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- 50 Cent, “Heat” (2003) This deep cut from 50 Cent’s six-times-platinum Get Rich or Die Tryin’ showcases Dre’s imagination as a producer of noisy, action-filled tableaus.
- Miche’le, “No More Lies” (1989) Michel’le’s debut single not only arrived during N.W.A’s incredible 1989 run, but it also gave Ruthless Records a thrillingly new dimension, proving the label was capable of more than uncompromising reality rap.
- Busta Rhymes, “In the Ghetto” (2006) “The fact that Aftermath is my new home speaks for itself,” Busta Rhymes told XXL magazine in 2004, a sign of Aftermath’s reputation as the top rap label in the industry.
- D12, “Fight Music” (2001) Eminem’s D12 project is truly underrated. Despite coming up in the same thriving Nineties Detroit rap scene, Em’s friends never quite shook their undeserved reputation as bandwagon riders on his supernova fame.
- Let Me Ride
- Mary J. Blige: Family Affair
- World Class Wreckin’ Cru: Turn Off The Lights
- Talk About It
- Genocide
- It’S All on Me
- Issues
- Eminem: Crack A Bottle
- 50 Cent: in Da Club
- Dr. Dre: Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang
Dr. Dre’s “Let Me Ride” is one of the pillars of The Chronic, a g-funk staple built with whining synths and a drum groove that’s a head-nodder’s paradise. The classic track earned Dre a GRAMMY win in 1994 for Best Rap Solo Performance, a solid honor for a defining 90s West Coast anthem.
Dre is rightfully celebrated for g-funk synths, but this praise often does a disservice to his perfect drum sounds. On Mary J. Blige’s “Family Affair,” Dre cues up a crispy, meticulously sequenced drum sound that perfectly highlights Blige’s innovative half-rapped, half-sung flow.
Speaking of drum sounds, it’s hard to think of a snare sound in rap more massive or more celebrated than Dre’s work on the World Class Wreckin’ Cru’s “Turn Off The Lights.” It’s a fascinating look into Dre’s production style before he helped create g-funk.
After the “Intro,” Dre’s Comptonkicks off with the electric “Talk About It,” which features Kentucky-born MC Mez and Louisiana spitter Justus. The invigorating track features Dre using every trick in the bag, playing with a variety of percussive accents and vocal layers that gives the song a 3-D feel.
After the pyrotechnics of “Talk About It,” Dre and his team dive into “Genocide,” a track that features Kendrick Lamar, British songwriter Marsha Ambrosius, and South African singer Candice Pillay. Dre arranges a dizzying beat, highlighted by lo-fi funk drums and skittering melodic runs that give the song its unnerving, gritty feel.
On “It’s All On Me,” Dre brings Justus back into the fold to help assist BJ The Chicago Kid on his 70s soul-inspired beat, highlighted by subtle conga drums that give the song its distinct feel.
Assisted by Ice Cube, Anderson .Paak, and Dem Jointz, “Issues” is highlighted by a thrilling sample of Turkish psych guitar hero Selda. That, plus Ice Cube’s clever reference to “It Was A Good Day,” gives the song a throwback feel.
Listening to Eminem, Dre, and 50 Cent trade bars over a classic Dre beat is rap history happening in real-time. The beat features a sample from “Mais dans la lumière” by Mike Brant, giving it an old-timey feel, which Dre eventually flips with head-banging drums and triumphant horns.
50 Cent’s “In Da Club” features one of Dr. Dre’s most celebrated beats both because the song was a massive hit and it features some of Dre’s most interesting production techniques. The synth stabs and bouncy string samples hit on off beats, giving the tune a slightly aggressive feel, building tension throughout the track.
The opening keyboard trill on this standout track from Dre’s 1992 album, The Chronic, is practically synonymous with the West Coast sound. A lazy beat and sunny melody glide along, but it’s the brilliantly lyrical and endlessly quotable wordplay that Dre wrings from featured rapper Snoop Dogg that makes it so infectious.
- 4 min
Jan 6, 2021 · His first major success came with the rap group N.W.A. and he later co-founded Death Row Records in 1991. In 1992, his first solo album, The Chronic, became a huge hit. Dre started up Aftermath ...
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He released his classic sophomore album 2001 in 1999 and later released multi-platinum albums from Eminem, 50 Cent, The Game, and Kendrick Lamar. In 2002, Dre won a Grammy Award for Producer of ...
May 6, 2024 · Dr. Dre (born February 18, 1965, Los Angeles, California, U.S.) is an American rapper, hip-hop producer, and entrepreneur who helped popularize the gangsta rap subgenre. Born to teenaged parents who aspired to singing careers, André Young took the stage name Dr. Dre in the early 1980s. He performed as a hip-hop deejay and as part of the group ...
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Who is Dr. Dre?Born André Romelle Young, Dr. Dre is an American rapper, hip-hop producer, and entrepreneur who helped popularize gangsta rap. In 1986 he founded N...
- What was Dr. Dre’s first song?After leaving rap group N.W.A in 1992, Dr. Dre’s first solo song release was “Deep Cover.” “Deep Cover” was also the first collaboration between Dr...
- Where did Dr. Dre grow up?Dr. Dre grew up in the city of Compton in California.
- What artists has Dr. Dre produced for?Dr. Dre has produced music for artists such as Eminem, 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, T.I., 50 Cent, and Mary J. Blige. He is credited in particular with launch...
- What was Dr. Dre’s role in creating the subgenre of G-Funk?Dr. Dre’s solo debut album, The Chronic, introduced the “G-Funk” production style in 1992. It was characterized by plodding tempos, synthesizer was...
The best Dr. Dre music videos and songs, including Forgot About Dre, Still Dre, Dre Day, Keep Their Heads Ringing, California Love, Xplosive, tracks from The...
Oct 5, 2022 · André Romelle Young took on the moniker Dr. Dre in the early 1980s, working as a hip hop DJ and with the electro-funk group World Class Wreckin’ Cru before joining N.W.A. with Eazy-E, and Ice ...
