West Coast Connection Forum
Elements => Tha Vault => Album Review => Topic started by: West Coast Veteran on May 06, 2003, 08:44:29 PM
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DR. DRE
Dr. Dre 2001
Aftermath/Interscope
Producers: artist and Mel-Man
(http://i11.tinypic.com/2uy6szn.jpg)
Did you forget about Dre? Did you get wrapped up in the multiplatinum success of Jay-Z, DMX, Nas and the slew of other '90s-rap cats benefiting from the thug/party blueprint Dre himself laid with N.W.A? Did it slip your mind about just who crafted the unforgettable sonic landscapes for Snoop, Cube, D.O.C. and, most recently, Eminem? If it did, then Dre's latest offering, a sumptuous millenial appetizer called Dr. Dre 2001, will quickly refresh your memory.
The good Dr.'s latest effort...2001 is all about Dre's pursuit of perfection. And if he has achieved it before (consult '88's seminal Straight Outta Compton and '92's The Chronic) then the bar is raised 10 times higher than for any rap artist/producer alive. So even when he makes a stellar album with no fast forward factor, like this one, naysayers will still scrutinize, and playa haters will still playa hate. Such is the life of a legend.
First of all, 2001 should not be compared to the "original," The Chronic, which transformed rap for five years and remains a top album in any genre. This LP is a decidedly delicious and introspective rewrite that finds Dre merely refining his past exploits of explicit sexcapades, inhaling premium marijuana and, most importantly, releasing four years of steam out his chest. And despite being plagued by setbacks (Dre's feud with Death Row about the Chronic trademark; Dre's own meticulous nature), 2001 firmly reestablishes him as the unequivocal Ali of hip-hop producers.
Since 1987, when Eazy-E first launched Ruthless Records and Dre left the club-and-skating-rink scene in LA to join N.W.A, he has unleashed a bevy of classic songs: "Dopeman," "Keep Their Heads Ringin'," "Dre Day," "Let Me Ride," "Natural Born Killaz," and the list goes on.
Mesmerized as a teen by the funky humor and style of '70s icons like Parliament/Funkadelic and the fuck-for-free antics of Dolemite, which he inhaled growing up in Compton, much of Dre's music is amoral and anti-establishment. And critics will hate on this: Is gangsta rap - that fiery flame of guns, girls and gloss - still relevant in this 2G millenium? Is it cool in a progressive America to continue calling women "bitches" and packin' a gat? California playas such as myself will holla back: Of course it is, muthafucka, especially if you can make gangsta shit sound so crystal clear and futuristic, like Dre has.
The album's two leadoff singles deal specifically with that aforementioned memory. "Still D.R.E.," featuring Snoop - the Robin to Dre's Batman - and "Forgot About Dre," with his Detroit road dawg Eminem, are both attacks on doubting Thomases. And while 1996's "Been There Done That" alienated some of his hardcore fans with a preachy overview of the gangsta game, "The Watcher," an eerie warning to big mouth niggas, finally lets Dre get personal and reveal his fears. He addresses everything from Suge Knight drama to new-school producers eyeing his No. 1 spot: "How would you feel if niggas wanted you killed?/ You'd probably move to a new house on a new hill/ And choose a new spot if niggas wanted you shot/ I ain't a thug/ How much Tupac in you, you got?/ I ain't no bitch either/ It's either my life or your life/ And I ain't leaving/ I like breathing...Nigga, if you really wanna take it there, we can/ Just remember you fuckin' with a family man/ I got a lot more to lose than you/ So remember that when you wanna fill these shoes..."
Slinky-voiced Devin, a.k.a The Dude, anchors the scandalous "Fuck You," a revamped version of "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)." This song perfectly illustrates how Dre not only produces intoxicating music, but also acts as a teacher, bringing out the best in any MC who blesses his tracks. On "Some L.A. Niggaz," a true West Coast posse backbreaker, DeFari, Xzibit, King T and others represent, but MC Ren teases us with a too brief intro and not even 16 full bars. If you're fiendin' for that ol' Death Row flair, then take a toke of "The Next Episode," featuring Snoop and Nate Dogg on the hook.
