, and Warner Brothers almost getting out of the music business because of the way they mishandled their relationship with Death Row and Interscope.”
Michael "Harry-O" HarrisFeb 17, 2023▶ 31:29The Story Of Death Row Records Co-Founder Harry-O (#421)
Insight
Harris: Farming out excess limo bookings pays a 50% broker fee
“I would parlay it out to what they call form out to the other companies, which you get 50% of the service that is conducted... You get half of what it is because you're the one who initiated the sale.”
Michael "Harry-O" HarrisFeb 17, 2023▶ 3:21The Story Of Death Row Records Co-Founder Harry-O (#421)
Opinion
Harris: Public perception unfairly conflates all Death Row Records members together
“Probably later on when the death row stuff happened, I just think people conflate everybody's attitude as one, and, you know, we all were different, you know, we all came from different, ah, vantage points to help create that, and I just think that sometimes p…”
Michael "Harry-O" HarrisFeb 17, 2023▶ 16:09The Story Of Death Row Records Co-Founder Harry-O (#421)
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