How washed do you remember people viewing Dr Dre prior to 2001?

[Street Knowledge]

One of the central themes of that album is his comeback and how the industry/fans thought he was done and would never be hit again.


From Dre himself

“For the last couple of years, there's been a lot of talk out on the streets about whether or not I can still hold my own, whether or not I'm still good at producing. That was the ultimate motivation for me. Magazines, word of mouth, and rap tabloids were saying I didn't have it anymore. What more do I need to do? How many platinum records have I made? O.K., here's the album – now what do you have to say?”


How do you remember the general feeling around Dr Dre was heading into that album?

 

[BlackDiBiase]

I remember it was the Eminem thing that had him a mini revival before Chronic 2001 dropped.

Chronic 2001 was everywhere an absolute smash but his Eminem work laid the red carpet for that LP and the smash record 'Still Dre'.

Just being honest, those earlier works apart from that flop aftermath LP record 'been there done that' still held a lot of weight. I remember waiting for it but the spark was rekindled through Eminem. In my opinion.

 

[bigde09]

I remember thinking Dre was ancient in 99 even though he was only 36

 

[BlackDiBiase]

I remember thinking Dre was ancient in 99 even though he was only 36

Our ignorance in youth, It didn't shock me too much being I braced myself a long time ago for 'Old Man River Status' Jada is only 9 years older than me I thought it would be more since he was around forever.

My GOAT Randy Savage was 34 years old at Wrestlemania III against Steamboat. As soon as I passed 34 years old I knew I lost lol.

Before it was Pac who left us at 25, soon as I passed 25 with no serious accolades I took another L.

Basically I learned to just do you lol!!

 

[Mac Ten]

Dre had to retreat and regroup and now look at him…

Jimmy Iovine brought him Eminem as a gesture of loyalty and he’s been eating ever since.


It was a win win situation.


Cac America needed their own Elvis and Dre needed some duckets since he left NL with nothing and that Snoop was down South.

 

[Barney Rubble]

I still can't believe Suge took his Chronic 2000 title Such a fukking troll.

 

[hex]

Dre was flailing pre-Eminem. That "Aftermath" sh*t was not well received and did not do the expected numbers.

Dude was gonna sign Last Emperor prior to Em.

Don't get me wrong, Last Emperor was dope but it's not someone you build a label around. You could tell he was just kinda throwing sh*t at the wall.

Fred.

 

[Artificial Intelligence]

White boy saved him..

 

[Mike Wins]

Dre tried to pivot away from gangsta rap and the audience didn't want that. The Firm album was hurt by label and management politics. From the Mega situation to Columbia limiting the number of songs and verses Nas could have to Foxy missing multiple recording sessions.

But Slim Shady LP was heavily hyped because of him. Dre mentoring an underground white rap phenom was something the public was interested in. After that 2001 was the most anticipated album of the year, because it was known he was going back to gangster mode.

 

[ADP]

They leaned into the narative that he lost his midas touch since nothing was a SUPERSMASH after California Love so they came back with RETURN REVENGE BARS but it was a bit of an exageration cause he knew what he had on the new joint after Aftermath comp and The Firm...

In my opinion with those beats Marshall was just supporting cast not the main actor...

 

[Methodical]

Eminem brought him back. If we have to be honest.

 

[Po pimp]

He had some underwhelming projects, but was still seen as that dude with people holding out hope. What I mean is, he wasn’t washed up and irrelevant. He would still generate headlines.

 

[Rekkapryde]

My potnah at school had the Slim Shady EP. Was dope.

Then a year later I'll never forget an MTV interview where Missy said Dre signed some white boy. We were wondering if it was Em. Then it got confirmed months after that. Knew Dre struck gold. His revival started with Em no doubt

 

[Whips-n-Chains]

I remember thinking Dre was ancient in 99 even though he was only 36

Same breh...I was 13 when 2001 dropped and the idea of a rapper being being around the age of my parents seemed

 

[JustCKing]

"Forgot About Dre" is pretty much how I viewed him. He just wasn't a factor or even thought about. Music had moved on.

I think people give Eminem too much credit for his resurgence. Yeah, that was the catalyst that put some eyes on Dre again, but it was "B Please" and "Just Dippin" from Snoop Dogg that restored the feeling.