While some rap pundits may now question the lyrical content in the overall presentation (explicit drug addiction and senseless violence), no one can rightfully deny the relevancy and greatness of Dr. Dre’s first solo effort, The Chronic.
Released Dec. 15, 1992 on Death Row Records, The Chronic was absolutely one of the most influential rap albums of all time. While it definitely patented the “G-Funk” sound and advanced “gangsta rap,” it also honestly made the entire rap industry rethink its biases about other regions throughout the country.
Before The Chronic, common thought was the best rap producers, artists and music product originated in New York City and on the East Coast. However, when legendary hip-hop producer Dr. Dre introduced Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, Nate Dogg, RBX and Lady of Rage to the rap game on The Chronic, true music fans and wise record executives obviously realized potential rap stars and quality music could also reside elsewhere.
In retrospect, there truthfully were some other excellent rap releases in 1992, including Mecca and The Soul Brother by Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth, Dead Serious by Das-EFX, and Stunts, Blunts, and Hip-Hop by Diamond D and Psychotic Neurotics. Nonetheless, Dr. Dre’s The Chronic was no doubt the best rap album out the bunch that year and arguably the top rap CD of the 1990s.
Dr. Dre has always been considered a perfectionist in the studio, and his everlasting work on The Chronic clearly showcased why. Every track on the CD was practically a hit. Lyrically, musically as well as conceptually, Dr. Dre and his cohorts effectively delivered on The Chronic. While most fans may now recall heavily-played singles like “Nuthin’ but a G Thang” and “Let Me Ride,” the classic CD also contained underappreciated street bangers like “Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat” and ‘Stranded on Death Row.”
Being the bulk of the lyrical material wasn’t radio-friendly, the commercial success made The Chronic even more remarkable. The album has sold over four and half million copies in the U.S. and has eclipsed eight million throughout the world. It has been certified platinum three times. In 2006, even Time magazine ranked The Chronic one of the 100 greatest albums of all time.
When Dr. Dre abruptly departed the pioneering rap group N.W.A. in the early 1990s, most critics figured the talented rapper/producer would of course move on and eventually find success. But few knew his very next presentation would be such a music classic and masterpiece. Talented, hungry rappers and producers like Snoop and Daz no doubt helped his cause tremendously, but there’s no denying it was Dre who provided the crucial direction and vision on the project.
The Chronic was classic music of the ’90s, because it simply shifted the focus of the rap industry away from New York and the East Coast. It was classic music of the ’90s, because it simply contained superb lyrics and beats from start to finish. It was classic music of the ’90s, because it was simply recorded by one of the best rap minds and music producers in entire the industry, Dr. Dre.
If interested in purchasing Dr. Dre’s classic The Chronic, here are five links where it’s available:
http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1631677/a/Chronic.htm
http://www.buy.com/retail/usersearchresults.asp?store=6&querytype;=music&qu;=the+chronic&loc;=109&display;=col
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/The-Chronic/Dr-Dre/e/728706300025
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1496107&skuId;=7550731&type;=product
Source links:
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Dre, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronic
