Was Dr. Dre nonetheless Dr. Dre?
Certain he was a legend, however following his departure from Dying Row Data, middling reception to The Agency’s debut album, and an objectively lackluster Aftermath compilation, the reply wasn’t so clear. In 1999, Dre erased any ambiguities with 2001, a sophomore album that re-established the musical maestro as one of the vital compelling forces hip-hop has ever produced.
Launched about seven years after he revitalized the West Coast together with his debut album, The Power, the LP is a powerhouse effort that features options sleekly nocturnal manufacturing, bars from apex Eminem, and timeless Snoop Dogg-assisted anthems designed to reverberate into the ages. Whereas I’d argue it’s a half-notch under the usual he set together with his maiden effort, it stands as compelling proof of why we should always by no means neglect about Dre.
Tomorrow, 2001 celebrates its twenty fifth anniversary. To have a good time, Okayplayer ranks each single observe on the album. Peep the record under.
22. “Bar One (Skit)” (that includes Traci Nelson, Ms. Roq, and Eddie Griffin)
A limpid placeholder that basically doesn’t must be on this LP, and it’s additionally not all that humorous.
21. “The Automobile Bomb (Skit)” (that includes Mel-Man and Charis Henry)
The factor with skits is that they’re often solely round to function bridges to the following precise tune, in order that they don’t should be something spectacular. This one fulfills its function with a genuinely natural interplay between the vocalists, nevertheless it’s only a skit, so inserting it right here.
20. “Ed-Ucation” (that includes Eddie Griffin)
Empty, by-the-books “ladies are ladies and hoes are hoes” rhetoric even Eddie Griffin’s expressive supply can’t save.
19. “Pause 4 Porno (Skit)” (that includes Jake Steed)
Yo… was Dre severe with this? In all probability not, and it’s cool as a result of it’s some genuinely humorous little bit of absurdist humor.
18. “Lolo (Intro)”
Nothing particular right here, however nothing particularly offensive or useless. Its cinematic tone lets you’re in for some fireplace, although.
17. “Homicide Ink” (that includes Hittman and Ms. Roq)
Props for the Halloween pattern, however the observe feels generic in any other case, with flavorless verses and a hook that sounds prefer it got here collectively in precisely 15 seconds. Dre’s authoritative presence can be sorely missed on the vocal finish of issues.
16. “Housewife” (that includes Kurupt and Hittman)
This one’s simply kinda there. Serviceable hook and fantastic sufficient Dre verse, nevertheless it’s a largely vague entry into an album that’s already offers with this entire subject — a really sexist one — slightly an excessive amount of. Okay, method an excessive amount of. However at the least the others are extra enjoyable.
15. “Let’s Get Excessive” (that includes Hittman, Kurupt, and Ms. Roq)
Out of all of the 2001 tracks, “Let’s Get Excessive” sounds essentially the most like early ’90s G-Funk, and the spitters right here bounce off one another with some partaking kineticism to make you’re feeling such as you’re at a home occasion.
14. “Ackrite” (that includes Hittman)
Playful, threatening and melodic, Hittman did his factor right here, even when we’re towards the again finish of the album at this level. He’s an underrated determine on this entire 2001 saga, as you’ll see all through the record.
13. “Bitch Niggaz” (that includes Snoop Dogg, Hittman, and Six-Two)
With some vaguely sinister guitar strings and menacing verses from all concerned events, “Bitch Niggaz” typifies gangsta rap of the early aughts — with Dr. Dre, in fact, being on the sonic and curatorial heart. And man. No matter occurred to Hittman? This dude is on the album far more than I keep in mind, and he seemingly all the time does his factor.
12. “Gentle Pace” (that includes Hittman)
A fog of nocturnal gangsta funk, “Gentle Pace” isn’t something that its title suggests. However it’s embedded with a deceptively infectious hook and one other set of charismatic flows from Dr. Dre.
11. “Some L.A. Niggaz” (that includes Hittman, Defari, Xzibit, Knoc-turn’al, Time Bomb, King T, MC Ren, and Kokane)
Kudos to Dre for bringing MC Ren again into the combo, and Xzibit as soon as once more reminds us why there was far more to him than Pimp My Journey — even when I’d like to see one other season within the very close to future.
