Sam Sneed
Encyclopedia
Sam Sneed is a producer
and rapper. He originally got his start working as a producer for K-Solo
and the Hit Squad
.
, releasing only one single, "U Better Recognize
" featuring Dr. Dre
, in 1994. The single appeared on the Murder Was the Case soundtrack, and peaked at #16 on the Billboard
Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
chart, #18 on the Hot Rap Tracks
chart and #48 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.. He became well known for a catchphrase, "My name is Sam Sneed, you better recognize!" which originally appeared on the Snoop Dogg debut album, Doggystyle
. He also appeared in the Death Row movie, Murder Was the Case
.
Sam Sneed also co-produced the hit songs "Keep Their Heads Ringin'
" and "Natural Born Killaz
" with Dr. Dre. "Natural Born Killaz" was originally supposed to be a Sam Sneed and J-Flexx
song called "The Heist". The original alternate version of "Natural Born Killaz" with Sam Sneed rapping a verse was released on the Ultimate Death Row Collection on November 24, 2009. He recorded an album on Death Row Records with his group Street Scholars in 1996 which included J-Flexx
, Sharief (now known as Killer Ben), Vance Buford & Drauma (now known as Stocks McGuire) which remains unreleased.
In 2010 Death Row/WIDEawake announced the release date for Sam Sneed's album Street Scholars, which will contain 4 unreleased songs from Sneed's time on Death Row along with 10 newly recorded tracks. The album is slated for Jan 25th 2011.
in 1999, which put a temporary halt to his career; he has since recovered and is once again an active hip hop
producer. He has since produced songs for the likes of G-Unit
, Scarface
, Jay-Z
and many others, Sam went to work with Dr.Dre in 2007 again, but nothing manifested. Since then he has started a new company 'Nustarz Entertainment' with his business partner Craig "Stretch" Mason, the label features new artists managed by Sam such as The Boy Goldy, Money Ink and surprisingly a British rapper named Nat Powers
, who will be releasing his debut album in 2012. Nat Powers
is the first British artist to be signed by a Westcoast associated rapper in the history of Westcoast music. Nat's debut LP will be Produced by Sam Sneed, Clinton Sparks
, Beat Maker Beat, as well as himself, with him doubling up as a Producer as well as a Rapper. Nat has also developed strong relationships with Daz Dillinger
, RBX
, Lady of Rage
, Curtis Young (Son of Dr.Dre) amongst a dozen other Westcoast legends, being the first of his kind to collaborate with such names. With the guidance of Sam as is Mentor and Manager, Powers is currently also writing his own book, and creating a music score to an upcoming feature film due to be released in 2012.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and rapper. He originally got his start working as a producer for K-Solo
K-Solo
K-Solo is an American rapper from Central Islip, New York who, along with EPMD, Redman, Das EFX, and Keith Murray, was part of the Hit Squad in 1990s.-Late years:...
and the Hit Squad
Hit Squad
The Hit Squad was a 1990s hip hop collective of East coast hip hop artists formed by Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith better known as EPMD. The collective separated when EPMD broke up for the first time in 1993, later reforming as Def Squad.-Career:...
.
Death Row Records
In 1993 he was signed to Death Row RecordsDeath Row Records
Death Row Records is a record label founded in 1991 by Marion "Suge" Knight Jr., Andre Young , Tracy Lynn Curry and Michael Harris . It is known to have been home to many popular West Coast hip hop artists such as Dr...
, releasing only one single, "U Better Recognize
U Better Recognize
U Better Recognize was Sam Sneed's first and only single while he was on Death Row Records. The B-Side was Come When I Call by Danny Boy-Single Information:U Better Recognize featuring Dr. Dre, in 1994...
" featuring Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
, in 1994. The single appeared on the Murder Was the Case soundtrack, and peaked at #16 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes...
chart, #18 on the Hot Rap Tracks
Hot Rap Tracks
Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single...
chart and #48 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.. He became well known for a catchphrase, "My name is Sam Sneed, you better recognize!" which originally appeared on the Snoop Dogg debut album, Doggystyle
Doggystyle
Doggystyle is the debut album from American rapper Snoop Dogg; released by Death Row Records on November 23, 1993. The album was recorded soon following the release of Dr. Dre's landmark debut album The Chronic , to which Snoop Dogg contributed significantly. His musical stylizations for the album...
. He also appeared in the Death Row movie, Murder Was the Case
Murder Was the Case
Murder Was the Case is a 1994 short film and soundtrack album starring 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...
.
Sam Sneed also co-produced the hit songs "Keep Their Heads Ringin'
Keep Their Heads Ringin'
"Keep Their Heads Ringin" is a single by Dr. Dre taken from the soundtrack of the movie Friday. Although the album was released on Priority Records, Death Row Records still owns the masters to the song...
