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The Chronic
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The Chronic is the solo debut studio album of hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre, released December 15, 1992 on his former own label, Death Row Records, and distributed by Priority Records. The album was named after a slang term for high-grade cannabis. The album cover is an homage to Zig-Zag rolling papers. The Chronic was recorded by Dr. Dre following his departure from N.W.A and Ruthless Records over a financial dispute, and consequently featured both subtle and direct insults at Ruthless and its owner, former N.W.A group member, Eazy-E.
Dr. Dre's production is noted for founding and popularizing the G-funk sub-genre within gangsta rap.
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Encyclopedia
The Chronic is the solo debut studio album of hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre, released December 15, 1992 on his former own label, Death Row Records, and distributed by Priority Records. The album was named after a slang term for high-grade cannabis. The album cover is an homage to Zig-Zag rolling papers. The Chronic was recorded by Dr. Dre following his departure from N.W.A and Ruthless Records over a financial dispute, and consequently featured both subtle and direct insults at Ruthless and its owner, former N.W.A group member, Eazy-E.
Dr. Dre's production is noted for founding and popularizing the G-funk sub-genre within gangsta rap. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and has sold over three million copies, which led to him becoming one of the top ten best-selling American performing artists of 1993. It is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential albums of the 1990s and regarded by many fans and peers to be the most well-produced hip-hop album of all time.
Music
Production
The production on The Chronic was seen as innovative and ground-breaking, and received universal acclaim from critics. Allmusic commented on Dr. Dre's efforts, "Here, Dre established his patented G-funk sound: fat, blunted Parliament-Funkadelic beats, soulful backing vocals, and live instruments in the rolling basslines and whiny synths" and that "For the next four years, it was virtually impossible to hear mainstream hip-hop that wasn't effected in some way by Dre and his patented G-funk." Unlike other hip hop acts (such as The Bomb Squad) that sampled heavily, Dr. Dre only utilized one or few samples per song. In Rolling Stones The Immortals - The Greatest Artists of All Time, where Dr. Dre was listed at number 54, Kanye West wrote on the album's production quality: "The Chronic is still the hip-hop equivalent to Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life. It's the benchmark you measure your album against if you're serious."
Jon Pareles of the The New York Times described the production, writing "The bottom register is swampy synthesizer bass lines that openly emulate Parliament-Funkadelic; the upper end is often a lone keyboard line, whistling or blipping insouciantly. In between are wide-open spaces that hold just a rhythm guitar, sparse keyboard chords." Pareles observed that the songs "were smoother and simpler than East Coast rap, and [Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg] decisively expanded the hip-hop audience into the suburbs. Until this point, hip hop had been primarily party music (for example, Beastie Boys) or angry and politically charged (for example, Public Enemy or X-Clan), and had consisted almost entirely of samples and breakbeats. Dr. Dre ushered in a new musical style and lyrics for hip hop. The beats were slower and mellower, borrowing from late 1970s and early 1980s funk music. By mixing these early influences with original live instrumentation, he created a distinctive genre known as G-funk.
Lyrics
The album's lyrics, written by Dr. Dre, caused some controversy, as the subject matter included homophobia and violent representations. It was noted that the album was a "frightening amalgam of inner-city street games that includes misogynist sexual politics and violent revenge scenarios". Dr. Dre's dissing of former band-mate, Eazy-E, resulted in vicious lyrics, which were mainly aimed at offending his enemy with homosexual implications, although it was noted to have "a spirited cleverness in the phrasing and rhymes; in other words, the song is offensive, but it's creatively offensive".
Rapper Snoop Dogg, who had a significant role on the album, was praised for his lyrics and flow, and it was mentioned that "Coupled with his inventive rhymes, Snoop's distinctive style made him a superstar before he'd even released a recording of his own" and that his involvement was as important to the album's success as its production. Touré of the The New York Times remarks that "While Snoop delivers rhymes delicately, the content is anything but. Growing up poor, often surrounded by violence, and having served six months in the Wayside County jail outside of Los Angeles (for cocaine possession) gave Snoop Dogg experiences upon which he draws." Snoop Dogg later commented on the "reality" of his lyrics:
Singles
Three singles were released from the album: "Nuthin' but a "G" Thang", "Fuck wit Dre Day" and "Let Me Ride", all of which featured Snoop Doggy Dogg, who also featured on 12 of the 16 tracks on the album. Other guests included Kurupt, Lady of Rage, RBX and Daz Dillinger. "Nuthin' but a "G" Thang" and "Let Me Ride" were nominated at the 1994 Grammy Awards, with the latter winning Best Rap Solo Performance for Dr. Dre. The singles "Fuck wit Dre Day" and "Nuthin' but a "G" Thang" are in best-selling video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on the fictional radio station Radio Los Santos.
"Nuthin' but a "G" Thang"
"Nuthin' but a "G" Thang" was released as the first single on January 19, 1993. It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and Hot Rap Singles. It sold over a million copies and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it Platinum on March 24, 1993. The song was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 1994 Grammy Awards, but lost to Digable Planets' "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)". Steve Huey of Allmusic named it "the archetypal G-funk single" and added "The sound, style, and performances of "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" were like nothing else on the early-'90s hip-hop scene." He praised Snoop Dogg's performance, stating "[Snoop Dogg's] flow was laconic and relaxed, massively confident and capable of rapid-fire tongue-twisters, but coolly laid-back and almost effortless at the same time".. Today it is one of the most critically and commercially lauded hip-hop/rap songs of all time. It is rated the 134th best song of all time by Acclaimedmusic.net, and the sixth best hip-hop/rap song , and voted in a VH1 poll as the 13th best song of the 1990s.
"Fuck wit Dre Day"
"Fuck wit Dre Day (and Everybody's Celebratin')" was released as the second single on May 20, 1993 and like the previous single, it was a hit on multiple charts. It reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. It sold over 500,000 units and the RIAA certified it Gold on October 8, 1993. Allmusic writer Steve Huey stated that the song was "a classic hip-hop single", citing Dr. Dre's production as "impeccable as ever, uniting his signature whiny synth melodies with a halting, descending bass line, a booming snare, and soulful female vocals in the background" and alluded to Snoop Dogg, stating "Attitude was something Snoop had by the boatload, his drawling, laid-back delivery projecting unassailable control — it sounded lazy even though it wasn't, and that helped establish Snoop's don't-give-a-damn persona."
"Let Me Ride"
"Let Me Ride" was released as a cassette single on September 13, 1993. It experienced moderate success on the charts, reaching number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Hot Rap Singles. The song won Dr. Dre Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1994 Grammy Awards. On this song and "Nuthin but a "G" Thang", Time magazine noted that Dr. Dre's verses were delivered with a "hypnotically intimidating ease" and made the songs feel like "dusk on a wide-open L.A. boulevard, full of possibility and menace".
Other notable tracks
The album also featured "Deeez Nuuuts", one of the very first recordings featuring all the members of the ensemble 213: Snoop Doggy Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Warren G.
Reception
Critical recognition
The album was generally very well received by critics. On Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, it was noted that "Dre funked up the rhymes with a smooth bass-heavy production style and the laid-back delivery of then-unknown rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg." Time magazine's Josh Tyrangiel states that Dr. Dre created "a sound that defined early 90's urban L.A. in the same way that Motown defined 60's Detroit". Allmusic's Steve Huey compared Dr. Dre to his inspiration, George Clinton, stating "Dre's just as effortlessly funky, and he has a better feel for a hook, a knack that improbably landed gangsta rap on the pop charts" and his Rolling Stone review, Havelock Nelson wrote "The Chronic drops raw realism and pays tribute to hip-hop virtuosity." Rhapsody writer, Brolin Winning, named the album as "an untouchable masterpiece of California Gangsta Rap" and that it had "track after track of G-Funk gems". The New York Times writer, Jon Pareles, mentioned that The Chronic and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle, "made the gangsta life sound like a party occasionally interrupted by gunplay".
Sales and certifications
The album has sold over four and half million copies in the United States and over eight million worldwide, and was certified three times Platinum by RIAA on November 3, 1993. It is Dr. Dre's second best selling album, as his follow-up album, 2001, was certified six times Platinum. The album first appeared on music charts in 1993, peaking on the Billboard 200 at number three, and peaking on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums at number one. It re-entered the charts in 2003, peaking on the Ireland Albums Top 75 at number 48, and on the U.K. Albums Top 75 in 2004 at number 43.
Accolades
The Chronic was included in Vibe magazine's "100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century" and it was ranked at number six in their "Top 10 Rap Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone ranked it at number 137 on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The record ranked at number eight in Spin magazine's "90 Greatest Albums of the '90s" and in 2005, it was ranked at number thirty-five in their "100 Greatest Albums, 1985–2005". The Source magazine originally gave the album four and a half mics out of five and it was added to The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. It was later revealed that while everybody at the magazine knew it was an instant classic, the music editor at that time had a strict policy of staying away from a perfect rating. In 2005, MTV Networks listed The Chronic as the third greatest hip hop album in history. In 2006, Time magazine ranked it as one of the 100 greatest albums of all time and it was listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Influence
Having split from N.W.A, Dr. Dre's first solo album established him as one of the biggest hip hop stars of his era. The Chronic brought G-funk to the mainstream—a genre defined by slow bass beats and melodic synthesizers, topped by P-Funk samples, female vocals, and a laconic, laid-back lyrical delivery referred to as a "lazy drawl". The album takes its name from a slang term for premium grade cannabis, Chronic. The album cover is an homage to Zig-Zag rolling papers.
The album launched the careers of West Coast hip hop artists, including Snoop Doggy Dogg, Daz Dillinger, Kurupt, Nate Dogg, and Warren G, Dr. Dre's half-brother—all of whom pursued successful commercial careers. The Chronic is widely regarded as the album that re-defined West Coast hip hop, demonstrated gangsta rap's commercial potential as a multi-platinum commodity, and established G-funk as the most popular sound in hip hop music for several years after its release, with Dr. Dre producing major albums that drew heavily on his production style. The album's success established Death Row Records as a dominant force in 1990s hip hop. It has been re-released twice, first as a remastered CD, then as a remastered DualDisc with enhanced stereo and four videos.
Track listing
| # | Title | Length | Performer(s) | Samples |
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| 1 | "The Chronic (Intro)" | 1:57 | Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg |
| | 2 | "Fuck Wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')" | 4:52 | Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Jewell, RBX | "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton"(Not Just) Knee Deep" by Funkadelic"Funkentelechy", "The Big Bang Theory" & "Aquaboogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)" by Parliament | | 3 | "Let Me Ride" | 4:21 | Dr. Dre, Jewell, Ruben, background vocals by Snoop Dogg | "Mothership Connection (Star Child)" and "Swing Down, Sweet Chariot (Live)" by Parliament"Kissin' My Love" by (Drums) Bill Withers"Funky Drummer" (Drums) by James Brown | | 4 | "The Day the Niggaz Took Over" | 4:33 | Dr. Dre, Daz Dillinger, RBX, Snoop Dogg | Samples live news reports and other soundbites of the 1992 Los Angeles riots"Love's Gonna Get'Cha (Material Love)" by Boogie Down Productions | | 5 | "Nuthin' but a "G" Thang" | 3:58 | Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg | "I Wanna Do Something Freaky to You" by Leon Haywood"Uphill (Peace of mind)" by Frederick Knight | | 6 | "Deeez Nuuuts" | 5:06 | Dr. Dre, Daz Dillinger, 213
(Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Warren G) | "Chestnuts" by Rudy Ray Moore | | 7 | "Lil' Ghetto Boy" | 5:29 | Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Daz Dillinger | "Little Ghetto Boy" by Donny Hathaway"The Get Out of the Ghetto Blues" by Gil Scott-Heron | | 8 | "A Nigga Witta Gun" | 3:52 | Dr. Dre and background vocals by Snoop Dogg | "Big Sur Suite" by Johnny "Hammond" Smith"Who's the Man (With the Master Plan)" by the Kay Gees"Friends" by Whodini"Fuck Wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')" by Dr. Dre | | 9 | "Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat" | 3:48 | Dr. Dre, with background vocals by RBX & Snoop Dogg | "Vegetable Wagon" by Donny Hathaway"Brothers Gonna Work it Out" by Willie Hutch"Pot Belly" by Lou Donaldson | | 10 | "The $20 Sack Pyramid" (skit) | 2:53 | Big Tittie Nickie, The D.O.C., Samara, Snoop Dogg | "Papa Was Too" (live) by Joe Tex | | 11 | "Lyrical Gangbang" | 4:04 | Kurupt, The Lady of Rage, RBX | "Damn" by The Nite-Liters"When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin | | 12 | "High Powered" | 2:44 | Dr. Dre, RBX, The Lady of Rage, Daz Dillinger | | | 13 | "The Doctor's Office" (skit) | 1:04 | Jewell, The Lady of Rage | | | 14 | "Stranded on Death Row" | 4:47 | Bushwick Bill, Kurupt, the Lady of Rage, RBX, Snoop Dogg | "Do Your Thing (Live)" by Isaac Hayes"If it Don't Turn You on (You Outta Leave it Alone)" by B.T. Express"The Jam" by Graham Central Station | | 15 | "The Roach (The Chronic Outro)" | 4:36 | RBX, Daz Dillinger, Emmage, Jewell, the Lady of Rage | "P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)", "Colour Me Funky" by Parliament"Impeach the President" (Drums) by The Honeydrippers | | 16 | "Bitches Ain't Shit (Bonus Track)" | 4:48 | Dr. Dre, Daz Dillinger, Kurupt (aka The Dogg Pound), Snoop Dogg, Jewell, The Lady of Rage | "Adolescent Funk" by Funkadelic |
Chart history
Personnel
- Dr. Dre – vocals, keyboards, producer, drum programming, mixing
- Lady of Rage – vocals
- Bushwick Bill (credited as "Dr. Wolfgang Von Bushwickin the Barbarian Mother Funky Stay High Dollar Billstir") – vocals
- Snoop Doggy Dogg – vocals
- Warren G – vocals
- The D.O.C. – co-writer
- RBX – vocals
- Nate Dogg – vocals
- Dat Nigga Daz – vocals, drum programming
- Kurupt – vocals
- Katisse Buckingham – flute, saxophone
- Emmage – vocals
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Greg Royal – mixing
- Brian Graves – keyboards, "ghetto synth"
- Daniel Jordan – photography
- Cheron Moore – drums
- Eric Borders – guitar
- Chris Clairmont – guitar
- Justin Reinhardt – keyboards
- Chris "The Glove" Taylor – mixing, mixing assistant
- Suge Knight – executive producer
- Guru Sandhu – assistant executive producer
- Willie Will – mixing, mixing assistant
- Kimberly Holt – artwork, art direction, design
- Kimberly Brown – project coordinator
- BJ "Tha Mocking Bird" – performer
- Matthew McDaniels – provided L.A Riot scenes
- John McClain – A&R Director
- Noor – vocals
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