Marion "Suge" Knight Jr. was born on April 19, 1965, in Compton, California, to Maxine and Marion Knight Sr.13 His childhood nickname "Sugar Bear" was shortened to "Suge."4 Knight attended Lynwood High School, where he was a standout football player and track star.123 He graduated in 1983 and went on to play football at El Camino College from 1983 to 1985.13 Knight then transferred to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), playing defensive end for the Rebels for two years.134

After his brief NFL stint, Suge Knight transitioned into the music industry, working as a bodyguard for celebrities like Bobby Brown.14 In the late 1980s, he formed his own music publishing company.3 Knight's first major profit came when Vanilla Ice agreed to sign over royalties from "Ice Ice Baby" due to alleged plagiarism of material written by Knight's client.3

In 1991, Knight co-founded Death Row Records with Dr. Dre, launching the label to prominence with Dre's seminal album "The Chronic" in 1992.1234 Death Row became a driving force behind the commercial success of West Coast gangsta rap in the 1990s, releasing blockbusters like Snoop Dogg's "Doggystyle" in 1993 and the "Above the Rim" soundtrack in 1994.13 However, the label was plagued by controversies, with investigations into alleged ties to gangs, drugs, and racketeering.14

The rise and fall of Death Row Records reads like a Greek epic, with larger-than-life characters and violent undercurrents. Co-founded in 1991 by controversial music mogul Marion "Suge" Knight, the label was home to some of the biggest names in rap, including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac Shakur.12 Death Row transformed hardcore rap into an international phenomenon, selling not just records but a lifestyle.1 At its peak, the label pulled in over $100 million a year, with its roster of platinum-selling artists seemingly untouchable.1 However, plagued by legal troubles, mismanagement, and debt, Knight was forced to file for bankruptcy in 2006, and the label was sold at a court-ordered auction for $24 million in 2008, marking the end of Knight's reign as a formidable figure in the music industry.2

In January 2015, Suge Knight was involved in a fatal hit-and-run incident in the parking lot of Tam's Burgers in Compton, California. His truck struck Terry Carter, killing him, and injured Cle "Bone" Sloan.123 Knight initially faced murder charges but pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in 2018, admitting he used his truck as a deadly weapon.5 He was sentenced to 28 years in prison.25

The case was further marred by misconduct from Knight's former attorney, Matthew Fletcher. In 2022, Fletcher pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice and perjury charges after being accused of plotting to bribe witnesses to lie for Knight.123 Prosecutors claimed Fletcher told Knight it would take "$20,000 to $25,000 to secure his freedom" by paying off witnesses.3 Under a plea deal, Fletcher was barred from practicing law for life and placed on probation for five years to avoid prison time.123