With this acclaim, however, came criticism from various sources over the gangsta rap image that was being perpetuated. Dre and Snoop Dogg, Death Row and Interscope became powerful labels in the industry, both collectively and respectively. Released in December, the album became a seminal hit into the new year eventually going triple platinum, and furthermore introduced the then up-and-coming Snoop Dogg-whose own debut album Doggystyle was released in late 1993 and became a monstrous success as well, selling over 800,000 in its first week of release.įollowing the success of Dr. The joint venture hit pay-dirt when Death Row and Interscope released The Chronic, the solo debut album from Dr. Dre in the formation of Death Row Records, and arranged for Interscope to distribute its records. That changed when, in 1992, Iovine financially assisted Suge Knight and Dr. Though Interscope seemed to be on a roll with its first few releases, the label was faced with criticism for manufacturing what was considered cookie-cutter hip-hop. During this time, Interscope also signed rapper Tupac Shakur, Primus, No Doubt, and Nine Inch Nails. The label's first release was Latin-rapper Gerardo, who scored a top 5 gold hit with 'Rico Suave' in the spring of 1991. A&R Executive John McClain and producer Beau Hill were also part of the original founding team. Upon their launch, they were initially distributed by Atlantic Records subsidiary East West Records. Interscope was formed in 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field with financial support from Atlantic Records which owned a 53% stock in the label. Interscope Records is an US record label owned by Universal Music Group and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.

Interscope records