The cousin relationship between two West Coast Hip-Hop legends, Daz Dillinger and Snoop Dogg, is on the brink of collapse after Daz publicly accused Snoop and his Death Row Records label of attempting to seize intellectual property and owing artists substantial unpaid royalties. The incident, exposed on social media in 2025, reveals deep financial and legal conflicts following Snoop’s high-profile acquisition of Death Row.

The Dog Pound Trademark Battle

The feud erupted when Daz Dillinger, a key member of the group The Dog Pound (DPG), discovered that Snoop’s legal team had secretly filed an application to register the trademark for “The Dog Pound” without his consent.

Daz asserted that the attempt failed due to legal confusion with the “Cleveland Browns” NFL team brand. In response, Daz revealed he successfully holds the copyright for the “dog paw” symbol, which he personally drew back in 1991. He described this symbol as the “money maker” that Snoop’s team had overlooked.

Accusations of Unpaid Royalties and Fraudulent Contracts

The most contentious issue centers on finances. Daz claims Snoop Dogg has failed to issue any royalty or publishing payments to artists since acquiring Death Row Records.

He vehemently accused Snoop of using the money rightfully belonging to the artists to pay his staff’s salaries. More alarmingly, Daz alleged that the new Death Row is still utilizing old contracts dating back to the Suge Knight era, which he asserts contain “forged signatures,” to enforce unfair profit splits upon the artists. Daz is determined to fight back, stating that Snoop’s team is operating on the basis of fraudulent documentation.

Creative Rift and Public Challenges

The strained relationship has also impacted their creative collaboration. Daz recounted being deliberately excluded from producing the recent album We All We Got. He explained that this was a direct result of his refusal to give Snoop the 50% producer cut that Snoop was allegedly demanding from other collaborators.

Daz has openly challenged Snoop on social media platforms and group texts, calling the label “broke” and threatening to “f*** him up business-wise” by exposing their current financial vulnerabilities.

Industry Reaction and Outlook

Industry figures, such as Big Ant of Urban Politicians TV, expressed shock at the public argument between the two family members. However, Big Ant also emphasized Daz Dillinger’s deep knowledge of business law and the fact that Daz possesses corroborating documentation to support his claims.

Big Ant urged Snoop Dogg to immediately investigate and control his legal and business team, as the attempt to secretly appropriate a family member’s trademark is seen as unacceptable.

This conflict highlights the immense challenges involved in managing the legacy of Death Row Records. Should Daz’s accusations prove true, the incident could lead to significant legal action, potentially drawing responses from other former Death Row members, including Suge Knight and Reggie White, transforming this into a battle for justice and the integrity of West Coast Hip-Hop history.