Chronic, The [PA] - Dr. Dre > Reviews > Best rap artist ever

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money

Advantages:	Some classic tunes
Disadvantages:	Not his best stuff

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Back in the day, long before all the No Limit and Cash Money trash ever saw the light of day, there was a little record company called Death Row. Very few of the people who consider themselves rap fans today have ever even heard the name. But those who were rap fans then or those who have had the insight to go back and purchase these classic albums know exactly what Death Row was all about. The super stable featuring 2Pac, Dre, Daz Dillinger, a young Snoop, among many others, was the cornerstone for gangsta rap music. The Chronic personifies gangsta rap like no other album before it, and still remains one of the greatest rap albums of all time for various reasons.

First of all is the production. The beats provided by Dre on this album will make you feel like you're right in the middle of Compton on a hot Saturday afternoon, bouncing down Crenshaw in your low-rider. Keep in mind that the beats do give the album a very old school feel, and not everyone is gonna go for it.

Another element that makes this album a classic is the first appearance of Snoop Doggy Dogg. Only 18 at the time of its recording, Snoop graces several of The Chronic's tracks with his slow, lazy drawl.

I really liked "Nuthin but a G Thang" and "Gin and Juice," but didn't really understand what set them apart from the thousands of mediocre rap songs that I flipped past on a regular basis. Only in the last few years have I really come to understand the production genius that is Dr.Dre. Where other rappers steal from other peoples work shamelessly, he crafts underused classics into new classics. When he can't find the right beat to sample and put together, he goes to the keyboard and creates it. On no other album is this more evident that The Chronic.

From funky party tunes like "Nuthin but a G Thang" to hardcore vendetta rap like "Dre Day," Dre and then mostly unknown Snoop Doggy Dogg put together funky rap that show exactly what music from the hood is like.. Along with the great songs are skits along the way that could only have been written under certain conditions, and are best experienced under said conditions, if you know what I mean. Watch out especially for "Deeez Nuuuts" and "The $20 Sack Pyramid," which features one Bootnie Lee Farnsworth.

Despite being one of the best rap albums of all time, The Chronic is still not without its flaws. The most glaring problem with the album is the content. One can only rap so much about drugs and guns and women before it grows old. However, the production and good lyrical skills make up for the lack of creative content.

Another problem with the album is the fact that it sounds quite dated. The beats found on The Chronic are unlike any found nowadays (which is a good thing for the most part). The days of gangsta rap have also long passed since this release, as guns and blunts have given way to money and cars. However, The Chronic provides a very refreshing alternative to the I-have-more-money-than-you attitude of modern rap. This isn't all bad though, as this album provides an interesting introspect into the world of rap and the life of Dre also. Listening to Dre berate and threaten Eazy E on the diss track Dre Day and then hearing him talk about how much he misses him on Chronic 2001's What's the Difference shows how precious life is, and how we should never part ways with differences unsettled, for each day could be our last.

All in all, The Chronic is many things, other than simply an album: the defining moment of gangsta rap... the birth of one of rap's greatest careers... the most vivid and intresting look into life on the streets of Compton... and, yes, one of the greatest rap albums of all time.