10. “Bang Bang” (that includes Knoc-turn’al and Hittman)
Everybody is aware of the streets of L.A. have a gun drawback, and it’s actually not one thing to have a good time. Right here, Dre takes a step again from glorifying the motion to easily name it for what it’s, and the beat, together with the visitor appearances, mesh seamlessly together with his ambivalent stance on the entire state of affairs.
9. “Large Ego’s” (that includes Hittman)
Two large ego’s making you notice they have a purpose to be that method — even Hittman!
8. “The Message/Outro” (that includes Mary J. Blige and Rell)
Penned by Royce Da 5’9,” “The Message” serves as a touching reflection to Dr. Dre’s youthful brother, who died in a battle again within the ’80s. Whereas it scans as a bit by the numbers, Mary J. Blige’s vocals, and the overall poignance of the writing make this one resonate in a significant method. Plus, it’s a pleasant reprieve from a few of 2001’s extreme nihilism. Somber Dre could be a fairly profound one.
7. “Fuck You” (that includes Devin the Dude and Snoop Dogg)
Traditional, juvenile, and doubtless irresponsible West Coast enjoyable courtesy of flagrant obscenities, a trendy soundscape and delirious joint hook from Devin the Dude and Snoop. Components of it are very cringe because it pushes the bounds of blatant misogyny, nevertheless it’s all finished in such casually blatant method it type of simply blends in with the silliness of the tune
6. “The Watcher”
With “The Watcher,” Dre revels in residing to be an OG, emitting an uncommon consolation with ageing out of music trade and miscellaneous avenue nonsense. The rhymes listed here are sharp — Em reportedly wrote them — however as soon as once more, Dre sells it with matter-of-fact conviction and a beat designed for pensive ideas.
5. “Xxplosive” (that includes Hittman, Kurupt, Nate Dogg, and Six-Two)
Except “Nonetheless Dre,” no different 2001 observe embodies “Xxplosive”’s undercurrent of pristine, West Coast cool. As soon as once more, Nate Dogg serves up a melody you possibly can’t assist however murmur, and Hittman reminds all that he ought to’ve had extra of a profession. Bonus factors for this being the beat Vince Staples Blacked out on for an L.A. Leakers freestyle years later.
4. “The Subsequent Episode” that includes Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and Kurupt
Every part about this one appears like a celebratory climax. The David McCallum pattern is epic, Snoop’s hook (lada-dada-da!) is infectious and the shit discuss is elegant. All these components have been already sufficient, however Nate Dogg’s chorus cemented the observe is known.
3. “What’s The Distinction” that includes Xzibit and Eminem
A posse lower amongst posse cuts, this one sees Dre, Xzibit, and Em get reflective as they nod to themes of loyalty, brotherhood and abrupt honesty. The beat right here is iconic and the hook itself is a problem rooted in integrity, serving to make it greater than symbolic sufficient to be indelible.
2. “Forgot About Dre” that includes Eminem
A flurry of nihilistic punchlines and ricocheting rhyme schemes, “Forgot About Dre” is the rap equal of Mischief Evening. Delivering an Eminem-written verse, Dre as soon as once more places down all his naysayers with frequent reminders of his resume. For his half, Em turns in essentially the most tightly wound rhyme couplets you possibly can ever think about, swirling them along with an impressively juvenile creativeness.
- “Nonetheless D.R.E.” that includes Snoop Dogg
From its cinematically fluttering keys to its West Coast symbolism and normal theme of the gang getting again collectively, the whole lot about “Nonetheless D.R.E.” says “West Coast Traditional.” Right here, Snoop Dogg and Dre are again to their outdated methods because the duo that put the West Coast on their shoulders to outline the G-Funk period. Dre nods to fallen mates (2Pac and Eazy-E) and low-riding Cali traditions earlier than providing sharp retort for people who mentioned he’d fallen off: “They are saying Dre fell off, how, nigga, my final album was The Power.” Certain, JAY-Z wrote it, however Dre mentioned TF outta that shit. Then, there’s the two-part hook that hits with all of the damaging drive of a joint punch from Batman and Robin — or a LeBron alley oop from Dwyane Wade. Between the bars, the beat, and Dre’s charisma, it’s all fairly unimaginable. However whenever you throw within the nostalgia — even again then — it turns into a reassuring reminder that typically, the very best issues can dwell eternally. Even when it is just for 4 minutes at a time.