The album's highlight, "What's The Difference," finds Dre reflecting on two friends: "Back when Cube was rolling with Lorenzo in a Benz O/ I was bangin' with a gang of instrumentals/ Got the pens and pencils/ Got down to business/ But sometimes the business end of this shit can turn your friends against you/ But you was a real nigga/ I could sense it in you/ I still remember the window of the car that you went through/ That's fucked up/ But I'll never forget the shit we been through/ And I'm gonna do whatever it takes to convince you/ 'Cause you my nigga D.O.C., and Eazy, I'm still with you/ Fuck the beef, nigga/ I miss you."
And if you've lost a close family member to violence like Dre did with his brother, then "The Message," complete with Mary J. Blige's urgent moanings, will have you remembering a cut called "Dead Homiez".
Musically, where old favorites like "Gangsta Gangsta" were simply thick guitars and straight bass, the Dre of 2001 is sneakier, offering layered tracks brimming with strings and horns. Other times, like on the standout cut "XXPLOSIVE," Dre drops the bass and lets the track ride.
Now, the bad news. We know Dre ain't never been a Rakim on the mic. Yet if his 2001 has one glaring flaw (other than too many skits), it's that we don't hear him alone enough. The overload of guests makes some tracks sound cluttered. Dre's protege, Hittman, whose offbeat and drunken flow is entertaining, appears nine times. Hittman should've saved some rhymes for his solo LP.
Initially, Dre's latest opus might feel a little disjointed and too long, evidence of Dre making over 90-plus tracks and selecting the best. But even with its drawbacks, 2001 still gets high marks. If we ever had reason to give out four and three-fourths mics, this would be it. Dre's back with a vengeance in 2000, y'all, raising the producer stakes in hip-hop, 'cause in case you forgot, the D-R-E is still the king of this shit here.
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imo its a 4 mic album, starts off great then goes really weak just over half way.
I ain't listened to this album in over 2 years and to be honest i still don't feel like listening to it.
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5 mics definately, a timeless classic.
I would even go so far to say it's one of the best albums ever.
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Gotta agree with Jome, may not be greatest ever, but it's sure up there. I lost my 2001 CD about two years ago, and I just got into mIRC downloading about a month ago, it was the first CD I d/l'd and once I got it I couldn't turn it off for like 2 weeks. I jus' listen to it straight through.
The Watcher
Fuck You
Still DRE
Big Egos
Xplosive
What's the Difference
Forgot About Dre (played out, but it still makes my cut)
Next Episode
Let's Get High
Murder Ink
Housewife
Bang Bang
The Message
I don't have the track listing in front of me, and there's prolly 1-2 more, but every one of those tracks are 4.5/5 or better for me. I love this album lol.
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Again, I'm VERY surprise that The Source even went back and gave this 5 mics. I agree with caTASHtrophe. IMO it's a 4. I might give it 4.25/5.
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5 mics definately, a timeless classic.
I would even go so far to say it's one of the best albums ever.
I agree 1000000000% with ya brah
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9.5/10
Only problem are the useless skits and bad intro. You cut those out and maybe slice 2 tracks, it's flawless.
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4.75/5 - Classic
Only complaints:
- Too much Hittman (He's good, but 10 appearances was a bit overwhelming)
- It wasn't exactly a lyrical masterpeice.
- 4 annoying, unnecessary skits.
The best song is "What's The Difference".
It's classic, but far from one of the best albums ever...
IMO
Peace
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9.5/10
Only problem are the useless skits and bad intro. You cut those out and maybe slice 2 tracks, it's flawless.
yeah, but leave in pause 4 porno.... ;)
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5 mics definately, a timeless classic.
I would even go so far to say it's one of the best albums ever.
no doubt man thats exactly how i feel look at my albums below....IMO are the best albums ever.....no doubt....2001 is just such a sick album non stop bumpin from start to finish....
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i give this album 5 stars ;D
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4/5 because the skits are shit (but the beats on Pause 4 Porno and Ed-Ucation are dope). The intro is shit (but i like the instrumental version, dunno why). Lets Get High is an awful song and it doesn't fit in with the sound of the album. Murder Ink is also poor and again doesn't fit in with the sound of the album.
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Murder Ink is one of my favs on the album, and the way Car Bomb and it go together is hot. That's the only skit I like on the album, and Murder is a hot song, I love the beat, but then again almost every beat on the album is great.
