2001: Nine-Five Plus Four Pennies (Chronic 2001 - Dr. Dre)

Member Name: XICripZ

Product:	Chronic 2001 - Dr. Dre
Date:	23/12/08 (203 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of bangers

Disadvantages: Lots of interludes

"2001" is confusingly the title to Dr. Dre's 1999 album, which came as his second solo piece. It has him do all the production and a little rapping alongside some of his fellow West Coast-ers and other Gangsta Rap artists from around the US.

1. "Lolo" (Intro)

2. "The Watcher"

This is a funky one which has Dre open things up as he tlaks us through what his life has become, in what has been a long streth even back nine years ago. We are told of his move out of 'the hood' to a more stable setting, to prevent himself to falling back into the system.

**Four Stars**

3. "F**k You"

This was the big comeback single from Dr. Dre, and he did so whilst attempting to launch the career of another as he aided, a previously unknown, Devin The Dude, of H-Town (Houston, Texas). With this one you get them rapping with Snoop on how they just want to get busy with a girl.

**Five Stars**

4. "Still D.R.E."

For me, this is tied with "The Next Episode" as the best track on the whole of this relase. It is an absolute banger and has Dre re-establish himself as what he claimed to be back in the N.W.A days, and even earlier along with his partner in crime, Snoop Dogg. This is a future classic and shows how the West had advanced from the G-Funk of the mid-ninties.

**Five Stars**

5. "Big Egos"

This one was not only prodcued by Dre, but by the former Roots bassist, Scott Storch, you can only be seen as omeone here to improve on the work. Here you get a rather dark ne as you get it based upon some haunting piano work as Dre and Hittman rap.

**Four Stars**

6. "Xxplosive"

Having returned to this album several years since I last went through the whole thing, I had forgotten quite a few track, however the production in this one was something I could never forget, and it completely takes over as you get something smooth with some post-G-Funk synth.

**Five Stars**

7. "What's the Difference"

To those not that familiar with Dre, you make the mistake of thining that the beat from this one was jacked from Blu Cantrell's "Breathe", which featured Sean Paul, whereas this one came before, and the 2003 tune sampled this one. It has Xzibit and then-new Aftermath signee Eminem.

**Five Stars**

8. "Bar One" (Intro)

9. "Light Speed"

In comparison to the rest of the album, this one is rather boring and is nothing more than a fller from him. On it you have him quite clearly using some old G-Funk beats with a little more updated soudns as he just kicks a few standard raps with little energy.

**Three Stars**

10. "Forgot About Dre"

I hae to say that this is the only track wheere I can say I liekd Eminem ever. It has him completely ip the tune apart with some speedy rhymes to accompanmy Dre as he raps about all tha he has done for the music game, not only with his role in the creation of Gangsta Rap (by brinign the names Ice Cube, Eazy-E and N.W.A up), but before this with the World-Class Wreckin' Cru.

**Five Stars**

11. "The Next Episode"

Here is one of the massive singles off the album and has Dre and Snoop team up once again to bring "The Next Episode", which had been in working since "Nuttin' But A 'G' Thang" in 1992. Not only do you get these, but others closely associted with him such as Tha Dogg Pound's Kurupt and Nate Dogg get a chance to lays down some lines for this legendary tune.

**Five Stars**

12. "Let's Get High"

You have to say that this is a complete banger, and one of the top tunes from this record. it has Dre bring back the early ninties where he introduced the world to G-Funk as he gets into some funky, high-energy beats for you to groove to, fitting in nicely amongst so much New School material.

**Five Stars**

13. "B***h N****z"

Thsi is a very dark one and has Sixx-Two, Hittman, Snoop and Dre himself rapping on some slow, bassy production which focuses on all of those who are only into friendship when money is involved. Past experiences of this are all brought back up here, and they make sure that the messages get to all of those in question.

**Five Stars**

14. "The Car Bomb" (Lude)

15. "Murder Ink"

Sandwiched between two skits we have a short hardcore Gangsta Rap track by Dre as gets Ms. Roq and Hittman to aid him in giving some real West Coast culture to the masses as they talk about all that it is to be a fully-fledged G out in South Central LA.

**Four Stars**

16. "Ed-ucation" (Lude)

17. "Some L.A. N****z"

For this on you get a throwback as you are initally greated by the ex-N.W.A member MC Ren on the mic(rophone), before a host of Los Angeles names get a chance to show their lyrical skills off including the likes of Hittman, Time Bomb, Defari, Xzibit, King Tee, Knoc-turn'al, and Kokane.

**Four Stars**

18. "Pause 4 Porno" (Lude)

19. "Housewife"

On this one you get Dre and DPG's Kurupt sending out an important message to many maturing blacks who may not be aware opf the fact that turing a "Ho Into A Housewife" is an impossibel task as they two aren't even comparible in what they represent, or are able to offer as women.

**Five Stars**

20. "Ackrite"

I was highly surprised to read that this one didn't smaple a previously-recorded P-Funk tune or something as the beat to it sounds as if it came straight out of this era, but being so in-tune with these years, Dre was abl to come up with a melody to fit in with his style, without having to tkae old tunes to do it. Hittman has a track to himself here, and he uses this opportunity effectively.

**Five Stars**

21. "Bang Bang"

Here is some heavy Gangsta Rap to stop people thinking that he is going to slow things up as the album draws towards a close. It has the duo of Hittman and Knoc-turn'al make the most of the hardcore beats, complete with gunshots soudn effects.

**Four Stars**

22. "The Message"

To end things, we get a conscious track as Dre shows out to his brother, and talks about all the lost potenial which came about with his pre-mature death on some gentle Lord Finesse beats, to give him all which is needed to give him the power to get his message across.

**Four Stars**

This album is often considered to be a future classic, and the perfect follow-up to "Chronic" which came be said to be nothing less than this. However for me, it is a little overrated and although it doesn't have any clar weak points, Dre does let himself down by putting in a filler and lots of interludes between tracks. The production in this album is amazing and the guests chosen to use them fitted it perfectly.

Summary: Dr. Dre's second album