Showing posts with label dr dre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dr dre. Show all posts

Friday, April 9, 2010

Lady of Rage - Lyrical Gangbang & Afro Puffs (Live @ Paid Dues 2010)

Last weekend, Kurupt & Daz from Tha Dogg Pound brought Lady Of Rage during their set at the 5th Annual Paid Dues 2010 Festival. She performed her verse from "Lyrical Gangbang" off Dr. Dre's classic album "The Chronic". She then followed with her classic '94 hit single "Afro Puffs".

Here's the footage that I recorded:


-- Thomas V

Bonus: Dr. Dre - "Puffin' On Blunts And Drankin" Feat. Lady Of Rage & Tha Dogg Pound

Monday, February 8, 2010

Ego Trip's Great Fuckin' Clean Versions


"This one definitely goes out on a censorship tip
So everybody sit back, relax and have a champagne sip"

None of us like clean radio versions! Every time your hear something, it's always gotta be raw uncensored! That's the truth! Some artists just have their curse words bleeped on for their clean versions while other actually record a new version with changed vocals. Some don't have new vocals but instead of it just being muted, scratching and sound effects are used to replace these blanks. A list titled "Great Fuckin' Clean Versions" from Ego Trip's Book of Rap List basically listed the clean versions that were worth listening to. Like Thun said, "Ego Trip made it a hot list, we made it a hot compilation". Last year, I compiled DJ Premier's Underacknowledged Cuts from Ego Trip's list. It received props all over the net.. even from Elliot Wilson! Enjoy this one!

Download

additional artwork by dirt_dog

-- Thomas V

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Rakim talks about Dr. Dre and Aftermath

HardKnockTV got up with the God Rakim to discuss his current relationship with Dr. Dre, why things didn't work out for him at Aftermath and if "Oh My God" will ever come out. Peace to Nick Huff. --Philaflava

Friday, September 25, 2009

Yo Dre, Stick to Producin'

Dre has a ghost lyricist. GASP! its true! but no one cares, because everyone knows.

Dre has ghost producers. GASP! its true! but, again, no one cares, but because we secretly do not want to believe.

Yes, although it is known that Dre has a whole slew of producers in his Batcave vomiting beat after beat while get drunk offa that Aftermath Fame, it isn't as well known just to what extent does he have to depend on these stilts to walk his walk.

Let's do this chronic-logically.


The starting point to Dre's career was this electro-rap group formed by a club owner to be a mobile DJ Crew. Even from conception, this group wasn't supposed to be a Dre product, but some people might think that, so in all fairness, let's just say it now. IT WAS NOT A DRE PRODUCED GROUP. The club owner was Lonzo Williams, and his name appears in the production of many of the groups singles. But, we will see Andre Young's credit appear quite a few times throughout the crew's discography with this: "Written-by, Drum Programming [Dmx]". Little side note, the Dre-rapped single "Cabbage Patch" would be when Cube would start his ghostwriting career for Dre.

This era's verdict: Dre probably spent more time learning about machines and beat making than women and love making.

http://www.westcoastpioneers.com/uploads/pics/picture_world_class_wreckin_cru_dr_dre_yella_clintel_pomotion_01.jpg
World Class Wreckin Cru

This one is harder to believe because not too many people have any faith in DJ Yella. Is it his pornstar moustache? We know that D.O.C. was in there ghostwriting, so maybe there was someone else ghostproducing? Mike Lezan, better known as the Arabian Prince was the producer for JJ Fad's biggest single "Supersonic", plus his electro sounds pretty much match the sound of most of NWA and the Posse's first album.

But judging by the electric bass heavy sounds of "A Bitch is a Bitch", I think Dre must have been moving away from that into what would sound more like "Express Yourself". Into the world of funk and soul samples. And, thus into recreating samples. And thus, into using musicians. You might remember Stan the Guitar Man. On Eazy's "Radio" he asks "I play guitar on this record, when am I gonna get paid motherfuk*". This is definitely the moment where Dre starts to rely on musicians to help out. Yella's drums are a constant during these years. And we still shouldn't count out Yella in the production background, as "Alwayz Into Something", "Express Yourself", "Dopeman", "Boz in the Hood" all have his name in the production credits. I would love to stretch out Yella's actual influence into Dre's game, but the only common denominator between their sounds post-NWA is that same G-Funk found over every single west coast record during the late 90's, sounds that NWA actually didn't ever really live off of.

