Murder Was the Case

Last updated
Murder Was the Case
Snoop Dogg - Murder Was the Case.jpg
Soundtrack album by
ReleasedOctober 18, 1994
Recorded1994
StudioCan-Am Studios (Tarzana, Los Angeles)
Genre
Length68:30
Label
Producer
Death Row Records chronology
Above the Rim
(1994)
Murder Was the Case
(1994)
Death Row Greatest Hits
(1996)
Singles from Murder Was the Case
  1. "One More Day" / "What Would You Do?"
    Released: 1994
  2. "Natural Born Killaz"
    Released: December 18, 1994 [1]
  3. "U Better Recognize"
    Released: March 13, 1995

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?" by Tha Dogg Pound 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 three 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; it was later released on the soundtrack for his posthumously released film, Gang Related .

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]

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 was certified platinum on December 6, 1994 and it was certified 2× platinum with 2,030,000 copies sold on April 5, 1995.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Murder Was the Case (remix)" (Snoop Doggy Dogg) C. Broadus Dr. Dre 4:20
2."Natural Born Killaz" (Dr. Dre & Ice Cube)
4:51
3."What Would U Do?" (Tha Dogg Pound featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg)
Daz Dillinger 5:08
4."21 Jumpstreet" (Snoop Doggy Dogg & Tray Deee)
Daz Dillinger5:26
5."One More Day" (Nate Dogg) N. Hale Daz Dillinger5:18
6."Harvest for the World" (Jewell)Dr. Dre3:52
7."Who Got Some Gangsta Shit?" (Snoop Doggy Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, Lil' C-Style & Young Swoop G)
Soopafly 5:28
8."Come When I Call" (Danny Boy) D. Blake
4:55
9."U Better Recognize" (Sam Sneed featuring Dr. Dre) S. Anderson
  • Sam Sneed
  • Dr. Dre (co.)
3:54
10."Come Up to My Room" (Jodeci & Tha Dogg Pound)
4:37
11."Woman to Woman" (Jewell)
  • J. Banks
  • C. Marion
  • K. Thigpen
  • DJ Quik
  • George "G-One" Archie
  • Jewell
5:18
12."Dollaz + Sense" (DJ Quik)
  • D. Blake
  • G. Archie
DJ Quik5:53
13."The Eulogy" (Slip Capone & CPO)San Man4:48
14."Horny" (B-Rezell)
  • Kevin Lewis
  • Marc McWilliams
4:41
15."Eastside-Westside" (Young Soldierz)
  • W. Dillon
  • S. Doby
4:45
Total length:1:13:14
Cassette release exclusive
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
16."Hot Ones" (O.F.T.B.)
  • Flipside
  • Low M. B.
  • Bus Stop
  • Brian G
4:46
Total length:1:18:00

Samples

"21 Jumpstreet"

"Who Got Some Gangsta Shit?"

"Come When I Call"

"Woman to Woman"

"Dollaz & Sense"

'"Eastside-Westside"

Personnel

Cover versions

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [10] Gold50,000^
United States (RIAA) [11] 2× Platinum2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

  1. Chuck Philips (November 3, 1994). "Snoop Doggy Dogg's Still Tops With Album Buyers : Pop music: His 'Murder Was the Case,' the soundtrack to a short film that premieres tonight, remains atop the charts". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  2. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r206681
  3. "Murder Was the Case Soundtrack CD Album".
  4. "Soundtrack Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  5. "Soundtrack Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
  6. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  7. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  8. "Billboard 200 albums year end 1994". Billboard .
  9. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  10. "Canadian album certifications – Various artists – Murder Was The Case - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Music Canada.
  11. "American album certifications – Soundtrack – Murder Was the Case". Recording Industry Association of America.

Murder Was the Case at IMDb