Top Dogg

Derrick Wade (born February 17, 1979 Fact|date=June 2008 in Missouri) better known by his stage name Top Dogg is an American rapper. Raised in Compton, California, Top Dogg was signed to Suge Knight's Death Row Records. He appeared in Tupac's It's All About U remix which was done after Tupac passed away. Derrick Wade was asked to perform the closing rap-solo sequence at the end of Tupac's Its All About U remix. Top Dogg arrived at the studios just as the performance of the video was coming to a close,Top Dogg gave his performance in less than 10 minutes and famously walks off stage during the shooting of the song as seen at the end of the music video. He was shot in April 2003 by Los Angeles Police after a heated argument broke out resulting in a shoot out. He has been criticized for having a similar vocal style as former Death Row Records artist, Snoop Dogg.

In 1998, Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight planned to launch many new rappers to come for the second generation of Death Row Records. Although he was incarcerated, he pushed rapper Top Dogg (also known as YGD) as his first new face making his television debut appearance in the video "All About U" on the 2Pac "Greatest Hits" album replacing Snoop Dogg. Top Dogg had generated a buzz from a hidden track on the "Gang Related Soundtrack" titled "Goin Back To Cali" aimed toward Biggie Smalls & Puff Daddy. The video, "All About U," received heavy play and Suge followed in 1999 with "" album to introduce a brand new roster headed by Top Dogg, Tha Realest, and Soopafly, with Daz Dillinger as the veteran lead-producer.

In 2000, the music video for Top Dogg's "Cindafella" track received minor airplay with an innovative concept produced by TC as many earlier videos and directed by K.C. Amos, and his album "Every Dog Has His Day" was shelved as his contract expired and he was not renewed.