The only other producer that was around in that era was Cold187um (who we will get to within the next 3 seconds of your life).

This era's verdict: Dre was nice enough to put "co-produced by Yella" so he wouldn't cry.

http://www.stonesthrow.com/images/arabian/jerrynwa.jpg
Arabian Prince, Heller, Eazy, Dre, Yella

Cold 187um, aka Big Hutch, from Above the Law, had a song with Kokane called "Don't Bite the Phunk" where he clearly disses Dre from stealing his G Funk sound that he exploits the shit out of on The Chronic. Being a big "Black Mafia Life" fan, I can attest to the fact that it's true that Hutch was using the same sounds before Dre was, but I have to admit that Dre has his own twist to it. He has cleaner key's and instrumentation in general. He is also working with quite a few people in production now. Soopafly. Sam Sneed. Daz. Warren G.

There are countless interviews where Daz claims that Dre jacked his music, including "All my Niggaz and Bitches" from Doggystyle. But in other interviews, Daz has expressed how much he learned from Dre during the making of Chronic and DoggyStyle.

Warren G only started getting production credits after Dre was gone from the label.

Soopalfy mostly grew in this era into becoming a producer after this album, but his instruments were in quite a few Deathrow records.

Sam Sneed also came after the Chronic lit the whole west coast on fire. He co-produced "Keep Your Heads Ringing" and "Natural Born Killaz".

This era's verdict: Dre had a lot of keen weed carriers that would later learn how to produce.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_ZLvgptzKIUQlZg1aDOM5Rk8u8KbcxEz5IQ-tDqTvm-8qoGt8UwDv7Nfvpa9ZUvy93jZau6_KCirD4uclsY62XsjTHMicK2xa7N9IbB2wHI_6tFsHKfJZD3juDSptA_syTJIklBq1NYv/
Deathrow Dre

Now it's no longer fair to judge Dre as a producer, because he no longer is that! He is now a record label CEO. Sure he is his own hottest commodity, but he can afford to walk around pointing good things out and pfff'ing bad things. He can afford to have a producer roster on his label. The roster includes Denaun Porter (hiphop production's most boring name), DJ Khalil, Mel-Man, Mike Elizondo, Hi-Tek, Mark Batson, Che Vicious and probably a good 20 more that are in charge of bringing hot coffee and turning the studio lights off at night. The only problem this time around with Dre is that he 's basically signing his name on everything, even though even the simplest minds can tell that it ISN'T a Dre beat. We kind of proved how Dre was very "influenced" by Mel-Man's production on Chronic 2001 with a comparison of Mel's solo work with Dre's second solo album.

But he has only had one album since 1999, so checking each individual production he has done for Eminem, 50, Busta, Rae, etc. is basically just looking into each individual song credit role and checking for all the instrumentation and realizing that Dre has become more of a symphony orhecstrator than a "beatmaker".

One example: Busta Ryhmes "How We Do It Over Here". Produced by Dr.Dre, Keyboards - Che Vicious. So, is this a classic example of Dre glossing over and putting finishing touches over Che's work?

Another example: Eminem "Hello". Produed by Dr.Dre. Produced by Mark Batson. Yup. The credits say both.

This era's verdict: Dre's getting by with ALOT of help from his friends.

http://hiphoplives.today.com/files/2008/10/batson-2.jpg
Dre, Che, Batson
The next era's future prediction: None. It will never exist. Instead, Dre will get into furniture design. He will be the first to own a theater with each individual seat with subwoofers under the seats and tweeters in the head rests.

______________________________________________

What's the bottom line though? Alot of people hate on Dre gratuitously supposing that he just depends on his co-producers like stilts to walk his walk. Including me. But after delving deep into his credits... I gotta admit that not only did he do alot by himself, he also gave opportunities to a lot of talented cats who would almost all AFTER become legends in their own niches. But before Dre, most were beatmakers. Dre taught them how to become producers.

