Now’days everybody wanna talk like they got sumthin to say...
To some extent we have seen it all before. The tortured perfectionist, burrowing away in the isolated studio, wondering if the concoction he has spent years perfecting is truly the magical elixir, while secretly perhaps harbouring doubts and insecurities that it might actually be heavily criticised and irrelevant, rather than critical and vital to the moment. But the return of Dr Dre is always truly cause for celebration and deserved anticipation,a nd always vital.
“Detox” is the Dre album first mooted as long ago as early 2004, and the over-10-years-in-the-making follow-up to the much heralded “2001” (released confusingly in 1999), itself a 7 year sequel to 1992’s truly classic release “The Chronic”. Such stats would appear to be the work of some lethargy, but of course we know that Dre has been more than active behind the boards for any number of projects since, and that the long wait for “Detox” is as much to do with his other work schedule as much as his famed perfectionism. That having been said, the time is ripe and rumours still persist of a release.
And if anyone wanted further proof of quite why this would be cause for such excitement one need look no further than the last full Dre album, and in particular the massive “Forgot About Dre”. It doesn’t matter if some of the lyrics were ghost-written, it doesn’t matter that Dre’s production is one of direction over collaboration, bringing in and utilising others’ skills and sometimes beats, it doesn’t matter that the original intention behind the track was to have it as an Eminem and Snoop collaboration, and it doesn’t matter that “2001” has some weak moments throughout that stop it being a bonafide classic. What matters is that “Forgot About Dre” is simply a master class.
A master class in Dre’s orchestrally-minded, tight, drum and synth-led composition. A master class in Dre’s laid-back but forceful lyrical delivery. A master class in Eminem’s tongue-twistingly acidic and downright hilarious story-telling, of witty, dark, straight-up banging hip-hop. It is just a brilliant tune from the first note to the last, and worthy of its Grammy, and any other plaudits coming its way.
The rapping is strong throughout, the video an interesting and winning concept, but it is Dre’s opening verse that is key. Delivered with venom and the confidence that comes with knowing that you are spitting way above anything else available at that time, it is just killer. I mean, really. Who the hell else could bring it with the lines “Ya'll know me still the same ol' G, but I been low key, hated on by most these niggas, wit no cheese, no deals and no G's, no wheels and no keys, no boats, no snowmobiles and no ski's”.
The same person who can remind us all of the roster of artists he has brought through over the years, and know that he is a true living legend, that’s who. And this really might be his last album, for rap is a young man’s game and Dre has nothing he needs to prove to anyone. Ever. Like he says himself, give him one more platinum plaque and fuck rap, you can have it back. Forget about Dre? Sometime never.
“Detox” is the Dre album first mooted as long ago as early 2004, and the over-10-years-in-the-making follow-up to the much heralded “2001” (released confusingly in 1999), itself a 7 year sequel to 1992’s truly classic release “The Chronic”. Such stats would appear to be the work of some lethargy, but of course we know that Dre has been more than active behind the boards for any number of projects since, and that the long wait for “Detox” is as much to do with his other work schedule as much as his famed perfectionism. That having been said, the time is ripe and rumours still persist of a release.
And if anyone wanted further proof of quite why this would be cause for such excitement one need look no further than the last full Dre album, and in particular the massive “Forgot About Dre”. It doesn’t matter if some of the lyrics were ghost-written, it doesn’t matter that Dre’s production is one of direction over collaboration, bringing in and utilising others’ skills and sometimes beats, it doesn’t matter that the original intention behind the track was to have it as an Eminem and Snoop collaboration, and it doesn’t matter that “2001” has some weak moments throughout that stop it being a bonafide classic. What matters is that “Forgot About Dre” is simply a master class.
A master class in Dre’s orchestrally-minded, tight, drum and synth-led composition. A master class in Dre’s laid-back but forceful lyrical delivery. A master class in Eminem’s tongue-twistingly acidic and downright hilarious story-telling, of witty, dark, straight-up banging hip-hop. It is just a brilliant tune from the first note to the last, and worthy of its Grammy, and any other plaudits coming its way.
The rapping is strong throughout, the video an interesting and winning concept, but it is Dre’s opening verse that is key. Delivered with venom and the confidence that comes with knowing that you are spitting way above anything else available at that time, it is just killer. I mean, really. Who the hell else could bring it with the lines “Ya'll know me still the same ol' G, but I been low key, hated on by most these niggas, wit no cheese, no deals and no G's, no wheels and no keys, no boats, no snowmobiles and no ski's”.
The same person who can remind us all of the roster of artists he has brought through over the years, and know that he is a true living legend, that’s who. And this really might be his last album, for rap is a young man’s game and Dre has nothing he needs to prove to anyone. Ever. Like he says himself, give him one more platinum plaque and fuck rap, you can have it back. Forget about Dre? Sometime never.
posted by Twelve Bar at 8:31 AM
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