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Christmas On Death RowIn the All Music Guide, Stephen Thomas Erlewine writes, "In theory, a holiday album by the most vulgar and violent rap label should be a wonderfully tasteless guilty pleasure, but Christmas On Death Row (1996) doesn't quite meet expectations."

Well said! Rather understated, actually. Like Mr. Erlewine, I expected the ghetto Christmas party of all time when I purchased this joint from Suge Knight's totemic West Coast rap label, Death Row Records, a notorious hip hop house of horrors. Right out of the gate, Death Row had given us rap classics The Chronic (1992) by Dr. Dre and Doggystyle (1993) by Snoop Doggy Dogg. In 1995, Knight literally sprung Tupac Shakur (aka 2Pac) from jail and signed him to the label, leading to his artistic and commercial triumph, All Eyez On Me, the following year. But, there was no shortage of actual chaos and carnage at the label - beefs, assaults, murders, arrests, trials, and jailtime. Death Row was, by all accounts, the embodiment of Thug Life. In 1996, Snoop Dogg was tried for murder (and acquitted) in February, Dr. Dre abandoned the label in March, Tupac was murdered in September, and Suge Knight was arrested on a parole violation in October - all before Christmas On Death Row was released in December. Knight was convicted the following February and sentenced to nine years in prison. In March, East Coast rapper Notorious B.I.G. was gunned down, allegedly in retaliation for 2Pac's death.

So, my expectations for Christmas On Death Row were based in reality - both musical and criminal. But, instead of a wild party, slammin' beats, and lyrical beatdowns, the album is packed with flaccid slow jams, rote carols, and sanctimonious gospel music. Most of Christmas On Death Row is characterized by the sort of overly lush production and excessively melismatic singing that has all but destroyed rhythm 'n' blues - at least from an old school perspective.

15 Years On Death Row: The Definitive CollectionPassin' Out Gifts

All the same, across its long, 16-track, 72-minute programme, Christmas On Death Row yields a few winners, most notably Snoop Dogg's "Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto," recorded with frequent collaborator Nate Dogg, as well as shorties Dat Nigga Daz, Tray Deee, and Bad Azz. I hasten to specify that this is a completely different song than "Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto," a funky 1968 track by James Brown - though Snoop and Nate might have intended it as a sequel. Based on a sample from Isaac Hayes' 1971 hit "Do Your Thing," the song is a simple, funky celebration of the season. "We passin' out gifts, blazin' up spliffs," raps Snoop, "Christmas on the Row, can you dig it?"

Snoop's "Santa Claus" starts off the album with a bang, but it's largely downhill from there. More than half the tracks consist of mushy, unimaginative arrangements of holiday standards both traditional ("Silver Bells," "Silent Night," "White Christmas") and modern (Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas," Smokey Robinson's "Christmas Everyday"). Of the remaining original songs, only three stand out:

  • Christmas In The Ghetto by Operation From The Bottom (aka O.F.T.B.), who consisted of three actual gang members from the Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles. O.F.T.B. is best remembered for several collaborations with 2Pac.
  • I Wish by Tha Dogg Pound featuring rappers Kurupt and Daz Dillinger. They are most notable for their #1 album Dogg Food (1995), as well as collaborations with (again) 2Pac and MC Hammer - an early Suge Knight associate. Both Dogg Pound rappers would subsequently score further success as solo acts.
  • Peaceful Christmas by Danny Boy, an aspirational ballad that is very much at odds with the violent reality of Death Row Records. Danny's Boy's real name was Daniel Steward, and he recorded lots of tracks and cameos for the label. Ultimately, though, he released just one album for Death Row more than a decade later, the wryly titled It's About Time (2010).

Snoop Dogg Presents... Christmas In Tha DogghouseHe Was From the North Side

Ironically, though not coincidentally, I backed my way into Christmas On Death Row by way Snoop Dogg's dank, hilarious "'Twas The Night Before Christmas." Perhaps unrealistically, I expected Christmas On Death Row to be stuffed with good shit like that. The song was first released on Kevin & Bean's Family Christmas...In Your Ass (1997), one of a long series of annual compilations by Los Angeles radio station KROQ. It was recorded with Nate Dogg during, I suspect, sessions for Tha Doggfather (1996), and possibly produced by Dr. Dre - though Family Christmas gives no specifics.


