A major lawsuit has just rocked the world of hip-hop royalty. Lydia Harris, a former Death Row Records executive, has filed a new lawsuit against Snoop Dogg, Suge Knight, and several major music companies — claiming she was defrauded out of a $107 million payout she was awarded back in 2005.
Harris, who is also the ex-wife of Death Row’s co-founder Michael “Harry-O” Harris, says she never received the money she was owed, despite a court order in her favor nearly two decades ago.
According to Houston Chronicle, Harris originally sued Death Row back in 2002, claiming she invested $1.5 million to help launch the label in 1989 — but was cut out of the profits when the company exploded in success. Now, she’s taking legal action again, saying Snoop Dogg, Suge Knight, Interscope Records, Time Warner, and Universal Music Group all played a role in keeping her from her rightful earnings.
In the new lawsuit, Harris is seeking:
- Punitive damages
- Asset recovery
- A full accounting of Death Row’s financial records
💬 Suge Knight Blasts Snoop Over Death Row Ownership
This legal drama comes just weeks after Suge Knight criticized Snoop Dogg’s ownership of Death Row, accusing him of ruining the label’s legacy.
In an interview with The Art of Dialogue, Suge ranted:
“Snoop, you said I’m mad because you bought Death Row? What’d you buy? Show me the paperwork… You messed up the name.”
He continued by saying Snoop has made the label worse, calling recent efforts “flops” and accusing the rap veteran of taking Death Row “backwards instead of forward.”
📀 Snoop Responds with Pride in Death Row’s Future
Snoop Dogg officially acquired Death Row Records in 2022 and has since released two albums under the revived label:
- Bacc on Death Row
- Missionary
At the time of the purchase, Snoop expressed his excitement, saying:
“It feels good to have ownership of the label I was part of at the beginning of my career… This is an extremely meaningful moment for me.”
Houston woman files lawsuit against Death Row Records, Suge Knight and Snoop Dogg https://t.co/qdkb6cMFDH
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) March 18, 2025