During the 1990s, as co-founder and president of Death Row Records, Dr. Dre introduced an incredible crop of new talent. Snoop Dogg would go on to become a superstar and business mogul. However, with Snoop, several other artists were integral to 1992’s The Chronic and Snoop’s 1993 debut, Doggystyle. Now, as Snoop and Dre have reportedly reunited for a forthcoming Death Row album titled Missionary, these artists have resumed plans of a supergroup. This week, Tha Dogg Pound’s Daz Dillinger announced that he, Kurupt, The Lady Of Rage, and RBX are releasing an album as The N’Matez.
The title references the four artist’s time at Death Row Records. While RBX, a cousin of Snoop Dogg and Daz, was among the first artists to leave the label (reportedly after a dispute with former University of Las Vegas football teammate Suge Knight), Tha Dogg Pound would top the charts with their 1995 multi-platinum debut Dogg Food. Daz and Kurupt would each release solo albums at the imprint, following Dre’s 1996 departure. The Lady Of Rage did the same, releasing 1997’s Necessary Roughness after a hiatus that included having a child. Earlier this year, it was reported that Tha Dogg Pound have returned to Tha Row under Snoop’s ownership, and are preparing Dogg Food 2.
The N’Matez was a name used in Dre’s marketing materials for The Chronic. After touring together, the foursome linked for the Daz-produced “Trajical” in 2011. Now, Daz says he is executive producing a collection of 14 new-songs, and shared artwork. The acclaimed producer for Tupac, Nate Dogg, and others says he is handling the boards for December 9 single “Warning,” which he previewed in a post embedded below. Daz also announced plans through a newly-launched group website. On that same December 9, Daz and RBX’s cousin Snoop Dogg will release Snoop, Cube, 40, $hort with his Mount Westmore cohorts Ice Cube, E-40, and Too Short.
In 2022, Daz partner with Capone (of Capone-N-Noreaga) for Guidelinez. The two group members who made “New York, New York” and “L.A., L.A.,” respectively, are now working together. This followed plans of Tha Dogg Pound partnering with another former adversary, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, for an LP. Meanwhile, Kurupt released 7Ps: Tha Gotti Way. RBX worked with The Pharcyde’s Fatlip on video single “Wake Up.” After collaborating with MC Eiht in 2017, The Lady Of Rage endured some very serious health battles beginning with a pneumonia.
Prior to their 1992 Chronic work, Kurupt had appeared on an album with S.O.S. Band while Rage worked with Chubb Rock.
Last year, Kurupt made another surprise, releasing HRSMN’s The Last Ride with Ras Kass, Canibus, and Killah Priest. He spoke at length about the group and his Death Row days in an interview with Ambrosia For Heads‘ What’s The Headline podcast.