9.4 /10 1 Votes9.4
4.7/5 Discogs Recorded 1993-1994 Label Death RowInterscope Story by Snoop Dogg | 4.6/5 Released October 15, 1994 Length 68:30 Initial release 14 February 1995 (USA) Music director Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre Gangsta RapG-funkWest Coast hip hopR&B Producer Dr. DreDat Nigga DazSam SneedSoopaflyDJ QuikDeVante Swing Directors Dr. Dre, Ricky Harris, F. Gary Gray, Fab 5 Freddy Cast Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, Tupac Shakur, Ricky Harris, Charlie Murphy Similar The Wash, Above the Rim, Bones, Up in Smoke Tour, Hood of Horror |
Murder Was the Case is a 1994 short film and soundtrack album starring and performed by Snoop Doggy Dogg. The 18 minute film was directed by Dr. Dre and Fab Five Freddy and chronicles the fictional death of Snoop Dogg and his resurrection after making a deal with the Devil. The film's title comes from Snoop's song of the same name from his debut album, Doggystyle, which had been released a year earlier.
Contents
The single "What Would You Do" was included on the Natural Born Killers soundtrack and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in the 38th Annual Grammy Awards in 1996. The album was re-released with a bonus DVD containing 3 music videos on July 11, 2006.
Tupac Shakur was paid $200,000 by Death Row Records owner Suge Knight to record a song for the album, but the track ("Life's So Hard" featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg) was never used on the official soundtrack release. However, it was later released on the soundtrack for Gang Related after his death.
Reception
Commercial performance
In the United States, on the chart dated November 5, 1994, Murder Was the Case debuted on the Billboard 200 at number one, powered by first week sales 329,000 units. The album opened at the top spot of the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
The following week it stayed on top with 197,000 copies sold and was certified Gold. The album is certified 2x platinum with 2,030,000 copies sold.
Samples
"21 Jumpstreet"
"Who Got That Gangsta Shit"
"Come When I Call"
"Woman to Woman"
"Dollaz & Sense"
'"Eastside-Westside"