In her revealing memoir, Time Served: My Days and Nights at Death Row Records, veteran photographer Simone Green details the brutal management style of the aforementioned label’s co-founder and former CEO Suge Knight; her relationship with Tupac Shakur; and the violent incident with Knight that left her with permanent physical damage. Yo-Yo and hip-hop insiders joined Green during her book release party held at Aloft Harlem. While there, rolling out got Green’s thoughts on the label’s bullying tactics and why Waka Flocka Flame should reconsider any association with Knight.
In your book you reveal the positive and negative aspects of Death Row Records. Was that your intention when you started writing this book?
I want people to realize everything wasn’t always that bad at the label. Suge was never late with the checks and I have to respect that about him. There are a lot of components in this situation and you have to look at things from both sides. In history I want them to see that I spoke up. Bullying is what I am trying to speak on and that goes on at home, school and work. I want to look out for the young kids now.
Speaking of the young generation, Waka Flocka Flame recently announced that he was adding Suge Knight to his team. Do you think that is a misguided decision considering Suge’s history?
Somebody is making some mistakes. Everybody wants to be a star and he knows how to make you a star. I think he [Waka Flocka Flame] should have rethought it a couple of more times unless Suge has changed the way he does things. Mary J. Blige and Bow Wow didn’t sign with us because their people saw we might need to revamp this. If Suge hasn’t changed, I say to Waka, “be careful and watch your back.”
Now that you’ve released the book, have you found a greater sense of freedom from the turmoil of your experiences with Suge?
Yes. I watched my back for 5 1/2 years, looking over my shoulder. … I am free now that I put the book out.
