No producer in the history of hip-hop music has done more to bolster the genre than the Compton, California-born songwriter Dr. Dre. Not only does he have quite a few hit songs and albums but he has helped to bring up some of the biggest names in the genre, from Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg to Eminem and 50 Cent, among many others.
But along with having an ear for talent, Dre has an ear for precision and quality when it comes to music. He is relentless in his search for perfection. As a result, the rapper and businessman has released many hit songs that have since stood the test of time. Here below, we wanted to explore three of them. A trio of tracks that continue to be heard on the airwaves. Indeed, these are three eternal Dr. Dre songs.
[RELATED: 5 Artists Who Benefited from Working with Dr. Dre]
“Still D.R.E.” from 2001 (1999)
In 1992, Dr. Dre released what is still considered one of the best rap albums ever, The Chronic. And seven years later, he released another classic, 2001. And on this song, which talks about Dre keeping his prowess as one of the best in the rap game, the deep-voiced rapper makes sure all listeners know he hasn’t lost a step. The song, which also features his former protégé Snoop Dogg, opens with sticky strings and a drum beat that slaps. On the track, Dre opens with the verse,
It’s still Dre Day n—a, AK n—a
Though I’ve grown a lot, can’t keep it home a lot
‘Cause when I frequent the spots that I’m known to rock
You hear the bass from the truck when I’m on the block
Ladies they pay homage, but haters say Dre fell off
How n—a? My last album was The Chronic
They want to know if he still got it
They say rap’s changed
They wanna know how I feel about it
“Forgot About Dre” from 2001 (1999)
Also from 2001, this song features another of Dre’s significant protégés in Eminem. If the track above highlighted the producer’s longevity, this song was meant to remind those who had written Dr. Dre off. Not only has he been successful for years, but now he was back to remind those who had possibly forgotten. And he did that threefold: with a stellar beat, pounding rhymes, and by showcasing his newest star. On the song, Dre opens with the verse,
Y’all know me, still the same OG
But I been low-key
Hated on by most these n—-s
With no cheese, no deals and no Gs
No wheels and no keys
No boats, no snowmobiles and no skis
Mad at me ’cause I can finally afford to provide my family with groceries
Got a crib with a studio and it’s all full of tracks
To add to the wall full of plaques
Hanging up in the office in back of my house like trophies
“Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” from The Chronic (1992)
The debut single from Dr. Dre’s debut LP The Chronic, this track hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its release. It also introduced the world to the smooth-talking Long Beach, California MC Snoop Dogg. In fact, the Snoop inspired Dre to create the song and Snoop even wrote his verse while still in jail, recording a demo of it into a phone. As far as the subject matter, the track is about old-fashion trash talking with Dre and Snoop highlighting how cool and skilled they are. On the song, Dre offers,
Well, I’m peeping and I’m creeping and I’m creeping
But I damn near got caught ’cause my beeper kept beeping
Now it’s time for me to make my impression felt
So sit back, relax, and strap on your seat belt
You never been on a ride like this before
With a producer who can rap and control the micstro
At the same time with the dope rhyme that I kick
You know and I know, I flow some old funky s–t
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Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
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