Dr. Dre: The Chronic (1992). “Welcome To Death Row…”

B. Cox and J. Owe look back at Dr. Dre's transcendent debut album The Chronic as it turns 30. After spending half a decade as the architect and chief producer for both NWA and Ruthless Records, Dr. Dre split in 1991 to help co-found Death Row Records with Marion "Suge" Knight with the backing of Interscope Records. As their prime producer and executive, the record label would become a symbol of power and success in the 1990s, starting with his debut album.

Using techniques of producing beats over sampled funk records, deep bass and transformative melodies, the album is credited by many as not originating, but popularizing the "G-Funk" sound that became the label and southern California's hip-hop's identity.

Assisted by the likes of a young rap phenom Snoop Doggy Dog, RBX, Daz and Kurupt of the Dogg Pound and Lady of Rage among others, the Dr. also lent his own vocals as a signature defining moment for his career assisted by the pen of Snoop and also the legendary D.O.C., who was relegated to writing after his traffic accident prematurely ended his promising career on the mic. The result was an album full of legendary bars and quotables that would become a part of hip-hop and pop culture lexicon.

The album was backed by three Billboard top ten singles : the classics "Nuthin But a G Thang", "Dre Day" and "Let Me Ride". Certified triple platinum, The Chronic has been universally acclaimed as both a foundational album of West Coast hip-hop, the hip-hop genre overall and a culture-shifting supernova that few albums have been able to match in terms of quality and impact since.

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Show Notes

Albumism: Dr. Dre's 'The Chronic' Turns 30 | Album Anniversary

https://albumism.com/features/dr-dre-the-chronic-album-anniversary

EurWeb: Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" Turns 30

https://eurweb.com/2022/dr-dres-the-chronic-turns-30/

HipHopHero: 30 years of 'The Chronic': Dr. Dre's exceptional debut album

https://hiphophero.com/30-years-of-dr-dre-album-the-chronic/

MusicMusingsAndSuch: Celebrating An Iconic and Complex Debut Album: Dr. Dre's "The Chronic"

https://www.musicmusingsandsuch.com/musicmusingsandsuch/2022/11/16/feature-celebrating-an-iconic-and-complex-debut-album-dr-dres-the-chronic-at-thirty

Billboard: Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" Turns 30. Every Song Ranked From Worst To Best.

https://www.billboard.com/lists/dr-dre-the-chronic-album-songs-ranked/f-k-with-dre-day-and-everybodys-celebratin-ft-jewell-rbx-and-snoop-dogg/

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