Considered by many to be Rap's greatest producer, Dr. Dre (b. Andre Young, February 18, 1965)
pioneered gangsta rap and his own variation of the sound, G-Funk. His very early albums were
hardcore but cautionary tales of the criminal mind, but Dre's records with NWA celebrated the
hedonistic, amoralistic side of gang life. Being around during the birth of hip-hop during the
early '80s, Dre found himself performing at house parties and clubs with the World Class
Wreckin' Cru around South Central Los Angeles. Wearing a Doctor's mask when he preformed
he called himself Dr. Dre, Dre being a nick name from Andre. Then in 1986 Dre met Ice Cube.
Instantly becoming good friends the two rappers began writing songs for Ruthless Records, a
label started by former drug pusher Eazy-E. Ultimatly they were rejected. But Eazy formed NWA,
an acronym for Niggaz With Attitude, with Dre and Cube, releasing their first album in 1987.
N.W.A. delivered Straight Outta Compton, a vicious hardcore record that became an underground
hit with virtually no support from radio, the press or the still non-rap MTV. N.W.A. became
notorious for their hardcore lyrics, especially those of "Fuck tha Police", which resulted
in the FBI sending a warning letter to Ruthless and its parent company Priority, suggesting
that the group should watch their step. Dre would have several bad falls with the police
during his life. While it seemed that the group was strong, Ice Cube suddenly departed in
late 1989 admist many financial disagreements with Dre. Suddenly the the music was in Dre's
hands. Dre left the group the next year to form Death Row Records with Suge Knight. Knight
held NWA's manager at gun point and threatening to kill him if he refused to let Dre out
of his contract. Dre didn't know how he got out, nor cared. He was making music. Then Dre
discovered Snoop Dogg through his stepbrother Warren G, and he immediately began working
with the rapper. Snoop would become great friends with the Doc and was on Dre's 1992 debut
The Chronic as much as Dre himself. But trouble was soon to follow. Dre grew frustrated with
Knight's strong-arm techniques. At the time, Death Row was devoting itself to 2-Pac's label
debut All Eyez on Me and Snoop was busy recovering from his draining murder trial. Dre, fed up,
left the label in the summer of 1996 to form Aftermath, declaring gangsta rap was dead.
Soon it was, both TuPac and Biggie shortly died, putting a sudden end to rap and the
East Side West Side war, and Suge was later arrested and sent to prison. It would be at
least three years before anything big came out of the great producer. It wasn't until he
began working on his 2001 album, and discovering a young rapper by the name of Eminem the
Dre would make his comeback.
Reconciled with fellow rapper/actor Ice Cube in 1993; Ice Cube left N.W.A. in 1990
after a dispute with producers Jerry Heller and Eazy-E.
Left Death Row Records in 1995
His stepbrother, Warren G, played a demo tape of Snoop Doggy Dogg at a party,
which prompted Dre to record the title theme for the film Deep Cover (1992),
which appeared during the end credits.
Stepbrother of Warren G.
First hip-hop artist to commercialize gangsta-rap music with the album The Chronic (1992)
(1991) Assaulted TV hostess Dee Barnes (Pump It Up) in retaliation to her interviewing
Ice Cube, where he made a deragatory comment against N.W.A. (at the time, the album
Efil4zaggin debuted at #1).
Has a teenage/adult daughter, Tyra
Has been credited for discovering Eminem.
In 2001 he became the only hip-hop producer to win a grammy for Producer Of The Year.
Won an MTV VMA (music video award) in 1995 for the hit single "Keep Their Heads Ringin".
The music video starred Chris Tucker, who steals and pilots a Boeing 747.
Actor, film history:
Straight Clownin' (2002) (V) .... Himself
Hello, He Lied & Other Truths From the Hollywood Trenches (2002) (TV) (uncredited) .... Himself
Up In Smoke Tour, The (2001) (V) .... Himself
Wash, The (2001) .... Sean
Welcome to Death Row (2001) (V) .... Former Death Row Artist/Producer
Training Day (2001) .... Paul
28th Annual American Music Awards (2001) (TV) .... Himself
It's Black Entertainment (2000) (TV) .... Himself
MTV Video Music Awards 2000 (2000) (TV) .... Himself
MTV Video Music Awards 1999 (1999) (TV) .... Himself
Whiteboys (1999) .... Don Flip Crew #1
Rhyme & Reason (1997) .... Himself
Set It Off (1996) .... Black Sam
Show, The (1995) .... Himself
Yuletide in the 'hood (1993) (TV) (voice)
Hangin' with MTV (1992) (TV) .... Field Reporter
