Compton
In 2015, Dr. Dre shocked a skeptical music world by dropping *Compton*, the long-awaited follow-up to 1999 chart monster *2001* that many expectant fans had come to believe was apocryphal. Loosely pegged to the release of the N.W.A biopic, *Straight Outta Compton*, the album found the West Coast rap founding father fully embracing his legacy as an auteur—an expert curator who knows his role and plays it to stylish, hard-boiled perfection. Dr. Dre has often compared his albums to films, and *Compton* sounds more cinematic than anything in his discography; with its all-star ensemble cast, it feels perfect for the age of Marvel movies that it surfaced into. Every beat sounds expensive and high stakes, often changing shape with the entrance of a new voice—either a legacy act, reigning royalty, or a protégé on the rise. Dre did not return just to cash in on nostalgia; he thoughtfully pits the greatest minds of his generation and the next couple—Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, Eminem—against a panoply of new talent from his home city, as a challenge to all parties to be on top of their game. As a rapper, Dre works to demonstrate the extent to which he can evolve with the times and play off of his collaborators. In “Genocide,” he goes toe-to-toe with his city’s star hip-hop talent, Kendrick Lamar, rapping in high, hoarse, and energized tones to complement Lamar’s own idiosyncratic, range-switching style. Elsewhere, then-newcomer Anderson .Paak assumes the Nate Dogg-like role of G-funk crooner but adds his own sense of urgency and eccentricity—see his inspired, unhinged interplay with Dre on “All In a Day’s Work.” *Compton*’s beats reflect a pangenerational viewpoint as well. There are dustier, sample-driven moments like “It’s All On Me” and satisfying throwback G-funk tracks like the Snoop Dogg collab “Satisfaction.” But there are also more curious variations on the theme—the lightly drunken neo-soul groove of “Animals”—and wild detours like the glitchy pseudo-trap in the second half of \"Medicine Man.\" The album might be called *Compton*, but there’s a global quality about this music, reflective of so much hip-hop that came in the decade and a half during which Dre was largely absent from the pop music sphere as a soloist.
Compton is Dr. Dre's first record in 16 years, following news that his long-awaited Detox has been scrapped. Billed as a soundtrack to coincide with the new N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton, the album finds him sounding charged-up, relevant, and coming to terms with his career for himself, not others.
Compton is Dr. Dre's first record in 16 years, following news that his long-awaited Detox has been scrapped. Billed as a soundtrack to coincide with the new N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton, the album finds him sounding charged-up, relevant, and coming to terms with his career for himself, not others.
Dr. Dre is one of the architects of West Coast rap and a pillar of hip-hop production. He is responsible for producing a large portion of California’s great gangsta rap catalog and for pioneering G-Funk, a bold re-envisioning of traditional funk sampling. After rising to prominence as the de facto leader of N.W.A.,…
Dr. Dre is one of the architects of West Coast rap and a pillar of hip-hop production. He is responsible for producing a large portion of California’s great gangsta rap catalog and for pioneering G-Funk, a bold re-envisioning of traditional funk sampling. After rising to prominence as the de facto leader of N.W.A.,…
Dr. Dre's returns after a 16-year wait with an album-long song cycle featuring confused production and killer guest spots.
Dr. Dre's returns after a 16-year wait with an album-long song cycle featuring confused production and killer guest spots.
Dr. Dre has been worried about his legacy since at least 2000, when his Grammy-winning song "Forgot About Dre" led the…
Dr. Dre has been worried about his legacy since at least 2000, when his Grammy-winning song "Forgot About Dre" led the…
If this proves to be Andre Young's epitaph, we’ll remember him as a titan straddling decades, a man in some ways bigger than hip-hop.
If this proves to be Andre Young's epitaph, we’ll remember him as a titan straddling decades, a man in some ways bigger than hip-hop.
Compton is the album we didn't realize we wanted from Dr. Dre. While we all thought we were waiting for the long-gestating and intermina...
Compton is the album we didn't realize we wanted from Dr. Dre. While we all thought we were waiting for the long-gestating and intermina...
Like those huge ‘COMPTON’ letters towering ominously over the LA skyline on the sleeve, Dr. Dre’s new album – his first
Like those huge ‘COMPTON’ letters towering ominously over the LA skyline on the sleeve, Dr. Dre’s new album – his first
The all-too-predictable misogyny and grumbling are offset here by fantastic production and righteous anger
The all-too-predictable misogyny and grumbling are offset here by fantastic production and righteous anger
Harking back to his NWA days, Dr Dre has created a state of the nation album almost overburdened with ideas and fresh talent
Harking back to his NWA days, Dr Dre has created a state of the nation album almost overburdened with ideas and fresh talent