Career

Daz, like many of his peers, signed record deals with Death Row after being introduced to Dr. Dre by Warren G just as Dre began recording his seminal 1992 album, The Chronic. Dillinger contributed to The Chronic as well as his cousin Snoop Dogg's multi-platinum Doggystyle, Tupac Shakur's All Eyez on Me and the majority of the label's multi-platinum releases.

He released his first album Dogg Food with Kurupt as Tha Dogg Pound which went double platinum continuing Death Row's force as the most successful hip hop label. After Dr. Dre left the label, Daz became Death Row's main producer and was largely involved in Snoop Dogg's second album Tha Doggfather and various compilations and soundtracks. After the death of Tupac Shakur, the departures of Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Nate Dogg and the imprisonment of label CEO Suge Knight, Daz was the only major artist left on Death Row and mainly responsible for the work done in the label. In 1998 he released his first solo-offering, Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back, under the artist name Daz Dillinger. The reason for the change from Dat Nigga Daz to Daz Dillinger was that the former was not marketable. Even though the album reached gold status it was considered to be a disappointment due to the high standards established by Death Row's previous releases.

In late 1999, Daz left the crumbling Death Row Records and started his own imprint D.P.G. Recordz and Gangsta Advisory Records. In 2000, Daz put out his first independent solo record titled R.A.W.. The albums guest appearances include Tray Deee, Kurupt, Soopafly, Lil' C-Style, Slip Capone, Mac Shawn, Tha Mactress, LaToiya Williams and Mark Morrison. Although the album didn't reach the commercial success of other projects he was involved with at Death Row, the album gained cult status in the underground West Coast rap scene and had good numbers for an independent record.

In 2002, Daz and his longtime friend Kurupt parted ways when Kurupt signed a deal with Suge Knight to become the Vice President of Death Row Records. Daz, along with Snoop Dogg and other D.P.G. members, did not take the news lightly and decided to cut all ties with Kurupt. For almost three years Daz and Kurupt remained separate, with Daz speaking of the D.P.G. never forgiving him for what they viewed as him turning his back on the gang. It wasn't until April 1, 2005 that Kurupt reached out and sent a message to Daz and Snoop, saying he would no longer talk bad about them and that he hoped things could be resolved. Daz and Snoop and the rest of the D.P.G. accepted to take Kurupt back, and said they planned to start making music again. Tha Dogg Pound was now back together and 7 months later they released "Dillinger & Gotti II: Tha Saga Continuez", as well as working on many upcoming projects such as Terry Choe a.k.a Teezy's new album, "Blue Dreamz" to be released in late 2006. Tha Dogg Pound reuniting made Snoop Dogg call a West Coast Conference. Many rappers from the West Coast attended the meet, many came who were enemies with each other and the mission of the meet was to clear bad blood between people. Many rappers got issues resolved and this was considered a small step to gathering the West Coast in unity.

Daz released his first major label album since Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back on Jermaine Dupri's So So Def label titled So So Gangsta on September 12, 2006.

Daz is preparing to release his next solo album on September 25 2007 titled Gangsta Party, another will drop in 2008 titled Only on the Left Side on DPG Recordz/The Black Wallstreet Records.

Discography

Solo albums

• Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back
  • Released: 1998
  • Chart positions: 8 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
  • Singles:

• R.A.W
  • Released: 2000
  • Chart positions:
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles:

• This Is The Life I Lead
  • Released: 2002
  • Chart positions: 109 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: 85,793 copies
  • Notable Hit: Bitch Bitch Bitch Make Me Rich Ft. Too Short

• I Got Love In These Streetz EP
  • Released: 2002
  • Chart positions:
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles:

• DPGC: U Know What I'm Throwin' Up
  • Released: 2003
  • Chart positions:
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles:Dogg Catcha

• I Got Love In These Streetz - The Album
  • Released: 2004
  • Chart positions:
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles:

• Tha Dogg Pound Gangsta LP
  • Released: 2005
  • Chart positions:
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles:

• Gangsta Crunk
  • Released: 2005
  • Chart positions:
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles:

• So So Gangsta
  • Released: 2006
  • Chart positions: 35
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: "On Some Real", "Weekend", "All I Need", "Thang On My Hip"

• Gangsta Party
  • Coming October 9, 2007
  • Chart positions:
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: "Caught Up In Tha Game" featuring Jagged Edge and Joe Budden

• Only On The Left Side
  • Coming 2008
  • Chart positions:
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: "My Summer Vacation, Only on the Left Side"

• Throw A Stacc At Em
  • Coming 2008
  • Chart positions:
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: "Throw A Stacc At Em"

With Tha Dogg Pound

• Dogg Food
  • Released: October 31, 1995
  • Label: Death Row Records
  • Chart positions: 1
  • RIAA certification: 2x Platinum
  • Singles: Let Play House, New York New York

• Dillinger & Young Gotti
  • Released: May 1, 2001
  • Label: D.P.G. Recordz
  • Chart positions: 124
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles:

• 2002
  • Released: July 31, 2001
  • Label: Death Row
  • Chart positions: 36
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles:

• The Last of Tha Pound
  • Released: April 27, 2004
  • Label: D.P.G.
  • Chart positions:
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles:

• Dillinger & Young Gotti II: Tha Saga Continuez
  • Released: November 1, 2005
  • Label: D.P.G.
  • Chart positions:
  • U.S. sales: 113,000
  • Singles:

• Cali Iz Active
  • Released: June 27, 2006
  • Label: Doggystyle/Koch
  • Chart positions: 28
  • U.S. sales:
  • Singles: Cali Iz Active, Sittin on 23z

• Dogg Chit
  • Released: March 27, 2007
  • Label: D.P.G./Koch
  • Chart positions: 77
  • US sales: 20,628
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: Vibe

• Westcoast Aftershocc
  • Coming in 2008
  • Label: Cash Money Records/Koch
  • Chart positions:
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: Mystic River

Independent releases

• Makaveli & Dillinger Don't Go 2 Sleep, D.P.G. Recordz, (2001)
• From Long Beach 2 Fillmoe, Gangsta Advisory (2001)
• To Live and Die in CA, D.P.G. Recordz, (2002)
• Southwest, Wine-o Records, (2003)
• Samplin' to the beat of the Drum (2005)

Compilations

• Who Ride Wit Us: Tha Compalation, Vol. 1, Gangsta Advisory (2001)
• Who Ride Wit Us: Tha Compalation, Vol. 2, Gangsta Advisory (2002)

Mixtapes

• So So Gangsta The Mixtape, D.P.G. Recordz / So So Def (2003)
• West Coast Gangstas Starring - Tha Dogg Pound (Hosted by DJ Kurupt) (2005)

Singles

• "In California" (feat. Val Young)
• "R.A.W." (feat. Kurupt)
• "I'd Rather Lie 2 Ya"
• "Keep It Gangsta"
• "Dogg Catcha" (feat. Soopafly)
• "U Ain't Shit" (feat. Bad Azz)
• "Daz Thang"
• "On Some Real Shit" (feat. Rick Ross)
• "Weekend (feat. Johnta Austin)
• "All That I Need"
• "Gangbangers" Coolio ft. Daz Dillinger

Awards

• 1996 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (with Kurupt): "What Would You Do" (nominated)