As a result of Knight's egomaniacal incompetence, another sign of the apocalypse has appeared like a beam of fire shooting from the depths of hell, out of the earth and into the sky for all to see: a white, middle-aged former aesthetician is now essentially the head of Death Row Records. And by the way, when we say "aesthetician" we really mean "beautician."
Meet Susan Berg, the woman who just cashed in on Suge Knight's broke-ass chump sale. She bought Death Row for $24 million, later drunkenly slurring to TMZ "I got the whoooole fuckin shit!"
Berg is president of Global Music Group a Tennessee-based independent label, and it was her company that fronted the cash. In effect, that makes her the controlling power over the label that has sold nearly 50 million units worldwide, launching the careers of several stars and generating close to $750 million in revenue. GMG beat out several higher-profile companies for the deal, like Warner Music Group and Koch Entertainment.
A shining jewel in GMG's newly-aquired crown is the inclusion of 20 unreleased tracks by Tupac Shakur as part of the arrangement. And by Death Row's track record, 20 new Pac songs means roughly another 15 new albums from the rap legend, who's been dead for over a decade.
The first of undoubtedly many new Tupac albums is said to be in the works for release by the end of the year, but they've got some deals to cut before running with the plan. Shakur's releases must get consent from the controller of his estate, as well as EverGreen. "If they're smart they'd be calling me soon," says David Schulhof, EverGreen's co-CEO. "We approve all uses. They can't do anything with the catalog without us."
"Everybody's excited," a spokesperson for Global Music Group tells Billboard.biz.
Does "everybody" include Suge Knight? We highly doubt it.
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