Death Row Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album and second double album released by Death Row Records. Released on November 26, 1996, the thirty-three song compilation contains hits by former and then-current Death Row artists as well as previously unreleased tracks and remixes. The album peaked at number 35 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum on August 12, 1999.

Background

2Pac's inclusion

To counter cannibalising sales of other 1996 Death Row releases, no songs from 2Pac's All Eyez on Me and The 7 Day Theory and Snoop Dogg's Tha Doggfather were included on the compilation. From the seven tracks on the compilation that feature 2Pac, only two were recorded during his time spent at Death Row Records; "Hit 'Em Up" and "Smile For Me Now", which are both non-album tracks. Four of the other five tracks were songs previously released under Interscope Records before his signing to Death Row. The other track, "Pour Out a Little Liquor", was recorded before 2Pac's time at Death Row, however, it was originally released on the 1994 Death Row soundtrack, Above the Rim. The four songs not affiliated with Death Row were able to be included on the album because Interscope, at that time, was the parent company and distributor of Death Row Records. In 2003, tracks from the other 1996 Death Row albums were featured on the compilation's follow-up, Death Row Greatest Hits, Volume 2.

Rare and exclusive music

Disc two of the compilation is mostly made up of remixes and new tracks, notable inclusions being:

Diss tracks aimed at Dr. Dre

Following suit with 2Pac's The 7 Day Theory, Death Row continues to show animosity towards former signee and co-founder, Dr. Dre, by including a diss track directed towards the rapper/producer on each disc of the release. The diss tracks included were: It is heavily rumoured that Suge Knight is responsible for casting the inklings of animosity towards Dr. Dre on the album, as he, CEO of Death Row Records and known instigator, served as executive producer on the album.

Artwork

The album's cover and insert artwork was designed by California based artist, Ronald "Riskie" Brent, a recurrent Death Row collaborator. Brent was also commissioned to create covers and inserts for albums such as All Eyez on Me, The 7 Day Theory, Tha Doggfather, Christmas on Death Row, and Retaliation, Revenge and Get Back.

Track listing

Personnel

Vocalists Instrumentalists Producers Technical Additional

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications