Independent Research - Dr. Dre

It is said that no one was more responsible for hip-hop’s move towards the platinum-enriched mainstream than NWA’s Ex- gangster rapper member than Dr. Dre.  Andre “Dr. Dre” Young grew up and discovered his talent around the rough urban area of Compton, California, a virtually unknown quarter at the time not to far away from Los Angles. Having quite the taste for electro-funk and 60’s soul records, Dre (as he was nicknamed) began to play these records as a DJ at house parties in the early 1980’s. It wasn’t too long before this likable DJ became successful and started spinning records at popular night club, Eve’s After Dark between 1982-85. Here after crafting some beats of in his bedroom that also became his “ Sound Laboratory”, Andre would then cleverly implement them into his set. By doing this he would quickly gauge what worked as well as what didn’t. This helped him greatly. Also at Eve’s After Dark, he met another DJ by the name of Yella who like him shared a lot of things in common musically. Consequently, they would soon find themselves cutting demos in side rooms of the club on an old four track-recording machine that was available.  It eventually lead young a spot on LA’s KDAY a radio station where he hosted a mix show. By using the same formula he used at the club, he would see a lot of notoriety from his hometown of Compton to the vast LA Basin. One of the many who caught on to Dre was Eve’s club owner and aspiring singer Lonzo Williams. Dre, Lonzo and a high school friend of Dr. Dre’s by the name of Cli-N-Tel would form the Lonzo williams’ group the Wreckin’ Cru. They would enjoy modest success but Dre eventually left the group at the end of the 1980’s. Dr. Dre would lend his talents after leaving this group to a new group that consisted of himself, a rapper name Ice Cube, Eazy E, MC Ren, DJ Yella, and a briefly Arabian Prince named N.W.A. Comprising of harsh lyrics of gangbanging and misogyny, N.W.A would rocket to fame. Dre made their sound be stark and minimal”. However, after member Ice Cube left, Dr. Dre’s skills as a producer grew exponentially becoming more layered and complex.  It would later garner him outside ventures to other projects for artist such as Michl’le, Snoop Dogg, Eminem in latter years, and even his own work The Chronic which is now helmed as a hip hop classic. This would lead him become the sound of the west coast. Two characteristics of this producer that gave him much success were originality and truth. Originality comes from recognition of his truth and truth comes from telling the story of the many who grew up just like him. As an industry professional, this producer leaves me feeling chill ,raw, and unapologetic.