" and "Natural Born Killaz
Natural Born Killaz
"Natural Born Killaz" is a single from the reunited duo of Dr. Dre and Ice Cube originally intended for the scrapped album 'Heltah Skeltah'. It is the first time the two had been on a single together since their rap group N.W.A had split up. The single was released in 1994 in the US and 1995 in the...
" with Dr. Dre. "Natural Born Killaz" was originally supposed to be a Sam Sneed and J-Flexx
J-Flexx
James E. Anderson better known as J-Flexx is a former artist/producer of Death Row Records.-Life On Death Row:J-Flexx spent several years ghostwriting lyrics for Dr. Dre during his tenure at Death Row Records. The first song he co-wrote in that collaboration, "Natural Born Killaz," became a Top 40...
song called "The Heist". The original alternate version of "Natural Born Killaz" with Sam Sneed rapping a verse was released on the Ultimate Death Row Collection on November 24, 2009. He recorded an album on Death Row Records with his group Street Scholars in 1996 which included J-Flexx
J-Flexx
James E. Anderson better known as J-Flexx is a former artist/producer of Death Row Records.-Life On Death Row:J-Flexx spent several years ghostwriting lyrics for Dr. Dre during his tenure at Death Row Records. The first song he co-wrote in that collaboration, "Natural Born Killaz," became a Top 40...
, Sharief (now known as Killer Ben), Vance Buford & Drauma (now known as Stocks McGuire) which remains unreleased.
In 2010 Death Row/WIDEawake announced the release date for Sam Sneed's album Street Scholars, which will contain 4 unreleased songs from Sneed's time on Death Row along with 10 newly recorded tracks. The album is slated for Jan 25th 2011.
After Death Row
Sneed was diagnosed with a brain tumorBrain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
in 1999, which put a temporary halt to his career; he has since recovered and is once again an active hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
producer. He has since produced songs for the likes of G-Unit
G-Unit
G-Unit is an American hip hop group originating from New York City formed by 50 Cents. G-Unit emerged on the New York scene by independently releasing several mix tapes...
, Scarface
Scarface (rapper)
Brad Terrence Jordan , better known by his stage name Scarface, is an American rapper, and recording artist from Houston, Texas and a member of the Geto Boys. He is originally from South Park, Houston.-Life and career:...
, Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
and many others, Sam went to work with Dr.Dre in 2007 again, but nothing manifested. Since then he has started a new company 'Nustarz Entertainment' with his business partner Craig "Stretch" Mason, the label features new artists managed by Sam such as The Boy Goldy, Money Ink and surprisingly a British rapper named Nat Powers
Nat Powers
Nat Powers is a British rapper, producer and multi-talentened musician from Leicester, England who became the first British-Rapper to sign with a Westcoast rap affiliated artist in the history of Hip Hop.Sam Sneed signed Nat in 2010, acting as his Manager and Mentor.-Early Years:In 1999, he began...
, who will be releasing his debut album in 2012. Nat Powers
Nat Powers
Nat Powers is a British rapper, producer and multi-talentened musician from Leicester, England who became the first British-Rapper to sign with a Westcoast rap affiliated artist in the history of Hip Hop.Sam Sneed signed Nat in 2010, acting as his Manager and Mentor.-Early Years:In 1999, he began...
is the first British artist to be signed by a Westcoast associated rapper in the history of Westcoast music. Nat's debut LP will be Produced by Sam Sneed, Clinton Sparks
Clinton Sparks
Clinton Sparks is a Boston-based radio, mixtape & Club DJ as well as a recording artist, writer, producer and TV personality.-Biography:...
, Beat Maker Beat, as well as himself, with him doubling up as a Producer as well as a Rapper. Nat has also developed strong relationships with Daz Dillinger
Daz Dillinger
Delmar Drew Arnaud , better known by his stage name Daz Dillinger is an American hip hop producer and rapper mostly known for his membership in the rap duo Tha Dogg Pound, with Kurupt, and his work with Death Row Records.-The Chronic, Tha Dogg Pound and Dogg Food:Daz began his career on Death Row...
, RBX
RBX
Eric Dwayne Collins, better known by his stage name RBX , is a former rapper and R&B singer from Long Beach, California...
, Lady of Rage
Lady of Rage
Robin Yvette Allen , better known by her stage name The Lady of Rage, is an American rapper and actress best known for collaborations with several Death Row Records artists, including Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg on the seminal albums The Chronic and Doggystyle...
, Curtis Young (Son of Dr.Dre) amongst a dozen other Westcoast legends, being the first of his kind to collaborate with such names. With the guidance of Sam as is Mentor and Manager, Powers is currently also writing his own book, and creating a music score to an upcoming feature film due to be released in 2012.
Discography
- Street ScholarsStreet Scholars- Personnel :* Sam Sneed – vocals, keyboards, producer* Dr Dre – Vocals ,Engineer, Mixing* Brian Atmore – Keyboards* Stu Bullard – Keyboards* Tony Burgess – producer* Terrence Cash – Mixing* Tom Daugherty – Engineer* Jon Dough – producer...
(2011)