Who is Suge Knight and why is he in jail? | The Sun

SUGE Knight is one of the most famous and leading record executives in Hip-Hop history.

Before ending up in prison for 28 years, he worked with some of Hip-Hop's greatest, such as Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre with Death Row Records.

Who is Suge Knight?

Suge Kight was born on April 19, 1965, in Compton, California.

He was born Marion Knight Jr., his popular name Suge Knight derives from his childhood nickname Sugar Bear.

He was CEO of record label Death Row Records, the label that launched the careers of Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.

The most successful albums under this label include Dr. Dre’s The Chronic (1992), Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle (1993), and 2Pac’s All Eyez on Me (1996).

Before entering the music business, Knight was an American Football player, appearing twice for the Los Angeles Rams in 1987.

Why is Suge Knight in jail?

Knight spent a few years in prison for assault convictions and associated violations of probation.

He was initially on probation after assaulting two rappers in 1992 at a recording studio.

Following a few stints in jail, he was then sentenced to 28 years in prison in 2018 after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter in a fatal 2015 hit-and-run.

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Knight, now 56, will be eligible for parole in October 2034.

What has Suge Knight previously been arrested for?

Knight's arrest record includes:

1995

Knight received a five-year probation for assaulting two rappers at a Hollywood recording station in 1992.

1996

Knight was jailed pending a hearing on a probation violation that took place on September 7, 1996.

Suge Knight and his entourage attacked Orlando Anderson, an opposing gang member.

The label owner was then sentenced to nine years in prison for violating his probation. He was released early on August 6, 2001.

2003

Knight received another jail sentence for violating parole after he assaulted a parking lot attendant.

2012

Knight was arrested in Las Vegas after police found marijuana in his vehicle as well as several outstanding warrants for traffic violations.

2015

Knight crashed his car into two men, one of whom was Terry Carter, the co-founder of Heavyweight Records, and a friend of his.

He ended up killing Terry, while the second person and filmmaker – Cle Sloan – suffered injuries to his head and foot.

Some witnesses claimed that Suge had followed the pair after an argument on the Straight Outta Compton film set, with claims it looked intentional.

In 2018, Suge pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter, which has now seen him into a 28-year long prison sentence – 22 years for the hit and run charge and a following six years for it being a third strike with his run-ins with the law and violating probation.

He is now serving his prison sentence at RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.

Suge won't be eligible for parole until October 2034.

What happened between Suge Knight and Notorious B.I.G.?

It all started with the death of rapper Tupac who was killed in 1996 and Knight was with him.

Fellow rapper Notorious B.I.G was killed less than a year later in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles.

The murder took place at the height of the East Coast vs. West Coast hip-hop rivalry.

Knight's name had been linked with both rappers' murders, with leaked files alleging that Knight orchestrated their deaths.

Claims about his involvement have come into question after it was revealed that Tupac was planning on leaving Death Row Records and that Knight had Biggie killed to deflect attention from the first shooting.

The music mogul has always strongly denied any involvement in either murder.

Despite a number of rumours and accusations, Knight has never been charged with either of their deaths.

Right after the drive-by shooting Tupac allegedly told Suge: “You the one they shot in the head. You shot in the head.”

When is the Last Man Standing documentary out?

In December 2021, it was announced that producer Steve Whitney and TSW Films had purchased Knight's life rights to film a biopic.

But before viewers are able to watch the biopic, Knight's life will be shared in the documentary Last Man Standing: Suge Knight And The Murders of Biggie & Tupac.

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Directed by Nick Broomfield, who previously directed Tupac & Biggie in 2002, the film includes newly sourced footage taken at the time of the rap icons’ killings.

Broomfield claims that Knight was employing LAPD officers and that they played a direct role in the murder of Notorious B.I.G. 

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