Dr. Dre's Attorney Refutes Snoop Dogg's Claim He Owns 'The Chronic'

Snoop Dogg recently sat down with TIDAL‘s Chief Content Director Elliott Wilson for an extensive interview about Death Row Records, the Super Bowl LVI Pepsi Halftime Show and several other topics. During the conversation, Snoop Dogg said he’d acquired Dr. Dre’s 1992 solo debut The Chronic along with other classic Death Row releases.

But now, Dr. Dre’s attorney is refuting those claims. In a statement obtained by Complex, Howard King assured people the Beats By Dre mogul is still in control of the lauded Hip Hop album: “There are false reports out regarding ownership by Death Row of Dr. Dre’s The Chronic. Dr. Dre owns 100 percent of The Chronic.”

Snoop Dogg announced he’d purchased the Death Row Records brand in February. Initially it was believed he’d have full control over the iconic label’s catalog, with the exception of 2Pac’s All Eyez On Me and The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory and The Chronic. But speaking to Wilson, the West Coast rap legend painted a different picture.

“To be in control of the brand means that I got all of the pieces that I need to do what I got to do, from the masters to the publishing, to the IP, to the label, to the logo, to everything,” he said. “It’s all mine. I’m able to move it around and do what I need to do with it. As far as 2Pac’s masters, 2Pac’s masters came back to him last year.

“But I got a great relationship with his estate, and I’m pretty sure we’re going to be able to work something out … to continue some Death Row 2Pac business now that Snoop Dogg is in control of Death Row. Same with Dr. Dre and The Chronic. I got The Chronic album. I got Doggystyle, Tha Doggfather, Murder Was the Case, Dogg Food, Above the Rim. I got all those records.”

Billboard initially reported The Chronic was expected to return to Dr. Dre in 2023, meaning that “could give Snoop Dogg time to negotiate with Dr. Dre to try and keep the album on the label, even if it’s only through a distribution deal.”