The Legend (Chronic 2001 - Dr. Dre)

Member Name: Tcraze84

Product:	Chronic 2001 - Dr. Dre
Date:	11/01/01 (102 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The most respected man in rap ever.

Disadvantages: Less-and less focusing on rapping, and more on studio work; although this is not necessarily a bad thing!

The man, the legend,..Dr. Dre.

Andre Young, better known as Dr Dre is arguably up there with the best - ever.

In the 1980's, 1983 I believe, Dre ("Straight outta Compton", naturally), formed the NWA. They were to change the face of music forever. Consisting of the hottest rappers around, the NWA, some would say are one of the most influential group of musicians ever. The Beatles? Nirvana? The Sex Pistols? The 'Stones? Yes, I would say the NWA are up there and equal to them all.

Controversial, I know. But think about it. Did The Beatles REALLY have that much influence? Ok, well, YES they did - in the UK & Ireland. But in the USA?

I believe that award goes to the NWA. Where Lennon/McCartney undoubtedly gave us Oasis/Blur/Pulp etc, etc; there simply would be nothing in America if it was not for the NWA.

Limp Bizkit, KoRn, and the best - are just a rap/metal hybrid and regularly have rappers working with them. And who kicked off rap? Exactly my point - the NWA.

These guys still rule today. Their police-offending songs and live performances, well, without them, basically, there wouldn't be a whole lot of swearing etc in modern day songs.

But out of the whole group, who benefited most? Dre. Could well have been Ice Cube, but his resignation from the group virtually paved the way for Dre to step up that extra level to "legend" status.

He, say many, and self-admittedly as well, is one of the few people in music today who can do whatever they want; as they are so respected. Who else could you say that of? Paul McCartney, yes. Madonna? Possibly. And there really is not a whole lot left to choose from. Dr Dre is at the pinnacle of his chosen career(s).

That is also an important point to consider, as undoubtedly Dr Dre is amazingly multi-talented. He raps, yes. He has sold millions of records worldwide, yes.

But he also produces, he also directs videos;
he kick-started Snoop Dogg's career; he discovered Eminem and gave him his backing, then turning him into possibly the next legend of rap. The list goes on and on.

He also completed a sell-out $2m American tour last year - the excellent "Up In Smoke" tour; starring Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Xzibit, Warren G, and many more, regarded as the tour to change the way rap and hip-hop tours will be done from now on.

Nobody in the know has a bad word to say about this "veteran". And he just keeps getting better; the third single from Chronic 2001 (incidentally the "sequel" to his first solo album, "Chronic" from 1992) entitled "The Next Episode", in which he collaborates with Snoop Dogg, is one of the finest rap songs I have heard for quite some time.

Apart from himself, he has worked with the best - most notably, the late Tupac "2pac" Shakur who would undoubtedly have been on the U.I.S tour, if he was not cut off so tragically in his prime.

There have been noises about the "new NWA" forming - what an incredible prospect that is - but first, Eminem has to avoid a prison sentence for that to *properly* happen, for the NWA to consist of the best.

Long live the king.

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