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Who Is Suge Knight?
Suge Knight is a famous former professional football player, record producer, and music executive. He is also known as the former chief executive officer of Death Row Records. Moreover, people know him as having ties with Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur.
Personal Details
- Celebrity Name: Suge Knight
- Full Name: Marion Hugh “Suge” Knight, Jr.
- Gender: Male
- Birth Date: April 19, 1965
- Birth Place: Compton, California, US
- Age: 55
- Height: 1.88m
- Weight: 120 kilos
- Nationality: American
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Status: Divorced
- Wife: Michel’le, married since 1999-2007
- Children: Legend Knight, Andrew Knight, Posh Knight, Bailei Knight, Taj Knight
- Profession: American former music executive, record producer, and professional football player
- Net Worth: $500, 000
Early Life
Marion Hugh “Suge” Knight, Jr. was born on April 19, 1965, in Compton California to parents Marion Knight, Sr. and Maxine Dikemen. His nickname, “Suge,” came from “Sugar Bear,” his nickname as a child.
Suge attended Lynwood High School where he played football. He graduated in 1983. He then went to El Camino College and played football there for two years. In 1985, he transferred to the University of Nevada in Las Vegas and also played football there for two years.
After college, he failed to make it to the draft of the National Football League. However, he received an invitation from Rams, a training camp in Los Angeles. He was not one of the first-round players but played as a replacement.
Career
Suge was doing quite well in the National Football League, which helped him get a job as a concert promoter and a personal security guard for famous celebrities, like Bobby Brown. With his earnings, he created his own publishing house and studio. Over time, his company was a success that made a lot of profits.
One of the company’s notable achievements was when Robert Winkle, better known as Vanilla Ice, agreed to purchase the song, “Ice, Ice, Baby.”
At the same time, he arranged an artist management organization with the popular west coast hip-hop artists, D.J. Quik and D.O.C. The D.O.C set up Suge a meeting with N.W.A, a known gangster rap group.
Death Row Records
With the meeting with N.W.A, Suge aided Dr. Dre and the D.O.C when they made the decision to go separate ways with Ruthless Records. After they left the label, Suge along with Dr. Dre and D.O.C, founded Death Records in 1991. Suge worked with various music organizations for the distribution of the group’s videos and music.
In 1992, Dr. Dre released his first solo album, “Chronic.” It reached triple platinum in the US in 1993. This success gave Snoop Dogg, Dre’s protege, whose first album, “Doggystyle,” reached quadruple platinum status in the United States in 1994.
Death Row eventually started a rivalry between Luther Campbell, a member of 2 Live Crew. In 1993, Suge went to Miami and was believed to have carried a stolen gun. In 1995, he started a private nightclub, Club 662, that is by appointment only in Las Vegas. Club 662 stands for “MOB or “Member of Bloods.”
Suge and McHammer
In 1988, Suge developed a friendship with McHammer. They started working together after the success of his album, The Funky Headhunter. Suge, Tupac, McHammer, and two of his friends all agreed to sign with Rous Records. They launched various songs, including the hit song, “Too Late Player.”
The group’s reputation slowly declined due to multiple crimes, many of which are gang-related. This had caused various artists to slowly leave the group. Some members, particularly Tupac, were killed with Suge as the main suspect.
Awards and Achievements
Suge only won one award in his entire career – “Soundtrack of the Year” in 1995.
Total Net Worth 2020
To date, Suge Knight is believed to have a total net worth of $500,000. Most of his wealth came from his music career – as a founder of a music production organization and as a music executive. He has also earned from his previous jobs as a footballer and personal guard of famous celebrities.
