There are some legendary names in music history, past and present, that represent significant revolutions in the industry. One of hip hop and rap’s pioneers is Dr. Dre. Why do we at Heartless Music consider him a music rebel? Dre’s ingenuity in music and business paved the way for the industry’s exponentially growing success throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s.
As part of the group NWA, Dre would make his first stance as a rapper who would not be scared to rhyme about anything, including police, politics, gangs, crime, and drugs. Everything that politicians and police would continuously struggle to fight. The bold first move: Fuck Tha Police. Harsh lyrics slapping authority in the face, and it was just the beginning.
Founding his own record label in 1991 with Suge Knight called Death Row Records, Dr Dre released his debut album The Chronic the following year. This is the album that launched the career of Snoop Dogg. The album was bold, with harsh lyrics about gangster life in California. What’s more, is Snoop’s debut album Doggystyle which continued in the same manner much to the dismay of politicians trying to ban “gangster rap”. Perhaps they forgot about freedom of speech and expression. No matter how hard they did try, they couldn’t put a dent in the exploding industry. Hip hop and rap weren’t going anyway as long as Dre had anything to do with it.
In 1995 Suge Knight and then newly signed rapper Tupac Shakur began causing much commotion between Death Row Records and Bad Boy Entertainment, which was based in New York and involved stars Notorious B.I.G. and Puff Daddy. Tupac and the coastal feud was enough for Dre to leave the label and begin Aftermath Entertainment. Shortly after, the feud turned deadly with the murder of Tupac, and then Notorious B.I.G. It was an enormous blow to the industry and made everyone realize that some of these rappers were serious about their lyrics, and were actually dangerous.
In 1998, Dre would find another star that would bring that resurgence the industry needed: rapper Eminem out of Detroit. Eminem and Dre would quickly release the debut album The Slim Shady LP and almost instantly ruffle all the feathers of conservatives across the country, again. The following year he would also produce and release his second album called 2001, reclaiming his other role in the industry.
Here is the free music video for the track Still Dre off the album 2001:
He coordinated the production of the Up In Smoke Tour in 2000, which became one of the most successful music tours of all time and for artists like Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Ice Cube, Warren G, Truth Hurts, and Xzibit. The tour stopped at cities across the country in a never-before-seen collaboration of hip hop and rap sensations.
Rumored to be released later this year is Dr. Dre’s third solo album Detox, which has been in the making for the last several years. Obviously we haven’t heard the last from this music rebel. I look forward to the new album.
