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By Paul Russell
10/25/2002 6:59:08 AM
 If there is such a thing as being away in the rap game, Tha Row Records is doing exactly that. Suge Knight's label who prides itself on its signature in-house production and in-house records is going outside as of late. Crooked I, Tha Row's number one act and hopeful soon to be superstar will star on the "Baby Remix" listen with Ashanti Douglass on the upcoming Murder Inc. album "Irv Gotti Presents...The Remixes." Row rapper Eastwood, is on the upcoming Rappin 4-Tay album titled "Gangsta Gumbo" on a cut titled "Burnin Burnin." Other Row upcomer Young Spider Loc appears alongside label mate Eastwood on the jam "All About My Dollars" on the "Vegas Hog Livin'" album released earlier this month by Space Hog The Boss. Tha Row's Big 3 (Eastwood, Kurupt, and Crooked I) also recorded a track some time ago with Benzino alongside business partners Murder Inc. titled "Go Hard."
Speaking of going outside, Tha Row has never gone East for a large amount of guest appearances until now. "The west don't feel the same, I don't care what any body says, it don't feel like it did when Death Row was doing they're thing." Crooked I planned to make a statement to his coast with his upcoming album by not only restoring it, but going outside to the East Coast with guest appearances such as Ja Rule, Caddillac Tah, The Lox, Sisqo of Dru Hill, and possibly Jay-Z. Crooked I eluded to the weakness of his coast and need to restore it by stating with a laugh, "...there ain't that many things going on over here right now. Who else on the West Coast right now am I feeling, that's a shame man there just ain't that many." Tha Row will not be going with the Darren Vegas and Cold187um assisted track "So Damn Hood" for the first single and has decided on a new cut to hit the radio with for the album. Be on the lookout in the near future for a brand new exclusive interview with StreetHop that Crooked I conducted with our site.
Tha Row also geared the success for upcoming albums by Jay-Z, Toni Braxton, Ja Rule, and Nas. Toni Braxton has an Irv Gotti produced track which samples the "Me And My Girlfriend" classic on Death Row Tupac's "Makaveli The Don: Killuminati The 7 Day Theory" album. As well as Gotti working behind the boards with the classic, Jay-Z also samples the hit and sings the same chorus that Tupac carried on the track. The Jay-Z cut is called "Bonnie & Clyde" and includes a great guest performance by Beoynce Knowells of Destiny's Child. Both tracks are the first singles on their upcoming albums. Suge Knight also cleared the way for his close friend and business partner Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. label to use Tupac material on the upcoming Ja Rule album titled "My Last Temptation," as well as the upcoming Nas album.
With Knight going outside of the label and relying on guest appearances to assist in promoting his new acts, his at heart in-house tactics still remain. Being the first label to spout the famous chain necklaces behind their roster's necks and the first gangsta artists to hit the mainstream radio, Knight has kept his label's originality in tact. On Tha Row's upcoming albums by N.I.N.A., Tupac, and Crooked I, they all contain Tha Row's signature in-house production team. Expect Crooked I's Triple 7 Crew, which is Jim Gettolium (Get Um), Darren Vegas, and Crooked I himself. Look for Monster-O of the Boo Ya Tribe to lace some beats as well. Business partner Irv Gotti also gears up a few bangers for the late Tupac. All three albums include guest appearances by Tha Row's in-house artists Crooked I, Eastwood, Danny Boy, and Row vice-president and rapper Kurupt.
Tha Row Records, also known as Death Row Records, has sold over 60 million records since it first debuted with its first album "The Chronic" in 1992. One thing you can expect with Tha Row
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