Fans and peers alike universally agree that Dr. Dre is the best Hip-Hop producer to ever do it. From his early beginnings as hands-on sound with N.W.A and Death Row Records to his subsequent maestro position in the later years, so many artists have won powered by his guidance and at the least, released the best music of their careers. (We’re looking at you, Truth Hurts.)
Now that the word is out that his first album in 16 years, Compton (also known as Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre) will be released this Friday, the bar has been set extremely high because he designed it that way.
Kendrick Lamar, The Game, Snoop Dogg and more are looking to help solidify Dre’s legacy with his swan song but for now, let’s have a look at the classic Dr. Dre produced albums from over the years. All of these bodies of work are must-have’s for any true fan of the culture.
Busta’s Big Bang Comeback
Busta Rhymes hopped on the Aftermath train in 2005 and thankfully wasn’t shelved like his latest stint with Cash Money Records. After the hit single “Touch It” blazed the winter and summer, The Big Bang solidified its place near the top of the Dungeon Dragon’s discography, all under the tutelage of The Good Doctor.
No One Did It Funkier
Coming straight outta Dallas, The D.O.C. was the first gangster rapper to display first class lyricism mixed with hardened sensibilities. Back when Ruthless Records was still thriving, Dre improved on the breakbeat production from Straight Outta Compton on 1989’s No One Can Do It Better, with songs like “Let the Bass Go” and “The Formula” employing the modern-day sound beds as we’ve grown to love them.
The Genesis
1988’s Straight Outta Compton not only shed light on Los Angeles’ police brutality (years before the Rodney King beating at that), it also put the West Coast on the map as a recognizable force in the very young Hip-Hop culture. The album also inspired some movie.
Audio Dope In The Flesh
The glowing reviews for 1992’s The Chronic are a bottomless paper trail–and rightfully so. Before its release, rappers were spitting their truths on record scratches instrument loops but once those prison bars slammed shut, Hip-Hop production was forever changed for the better.
Beats By Dre & Co.
Unshaken by Suge Knight’s faux Chronic 2000, Dre recruited Mel-Man, Scott Storch, Mike Elizondo and Lord Finesse for arguably the best produced Hip-Hop album ever created.
Straight Outta Compton (Again)
Dr. Dre and his protégés create headlines every so often like cicada outbreaks and 2005 was the year G-Unit got West Coast street cred with The Game’s classic debut album, The Documentary. Although the 50 Cent union didn’t last very long, records such as “Start from Scratch” and “Higher” are eternal.
Real Boyz In The Hood
Dr. Dre touched on his lost friendship with Eazy-E on the aforementioned 2001 with heartfelt emotion. Back when the two were thick as thieves, the debut album, Eazy-Duz-It was a platinum follow-up to Straight Outta Compton and the beats were crafted by Doc alongside DJ Yella.
Steering A Living Legend In The Right Direction
Dr. Dre has served as the executive producer for all of Eminem’s studio albums, starting with 1999’s The Slim Shady LP. The end result is Marshall Bruce Mathers becoming the first artist to earn two RIAA Digital Diamond Awards. Any questions?
Meet Snoop & His Doggystyle
In 1993 (and well into 1995), Snoop Doggy Dogg’s debut album snatched the torch lit by The Chronic and turned it into the ultimate party blunt. It was manned completely by Dre Day, of course.
X Marked The RIAA Spot
Xzibit had been a well-respected rapper for years in the underground, thanks to his solo work and collaborations with Tha Alkaholiks. It wasn’t until he utilized the services of The Good Doctor for his third studio album, Restless at the end of 2000, did things become a lucrative affair. With Dre serving as the executive producer, the project became the West Coast staple’s first (and only) platinum album and easily his best.
A 10’s Star Is Born
The moment the music community outside of the blogs began to pay attention to Kendrick Lamar was after a picture of the two Compton natives tweeted a picture of them working in the studio. The year was 2010 and K. Dot went on to flex his lyrical muscles to in a pointless effort to promote Detox. Since he said it sucked himself, we’re glad Dre chose to focus on executive producing good kid, m.A.A.d city instead.
He Got Rich And Didn’t Have To Die
Thirteen million copies of Get Rich or Die Tryin’ turned Curtis Jackson into an overnight mogul and the Dr. Dre-produced “In Da Club” is one of the most ubiquitous Hip-Hop songs of all-time. Any questions?
List Of Classic Dr. Dre Produced Albums
