Compton legend and G-funk pioneer Dr Dre recently sat down with the comedian Kevin Hart for an in-depth conversation on his Peacock Hart To Heart series, during which he disclosed some shocking information regarding his 1992 debut album, The Chronic.
Released in 1992, with its singles put out in 1993, Dre’s debut body of work was a culture-shifting, genre-advancing masterpiece and, has been archived in the USA’s Library of Congress as a culturally significant recording.
With such a legacy, it shocked Kevin Hart and fans alike when he revealed that he was talked into recording the album by a close friend. Dr Dre (real name Andre Young) knew he had a talent. However, following his days with N.W.A. didn’t know how to channel it.
Explaining to Hart his situation in the early-’90s, Young stated, I had to separate myself from [Eazy-E] because he decided to take a different route. [Ice] Cube had already left, so I’m out here on my own. I have absolutely no idea what the fuck I’m gonna do. I just know I have this talent.”
He then explained how The Chronic came to be and unveiled that West Coast legend, The D.O.C. convinced him to create a body of work, disclosing, A close friend of mine, we’ll call him D.O.C., talked me into doing The Chronic album. It wasn’t my decision, I was talked into doing that. I just went in there and went for it because I felt, at that time, it was a life or death situation.”
Little did Young know that he would be helping a whole state find their voice. The Chronic effectively launched the careers of several West Coast artists’ careers, including Snoop Dogg, Daz Dillinger, Kurupt, Nate Dogg, and Warren G. Furthermore, it set the blueprint for other successful West Coast albums such as Doggystyle, All Eyez On Me, and Dogg Food.