And thats another important point completely. Only in hiphop do we expect every simple sample-over-beat-beatmaker to be a producer and vice versa. In every other music genre, the writers bring their music to a professional who details it all to its maximum capacity and thus carries that title "PRODUCER", distinguishing himself from the other "songwriters".

-- Cenzi Stiles

Monday, August 31, 2009

Great Introductions

One of the greatest things about music is discovering new artists. Whether it's the case today, years ago hip-hop was always about helpin' others get on. There was a certain element in the music was more authentic. The chemistry was real and more importantly rappers were motivated by their competitive nature, not potential endorsements. There are tons of memorable debuts such as AZ on "Life's A Bitch," Jay-Z on "Hawaiian Sophie" or 2Pac on D.U.'s "Same Song." For some, careers were made on just one verse.

Below are 7 phenomenal debuts that some might argue contain the greatest ever. We're asking our T.R.O.Y. readers to let us know which debut you feel is the greatest of all-time. You can post your comments as well as vote on which debut from the videos below you feel is the best. --Philaflava

Ultramagnetic MC's - Raise It Up feat. Godfather Don



A Tribe Called Quest - Scenario (Remix) feat. Kid Hood & L.O.N.S.


Gang Starr - I'm The Man feat. Lil Dap & Jeru The Damaja


Organized Konfusion - Fudge Pudge feat. O.C.


Main Source - Live From The BBQ feat. Joe Fatal, Akinyele & Nasty Nas


Dr. Dre - Deep Cover (187) feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg


Lord Finesse - Yes You May (Remix) feat. Big L

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Songs that sample David McCallum's The Edge


While Dr. Dre made this sample famous for The Next Episode, there are a handful of other artists who have either sampled other parts of the song or flipped it themselves. I think every one of these is dope in their own right, and who doesn't feel their head nodding when the stacatto strings walk up and down the track or when the lush flute solo appears? David Axelrod, who produced the original track, continues to be the most sampled artist in rap behind only James Brown.

I think the Death Letter remix is my favorite of these - "Nozzles aimed at your nostrils" has made it into my daily vernacular. Drop a comment on who feel did the best job with the sample.

David McCallum - The Edge


Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg - Next Episode


Scaramanga feat. Scholarwise - Death Letter remix


Tash - Fallin' On


Missin' Linx - MIA


Masta Ace - No Regrets


--admiral

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Searching For The Perfect Beat: Gangsta Edition



Gangsta Edition
1. NWA - Straight Outta Compton (Instrumental)
2. Above The Law - What Cha Can Prove (Instrumental)
3. Above The Law - Murder Rap (Instrumental)
4. Above The Law - Another Execution (Instrumental)
5. Geto Boys - Do It Like A G.O. (Instrumental)
6. Geto Boys - My Mind Is Playing Tricks On Me (Instrumental)
7. Geto Boys - Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta (Instrumental)
8. Scarface - Mr. Scarface (Instrumental)
9. Compton's Most Wanted - Driveby Miss Daisy (Instrumental)
10. Compton's Most Wanted - Hood Took Me Under Remix (Instrumental)
11. Compton's Most Wanted - Who's XXXXing Who (Instrumental)
12. Dr. Dre & Snoop Dog - Deep Cover (Instrumental)
13. DJ Quik - Just Lyke Compton (Instrumental)
14. Spice 1 - Dumpin 'Em In Ditches (Instrumental)
15. Da Lench Mob - Cut Throats (Instrumental)
16. Da Lench Mob - Freedom Got An AK (Instrumental)
17. MC Eiht - All For The Money (Instrumental)
18. Rappin' 4-Tay - Playaz Club (Instrumental)
http://www.mediafire.com/?zl3yywcewym

Tracks 1-4: Produced by Dr. Dre
Track 5: Produced by Ready Red
Tracks 6-7: Produced by J. Bido
Track 8: Produced by Crazy C
Tracks 9-11: Produced by DJ Slip
Track 12: Produced by Dr. Dre
Track 13: Produced by DJ Quik
Track 14: Produced by E-A-Ski & CMT
Tracks 15-16: Produced by Ice Cube
Track 17: Produced by DJ Slip
Track 18: Produced by Cyrus Esteban & Franky J

--Roy Johnson