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9.5/10
Only problem are the useless skits and bad intro. You cut those out and maybe slice 2 tracks, it's flawless.
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The skits are one thing, but I think there were a few average tracks on the album + I really don't dig Hittman that much. That's why I can't give it 5/5 (a perfect album.
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up to the next episode........u probably had a 6/5 album................the next half was like a 3.75/5 shit. im my opinion
overall, i say a 4.75/5 joint which is gotta have one of the best first half if not the best first half of a cd ever created both production wise and just for joints to bang
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Man Let's get high is still one of my favorite songs 2 hear in a party...it doesn't exactly fit the rest of the album but so what, it's baaaangin.
I would give it 5 mics, with close to the same review. The skits like Bar One suck azz crack, and its a few songs u skip....but in my opinion, its best songs aren't nearly as good as the best songs on the Chronic, but then it's worst songs are about the same or better than the worst songs on chronic.
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9.5/10
Only problem are the useless skits and bad intro. You cut those out and maybe slice 2 tracks, it's flawless.
this album i soooo fucking good, beats are amaizng, and different rapers, and diferent moods, the skits kinda ruin the flow
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I think the album probably deserves four, although some of the skits got annoying I think some were quite funny and the beats were bangin'. Although it is a shame there really wasn't a solo song.
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the message was practicaly solo, i mean mary was singing, but he was doing all the rapping, and it perfectly ended the cd
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I'd give it a 4.5/5, too. And there are two solo songs, or at least, solo raps...The Watcher, and The Message
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5 mics definately, a timeless classic.
I would even go so far to say it's one of the best albums ever.
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5/5 8)
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5 mics definately, a timeless classic.
I would even go so far to say it's one of the best albums ever.
"2001" is the best album ever made, followed by the original "Chronic"...
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4.9 outta 5
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I haven't listened to this album in quite some time.
When I first heard it, I thought great, this album gets off to a great start. The Watcher straight up knocks and then it's followed by Fuck You, which has a great slow rolling funk style beat. Devin the Dude sounds really good on this song. Then after Fuck You come my 2 favorites, Still Dre and Big Egos.
Still Dre is just amazing, one of the best rap songs ever possibly. Production-wise, we're talking about groundbreaking material. It was then followed up by Big Egos, with a similar beat to Still Dre, but much darker and a little slower with the piano chord progression. Hittman tears the track in half and then some. The album continues to flow nicely despite the speed bump called Xplosive and a horrendous Kurupt verse but the ride continues with What's the Difference, Forgot About Dre and Next Episode.
After these songs, the album goes downhill with horrid skits and awful songs like Murda Ink and Bitch Niggas. The album does finish up strong with LA Niggas, Bang Bang and The Message.
Overall, I feel this album is way too inconsistent to warrant the classic label that many give it. Some of the songs are groundbreaking musically, such as Still Dre and Forgot About Dre, which are absolutely mind blowing in the production quality. The album as a whole is nicely produced. However you can't have a song like "Bitch Niggas" on a classic album. Also, this album lacked replay value.
Dre did succeed in doing what he wanted to do, and that was change the landscape of hip hop musically. Like with the first Chronic and Doggystyle, many producers came out the woodwork co-opting Dre's chronic 2001 production style. Dre is still the standardbearer that other producers look towards to determine if their music is tight. That won't change anytime soon. However, it's not enough to make this album a classic that many believe it to be.
If you want a classic album that dropped the same day, Get Streetz is a Mutha by Kurupt.
4 mics
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^^^ I agree, you make some good points
I love that Kurupt verse though ;D
I still think it's a classic album just for the fact that you can play it from start to finish if you want
overrated in the sense that it's untouchable, but still so good I can't hate on any of those songs
(I don't like Murder Ink track though :P)
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I disagree a lil' bit.
Murder Ink was not good, but Bitch Niggaz is one of my favourite tracks on the album!
Saying that, back in early '00 when I copped this, I skipped Bitch Niggaz on every play-through until about a year ago.
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personally i think its overhyped, its very good material, but the unnecessary skits and too few solo cuts make it 9 out of 10 for me
i like hittmans style so i can enjoy every track he's on, if you dont like hittman, you gotta problem with this album tho :P
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One of the best albums i've ever heard in my life since 1992...