
All songs on the mixtape were mixed by Top Dawg's resident engineer Derek "MixedByAli" Ali, much like a majority of their releases are. On May 10, 2008, the label released a compilation mixtape titled Do It Nigga Squad, Volume 1, which features songs by members of the label's roster, with other appearances coming from fellow American rappers Schoolboy Q, Lil Wayne and will.i.am. In 2007, Carson-based rapper Ab-Soul was added to the Top Dawg roster. However, following the merger, TDE began planning an exit strategy after the labels failed to handle Rock's debut Follow Me Home properly. Following Rock's signing, TDE signed joint venture deals with Warner Bros. It wasn't until 2005 that TDE started to gain success with another California-based rapper, Jay Rock. Tiffith saw potential in Lamar, signing him onto the label from the strength of the rapper's debut mixtape. In 2003, Tiffith found a then 15-year-old Kendrick Lamar, a Compton native, who at the time went by K.Dot and had just released his first mixtape, which gained recognition and earned the young rapper some local buzz in his area. In 1997, Anthony Tiffith (also known by his monikers, Dude Dawg and Top Dawg) embarked on a career in music as a record producer, producing for rappers such as The Game and Juvenile, among others. The musical focus of the label is predominantly album-oriented and progressive rap. The label houses a production division that includes Digi+Phonics, THC, King Blue, Kal Banx and Derek "MixedByAli" Ali. TDE is also the former label of Kendrick Lamar.

There are currently eleven artists signed to the label: the label's flagship artists, Black Hippy members Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q, as well as Isaiah Rashad, SZA, Lance Skiiiwalker, SiR, Reason, Zacari, Ray Vaughn, and Doechii.

Terrence "Punch" Henderson is president of the label. Top Dawg Entertainment ( TDE) is an American independent record label founded in 2004, by CEO Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith.
