On the heels of yesterday's official announcement that the economy is in a recession, Death Row Records co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight may be Hip Hop's first casualty. The Los Angeles Times reports Knight's $6.2 million Malibu mansion was recently sold in bankruptcy court for $4.56 million.

The sale is likely the last in a financial freefall that began when Knight and Death Row filed for bankruptcy protection in April of 2006. Since then, both Warner and Global Music Group have either claimed ties to or tried to acquire the former home of artists such as Dr. Dre, 2Pac and Snoop Dogg [click to read].

Within the last few weeks, Knight has sued Kanye West [click to read], accused the Barstow Police Department of stealing a diamond earring [click to read] and been charged with assault for allegedly beating his girlfriend [click to read].