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"We was hopin' to get some of that good shit from ol' Jolly Saint Nick," Snoop announces. "Then a fat red pimp, got out his ride," reports Nate, and was clear "he was from the North Side." Snoop lights up a joint and asks, "Yo, Santa, whuzzup? Did you bring me some chronic, and Tanqueray gin I can mix with my tonic?" Indeed, Santa delivers the goods, wishing Snoop and Nate, "Merry Christmas to all you motherfuckers, and to all a good high."

Sadly, Snoop Dogg's"Night Before Christmas" was not included on Christmas On Death Row, and, it has never otherwise been reissued - and those KROQ compilations can be tough to find. In the absence of such glib irreverence - and Dr. Dre's mad production skillz - Christmas On Death Row is an oddly glum, joyless affair. If that sort of thing appeals to you, fine. I'd rather be hangin' in the 'hood with Snoop, Nate, and Dre, enjoying "my bitch on my jock giving holiday head"....

Snoop Dogg's Funky ChristmasPostscript

Snoop Dogg acrimoniously left Death Row Records in 1998, his last single for the label being the poetically titled "Fuck Death Row." He subsequently became a kinder, gentler rapper, even famously striking up a friendship and partnership with lifestyle maven Martha Stewart. In the process, Snoop developed an affinity for holiday music, albeit infused with hip hop and sticky herb.

First, Snoop Dogg contributed to "Santa Baby," an all-star collaboration by Rev. Run (of Run-D.M.C.) for A Very Special Christmas 3 (1997). In 2008, Snoop compiled his own Christmas In Tha Dogghouse, featuring old homies like Tha Dogg Pound, Nate Dogg, and Kurupt alongside a young crop of aspiring singers and rappers. Later, Snoop released the singles, "New Year's Eve" (2010), "Funky Christmas" (2020), and "Doggy Dogg Christmas" (2020). Admittedly, all this was long after I'd ceased to care much about Snoop Dogg's hijinks, but his tracks always make me smile when they pop up in my voluminous Christmas mix.

Suge Knight ultimately served only five years of his nine-year bid, and he retained control of Death Row Records the whole time. But, in 2006, Death Row filed for bankruptcy, shuttered, and was then sold off. Most of what was subsequently released under their banner was old or previously unreleased material, including 15 Years On Death Row: The Definitive Collection, an expansive two-CD-plus-DVD label retrospective. Meanwhile, Knight was subsequently charged with numerous additional crimes and sent back to prison. But, in 2022, none other than Snoop Dogg bought Death Row, promising to return the label to its former glory. All I can say is, fo' shizzle!

Consumer Notes

Christmas On Death Row was originally issued in 1996 on one compact disc or two vinyl LP's. It was remastered on CD in 2001, easily identified by the big green stripe across the front that says (wait for it) "digitally remastered." In 2017, it was reissued again, this time on green vinyl, and it is also available for download and streaming. [top of page]

Albums Albums

SongsEssential Songs

  • Christmas In The Ghetto (Operation From The Bottom, 1996)
  • Doggy Dogg Christmas (Snoop Dogg, 2020)
  • Funky Christmas (Snoop Dogg featuring October London and Cocoa Sarai, 2020)
  • I Wish (Tha Dogg Pound, 1996)
  • Look Out (Snoop Dogg with Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, and Nate Dogg, 2008)
  • New Year's Eve (Snoop Dogg featuring Marty James, 2010)
  • Peaceful Christmas (Danny Boy, 1996)
  • A Pimp's Christmas Song (Snoop Dogg with featuring Bishop Don "Magic" Juan and Jake The Flake, 2008)
  • Santa Baby (Rev. Run & The Christmas All Stars, 1997)
  • Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto (Snoop Dogg with Nate Dogg, Dat Nigga Daz, Tray Deee, and Bad Azz, 1996)
  • 'Twas The Night Before Christmas (Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg, 1997)

Further ListeningFurther Listening

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