From Death Row to Death Threats to New Life

If you were to look up “superwoman” in the dictionary, there would be a plethora of amazing women staring back at you. One of those ladies will stand out to you and that one is Lydia Harris. The former first lady of Death Row Records – a title rightfully earned when she, along with her former husband, co-founded Death Row Records with $1.5 million - is the epitome of superwoman. If it wasn’t for Lydia’s book, now DVD Married to the Game, no one would ever believe the insanity she has had to endure – death threats, court cases and oh yes…the battle to prove that she was indeed a co-founder of Death Row Records. 

The new year will represent a new life for Lydia and she welcomes it with open arms. With three restaurants, a jewelry line, a production company, a record label, a recording career, a daughter and her very own life to manage, it’s amazing that Lydia even has time to soul search.

Lydia Harris, a person that is true to herself, loyal and respects herself expects the same from others. A superwoman like Lydia is very rare, but once you unearth and brush the dust off from a gem like her, you’ll be amazed at its beauty.

-Danielle Young

What are your feelings on the upcoming auction for the Death Row catalogue?

Well, my gut feeling is that I want to see what kind of game is being played now. Everybody wants to underrate it, but they know it’s worth a lot of money because they wouldn’t have taken the time and energy [of] fighting me... [There hasn’t] been that much publicity on it, so you know when a person downplays something, [you] look at it at another angle.

Do you think that people are going to be a little afraid on bidding because of Suge?

Why do you say afraid? At the end of the day, it’s about the money. In my opinion, when you use the word afraid, I think it’s an excuse and a cop out. I don’t think they’re afraid.

Everyone is not as strong and tough as you are. You have the inside track because you’ve worked with Suge…

I’ve lived it. I know the players. I’ve been around the players. I’m not saying that I’m tough, I don’t want to come off like I’m being tough. Keeping it 100 and real, people don’t keep it 100 these days. They say they’re 100, but they don’t keep it 100.

From the outside, looking in, you have a tough exterior—someone who is not going to let go, or let someone get over on them. So, I see people from where I’m standing afraid of bidding because of what Suge put you through…

My thing is, if they are afraid and nervous, they shouldn’t even be bidding. I don’t look at it that way.

What made you come up with the docudrama, Welcome to Death Row?

The guy, Lee Savage, he came in and needed to know the history of hip hop and he came in like it was going to be a story based on what happened to Death Row. When he got entwined, he flipped the story. We didn’t want it to be all about us. Once he got me to get all the players, he flipped the script and did it his way. That’s why I’m doing Married to the Game to fill in the pieces of the puzzle because he left a lot of things out. He didn’t put me out there in the light that I needed to be put out there in.  [Instead, he] used me because I was a conduit to get to the people he needed because he couldn’t get them. People [didn’t] want to realize who Lydia Harris was. All they wanted to do was use Lydia Harris. Enough is enough. They got it to where there was a strategy. They had the funds to do what they had to do, and I was a stepping stone. Now, in ’09, it belongs to Lydia.

You say that they wanted to use you. In what way were they trying to use you?

To get out there and get the streets. They couldn’t go out there and get the people to speak on the documentary. If they could, why would they need me?

With the book, Married to the Game, I know that you guys are working on redoing the book…

Yeah, I am working on the second book because back then I wasn’t able to put everything that I needed to put in, now I can tell it all.

You are also turning that book into a movie. What is it that allows you to let us see into your life so freely?

I did it for my own, personal perspective, but I think when I put everything down, I think others need to see that and they learn from it. Not that I made a mistake, I just never knew life would entwine in dealing with certain individuals. You never know who that person is, until you’re around them for a long time. Me, being who I am, I let people in and give them a chance. I never let this situation change me from being the person that I am. I’m not going to let money change me. I am still going to be the person that I am and be selective of the people around me.

In regards to the movie and the book, Married to the Game, what do you want us to know about you?

Just the type of person that I am - the trueness and loyalty. If I’m down with you, I’m down with you. I’m not a fake. I am showing people that we all need money, but I am not letting it control me.

