Crooked I Inks Label Deal With Universal

After 5 years of waiting for the highly anticipated album Say Hi To The Bad Guy, Crooked I has officially severed all ties and legally left, Death Row Records and has inked a deal with Universal. Rumors that Crooked I was planning to leave the label this year began when the Los Angeles-born, Long Beach-bred […]

After 5 years of waiting for the highly anticipated

album Say Hi To The Bad Guy, Crooked I has officially severed all ties

and legally left, Death Row Records and has inked a deal with Universal.

Rumors that Crooked I was planning to leave the

label this year began when the Los Angeles-born, Long Beach-bred emcee came

out with his own venture, Dynasty Entertainment/Dynasty Records.

Although at the time, he was still contracted

with Death Row, reasons for his departure were unknown. Rumors that he left

Death Row due to jealously over Kurupt’s album Against The Grain being

released first were quickly dismissed by the rapper.

"If that was the case I would have left

Death Row a long time ago when Too Gangsta For Radio, Dogg Pound 2002,

the Dysfunktional Family soundtrack, and the 2pac Nu Mixx Klazzics

albums were released," Crooked I said. "My album was supposed

to be released before all four of those albums. I don’t have a jealous bone

in my body."

He then went on to congratulate Kurupt on his

album Against The Grain and urged fans to support the release.

The rapper who last year, along with Kurupt and

Danny Boy, were helping to re-shape Death Row into a formidable force in the

music industry, told AllHipHop.com that he left with no bad feelings towards

CEO, Marion "Suge" Knight or Death Row Records.

"I just had to do what I had to do"

Crooked I said.

Crooked I’s upcoming untitled album is due later

this year and will be released on his own Dynasty Records, distributed through

Universal.