There are a lot of things that can be said about Dr. Dre’s album, “The Chronic”. That it’s an inventive, unique, fantastic piece of music and a memorable debut. Or that it embodies what it means to be ‘West Coast’ and live the ‘gangsta’ lifestyle. And although all of that is accurate, I think a quote from Kanye West describes “The Chronic” in perfect terms.
In an interview West gave to Rolling Stone magazine, he said: "The Chronic is the hip-hop equivalent to Stevie Wonder's ‘Songs in the Key of Life’. It's the benchmark you measure your album against if you're serious."
With its stylish, sonically detailed production, “The Chronic”, transformed the entire sound of West Coast rap and established Dre as a legendary artist and producer.
The album was recorded by following Dr, Dre’s departure from N.W.A and Ruthless Records over a financial dispute, and it featured both subtle and direct insults at the company and its owner, former N.W.A member, Eazy-E.
This split obviously had a great effect on Dre, and it helped motivate him on the way to making one of the best albums hip-hop had ever seen.
The beats on “The Chronic” were slower and mellower than what had been out at the time, borrowing from late 1970s and early 1980s funk music. By mixing these early influences with original live instrumentation, Dre created a distinctive genre known as G-funk.
The most successful track off “The Chronic”, "Nuthin' But a "G" Thang", demonstrates Dr. Dre’s laid-back delivery and flow over a beat that became a classic overnight. Also featuring Snopp Dogg, who was notably introduced to the world on this album, the track personifies what it means to be West Coast and isn’t just one of the best hip-hop tracks ever, it’s one of the greatest songs ever.
The track, “Let Me Ride”, has some violent, illustrative lyrics that contradict, but at the same time blend perfectly, with the relaxed, smooth beat. Dr. Dre won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1994 for this track, and it’s for good reason. Using realistic and clever lyrics, Dre depicts what life was like for him in Compton and his years growing up out West. Dre sets the scene perfectly when he raps, “The sun went down when I hit Slausson/On my way to the strip, now I'm just flossin.”
“Fuck wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')” could have just been a run-of-the-mill diss track aimed at Eazy-E and a few other rappers who were hating on the West Coast. But instead, Dre crafts a unique, vengeful diss track filled with spirited lyrics and lays it on top of one of the best he has ever produced.
Writing about “The Chronic” now, eighteen years after its release, I think the fact that Dre has only released one studio album since makes it more significant. As a fan, critic, or anyone listening, you can’t help but appreciate the talent and ferocity shown on this debut album. Almost two decades later, this is still the album all other albums will be measured against, and if that's not the definition of a classic album, I don't know what is.
Just remember, when you diss Dre, you diss yourself.
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