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Sam Sneed (born Sam Anderson 1968 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania) is a producer and rapper. He originally got his start working as a producer for K-Solo and the Hit Squad.
In 1993 he was signed to Death Row Records, releasing only one single, "U Better Recognize" featuring Dr. Dre, in 1994. The single appeared on the Murder Was the Case soundtrack, and peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart, #18 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart and #48 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.. He became well known for a catchphrase, "My name is Sam Sneed, you better recognize!" which originally appeared on the Snoop Dogg debut album, Doggystyle. He also appeared in the Death Row movie, Murder Was the Case.
Sam Sneed also co-produced the hit songs "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" and "Natural Born Killaz" with Dr. Dre. "Natural Born Killaz" was originally supposed to be a Sam Sneed and J-Flexx song called "The Heist". The original alternate version of "Natural Born Killaz" with Sam Sneed rapping a verse was released on the Ultimate Death Row Collection on November 24, 2009. He recorded an album on Death Row Records with his group Street Scholars in 1996 which included J-Flexx, Sharief (now known as Killer Ben), Vance Buford & Drauma (now known as Stocks McGuire) which remains unreleased.
In 2010 Death Row/WIDEawake announced the release date for Sam Sneed's album Street Scholars, which will contain 4 unreleased songs from Sneed's time on Death Row along with 10 newly recorded tracks. The album is slated for Jan 25th 2011.
After Death Row
Sneed was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1999, which put a temporary halt to his career; he has since recovered and is once again an active hip hop producer. He has since produced songs for the likes of G-Unit, Scarface, Jay-Z and many others, Sam went to work with Dr.Dre in 2007 again, but nothing manifested. Since then he has started a new company 'Nustarz Entertainment' with his business partner Craig "Stretch" Mason, the label features new artists managed by Sam such as The Boy Goldy, Money Ink and surprisingly a British rapper named Nat Powers, who will be releasing his debut album in 2012. Nat Powers is the first British artist to be signed by a Westcoast associated rapper in the history of Westcoast music. Nat's debut LP will be Produced by Sam Sneed, Clinton Sparks, Beat Maker Beat, as well as himself, with him doubling up as a Producer as well as a Rapper. Nat has also developed strong relationships with Daz Dillinger, RBX, Lady of Rage, Curtis Young (Son of Dr.Dre) amongst a dozen other Westcoast legends, being the first of his kind to collaborate with such names. With the guidance of Sam as is Mentor and Manager, Powers is currently also writing his own book, and creating a music score to an upcoming feature film due to be released in 2012.
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