According to the New York Post, Toymaker Hasbro famous for toys such as Mr. Potato Head and Monopoly has purchased rap label Death Row Records.
Hasbro Toy Company, home of Mr. Potato Head, has reportedly purchased Death Row Records: https://t.co/DD0sIGPCSI pic.twitter.com/UZ5MxZWMnS
— VIBE Magazine (@VibeMagazine) August 25, 2019
The global toymaker announced Thursday a $4 billion deal to buy British multimedia company Entertainment One, which produces animated kids shows like “Peppa Pig” and “PJ Masks”.
The company says it is looking to expand “family brands” and television production with the purchase.
“The acquisition of eOne adds beloved story-led global family brands that deliver strong operating returns to Hasbro’s portfolio and provides a pipeline of new brand creation driven by family-oriented storytelling,” Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner said in a statement.
But just how did they end up with Death Row?
Though Hasbro was aiming to gain more family-friendly programming, the toymaker ended up with Death Row and it’s whole discography by way of Entertainment One, who purchased the label in 2013, according to Rolling Stones.
Death Row was founded in 1991 by Suge Knight—who’s currently serving a 28-year prison sentence—the D.O.C., and Dr. Dre. The label became one of hip-hop’s most influential labels, signing some of the biggest names on the West Coast including 2 Pac and Snoop Dogg.
The music empire, however, filed for bankruptcy in 2006 after a series of lawsuits and the imprisonment of Knight. It has since changed ownership several times, eventually landing in the hands of Entertainment One after it was bought for $280 million.
While there’s no word on what will happen with Death Row, Deadline reports that there is “$130 million in cost synergies” available to both companies if all things go well by 2022.