In dealing with Suge and the record label, did it ever make you feel uneasy when there were threats on your life, attempted kidnapping and things like that?

No. When you say felt unsafe, it’s funny you say that because the only reason I felt unsafe was because they didn’t want to let people know who Lydia Harris was and what she contributes and that’s the only thing that scared me. Why can’t people be true to what they say they do and how they do it? Everybody needs to be accountable for what they did. I just thought we were all a team and working toward a goal [to] help our people. So it scared me when you got people that flipped the script and let others come in and change the strategy. That’s what scared me. And then, you start believing your own lies. That’s the scary part. You play that game for so long and the game starts playing you.

Is it always like that? I know that in the game, sometimes the moves that are made are made because of greed. So those moves made against you, were they for money and greed?

And the power and control! A lot of people lose because they can’t let their egos go, and the control. They know the right thing to do, don’t get me wrong. People basically lose on their own egos and control. I’ve seen it. Powerful men underestimate women for whatever reason, but I know it’s a male dominated business. But, at the same time, it’s about respect.

Do you feel safer now that things are where they are, or do you still have to deal with things from your past with those people?

I’ve moved on.  That’s why I have Lady Boss Entertainment giving distribution to the upcoming labels who want distribution because it’s still money out there, so clearly my focus is moving forward. The whole Death Row thing is like a stepping stone to where people are going to still ask me questions about that era and I like to move on to what Lydia is doing now. I’m in control of Lydia. I’m doing me. I’m in control of my own destiny and that feels good when you can make the different moves that you need to make; when you’re not under someone else who says, ‘I think you should do this, move this way.’ It feels good to be doing my own thing. I feel real good.

Clearly you are feeling real good with all the ventures you are currently taking on…

Yeah, I am recording my album right now in the studio. I’m excited about that. I feel that once people get to know me, they are going to want to hear my music and fall in love with Lydia. They will get to know what Lydia came to do and everything transpired to where we started Death Row Records. I’m only going there for Dr. Dre to remix the song for me, then it’s always my career that got pushed to the back burner. It was always stop and start, like a rollercoaster ride.

So you’ve had a music career all the while dealing with all this Death Row business?

That’s correct. What I did was put up my myspace page [which is] www.myspace.com/ladyboss99 and I put my music on there. Then, the people out in Houston—a distribution place, BCB—they heard my voice and wanted to do a whole album with me. I said, ‘Are you serious?!’ They called me on Christmas Eve. It made me feel good that I had a big, independent company thinking about Lydia Harris, Lady Boss. That made me feel really good coming into the new year.

You’ve been able to focus on your own music career now. When can we expect your new album and what kind of sound can we expect to hear?

A soul sound, R&B, simple, ballads. I’ve been working with a platinum producer name Joe Traxx. We’re going to get a single out called, “What Would You Do.”

In coming into the new year, you’re doing several things. How are you able to spread yourself so thin?

Staying focused, getting up everyday thanking God and being committed to the man up above. I signed a group, MMP out of Jersey—they came in, said they been watching me and that I’m the best person to deal with. They were dealing with a lot of people, but when they met me they said that they would rather be under my label. So, we did a lot of red carpet events and they’ve been supported. Their music is on iTunes, the number one single “Make It Flurry” on iTunes.

And I’m still a mother. I have my daughter and thank God she’s a tennis player. She’s trying to go pro. She’s been in that since she was three years old. My life has been a blessing. There have been some rollercoaster rides, but I can’t complain.

I know that you weren’t able to be a complete mother to your daughter because of the life your lead taking you places you didn’t want to go…

It’s survival. I wasn’t able to share the time—I was able to take her to school, but—just being there at PTA meetings and things, I missed that. So, just trying to find my way in this game and it was hard. She hadn’t missed a beat on eating or anything like that or living the lifestyle she lead, but if I would have laid down, then I can’t tell you what state of mind she’d be in. She hurt sometimes, saying ‘Mommy stay off the phone.’ She hurt for that quality time. I was always on the phone, in L.A., New York, Atlanta, just trying to keep it going. I told her that she would understand someday. So that’s why I did this book and DVD for my own personal purpose so if nobody buys it, my daughter can understand what life was like and why I feel it’s important for her to get an education and be the best she can be so that she won’t have to go through the things her mother went through.

