Daz Dillinger Had To "Strongarm" Suge Knight For $2.3Mil Check

BYErika Marie37.5K Views
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Summertime In The LBC
LONG BEACH, CA - JULY 07: Rapper Daz Dillinger of Tha Dogg Pound performs onstage during the Summertime in the LBC music festival on July 7, 2018 in Long Beach, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

Daz says he was in the office, wildin' out on shrooms & demanding his money. When he left, he got stopped by police with a huge check in his pocket.

From the moment he stepped into the Rap game, Suge Knight was an intimidating force. Although he's currently incarcerated and will be for several years, Suge's presence is still felt within the culture. During the hailed Golden Era of Hip Hop, Death Row's head honcho was putting pressure on the industry. Artists and executives have more than enough Suge Knight stories than they'd like to remember, but Daz Dillinger is laughing at a tense moment with his former label head.

Daz was instrumental in helping make Death Row the iconic label that it is today. Not only was he an artist, but he worked on production for several of the label's classic hits. The Long Beach native visited Home Grown Radio and was asked about the biggest check he'd ever received. He answered it was a $2.3 million payout. "I had to go in there and strongarm Suge and them to get the money," Daz added. "I had everybody in they office. N*gga, hemmed up against the wall, we on mushrooms. We in the motherf*cker lit. N*gga in the corner, laughing."

Daz Dillinger Didn't Let Suge Off Of The Hook

He further shared that he thought he felt someone touching him and screamed. Daz also said he had a "long Diesel screwdriver" to protect himself. Then, "Suge walked in the office, and the way his eyes was looking, he was gon' do somethin' to me." Still, Dillinger was unfazed and threatened to "stick him." It changed the music boss's tune.

Knight was known for his intimidating tactics, but Daz said he wanted to calm the situation during this instance. Suge ushered his artist into a private office to take care of business. "I walked outta there with [$2.5 million]," said the rapper. It was noted that when Daz returned to his vehicle, his crew erupted with emotions. "N*ggas in they feelings, crying a sh*t," he said amid laughter. "We get stopped by the police on Wilshire Blvd. By Fairfax and Wilshire." Los Angeles natives know that neighborhood.

Sage Advice From The Police

NEW YORK, NEW YORK--AUGUST 03: Kurupt (aka Ricardo Emmanuel Brown) and Daz (aka Daz Dillinger; Delmar Drew Arnaud) when the Death Row Records label assembles at The Source Awards, held at The Paramount Theater at Madison Square Garden, on August 3, 1995 in New York City. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images/Michael Ochs Archives)

According to Daz, officers searched them enough to come across the check. They asked if it was real, and the rapper confirmed before receiving advice from the police officer. "Just stomp the weed out, cash that motherf*cker, go get your license," the cop allegedly said. Thankfully, he was able to get out of both situations unscathed—and with a $2.5 million check in his pocket. Watch the clip of Daz revisiting the moment above.

About The Author
Erika Marie is a seasoned journalist, editor, and ghostwriter who works predominantly in the fields of music, spirituality, mental health advocacy, and social activism. The Los Angeles editor, storyteller, and activist has been involved in the behind-the-scenes workings of the entertainment industry for nearly two decades. E.M. attempts to write stories that are compelling while remaining informative and respectful. She's an advocate of lyrical witticism & the power of the pen. Favorites: Motown, New Jack Swing, '90s R&B, Hip Hop, Indie Rock, & Punk; Funk, Soul, Harlem Renaissance Jazz greats, and artists who innovate, not simply replicate.