Do you see her wanting the type of life you lead in the industry?

She likes music. But it’s just that…I was a very private person, but when you get in that environment and meet certain type of people, you have to roll with that flow. I can’t say what she will grow up to be, but all she will know is that her mother worked hard and struggled for a better life for her. With the school she goes to, you got a lot of rich kids there and they’re not perfect. The game ain’t changed, it’s just the players that have changed. I listen and I watch her look at my myspace and I see her dancing off my music and talking to her girlfriends about her mom being married to the game. One day I will ask her if she knows what that means because it’s the game of life.

How did you manage to break free from Death Row, mentally, emotionally, physically?

Time. It’s going to always be there because everyone I talk to is always like, ‘Oh, you’re Lydia Harris from Death Row.’ That’s how they know me. They don’t [know] who Lydia Harris really is. Some people are putting that in their minds—people I went to school with and people that know me, know me as Lydia Harris.

There were times when you were forced to move around because of the nature of the threats on your life. What was going through your mind at that time?

I was always worried about my family because they didn’t ask for this. I would rather something happen to me than my family. Based on the life that I was entwined to and the people that I was surrounded by; I would feel [really] bad if somebody took revenge out and hurt them to hurt me. It was a scary situation. I don’t even like to think that way. I put that all behind me. I know God is on my side. He wouldn’t have brought me this far for me to fall. That’s what I believe and what I always say.

What was the deciding factor that allowed you say, ‘no more’ and stand on your own two feet and start fresh and develop all the ventures you’re currently involved in?

When I was threatened by Suge in Federal Court. He turned around and said, ‘Bitch, you dead.’ I had a witness and we were in the Federal Court. They took him out, detained him for a minute or two and let him out. I said, ‘You know what, enough is enough. This picture ain’t right.’ So, I moved on and tried to start something of my own. If I get paid, I get paid. It’s not worth it. Everybody seemed like they ignored what he said to me, like it was irrelevant.

What else do we have to look forward to with Lydia Harris?

The DVD, Married to the Game and the soundtrack. I don’t want to tell you who I have, but when I pull this one off, everybody is going to say, ‘how did she pull this one off?’ Let’s just put it like that. The DVD is out this spring and the soundtrack will come out with it.

Anything you want to add? Words of encouragement?

Prosperity in ’09 and I’m claiming it! I feel like ’09 belongs to me. I want to do what I need to do. I want to do some speaking and motivational tours—going out and encouraging a lot of young and old people. It’s a lot of older people that tell me I have been a blessing to them. I want to show the guys out here to start respecting the sisters. I haven’t seen a female—knowing my story—embrace me. The type of woman that I am; if I see somebody going through what I went through, I would step to them and ask if there is anything I can do for them. I do business with a lot of men. There are a lot of females I would like to work with. The brothers stick together, but I haven’t seen the sisters come together and it’s some powerful sisters out there. But you know what, they got the men in their ear and when we get in love, we get emotional, so we start listening to our men.

You got a lot of girls out there stripping, getting their money that way because they are so hurt and let down. But, they are somebody. Married to the Game is a piece that says I am not going to disrespect myself for no money. I rather lose everything than to get out there and sell my soul. When Suge threw that out there about my character—me sleeping with 200 guys—how could he do that? I know who I am, so my thing is that, if he had all that ammunition, don’t you think the guys would have filmed it. They would have had to have some kind of proof and run with that. So, right now, I’m single and when I was married to Michael, my loyalty was always to him and now I am looking for somebody to love me for me. God’s got His plan for me. The right one will come along.

How are you able to stay so positive?

[I’m not] even going to lie to you. Some days, I go in and out. I’m not going to sit here and tell you that everyday is ok for me. I would be telling you a story. I’ll be down sometimes, like on holidays… wishing I was with my guy and we could do this together, go travel together, you know - the small things. I just ask for the small things to know that person can love me for me. That’s it.