Reviews (page 6 of 13)
Firstly, I would like to apologise to my mother for all the Dre I blasted across the house in my early teens; I never really considered the lyrics until today. But the nostalgia!! The production!! The beats!! Yet this is the most offensive album yet. But I still love it, I am torn so going to continue with my usual dropping it a point for the lyrical content (although I think in that case I should have given The Pharcyde a 3). Listens: Fave Track: Rating: 4
All my previous gushing went unsaved. The bottom line this album is good. And was a turning point for hip-hop. A solid 4/5
Classic 90s rap with Snoop and Dre what else is there to say. Are there some songs on here that are a lil weird, sure but I find that to be true with almost every album I listen to period. There are two songs that I will probably skip when I listen again and I definitely will listen to this again and will be adding some of these to my rotation/playlist. Best song: Lyrical Gangbang Weirdest Song: The Doctor's Office Worst Song: The $20 Sack Pyramid Skips: The Doctor's Office, The $20 Sack Pyramid Over: 9.2/10
I'm not very well versed in rap, but this was more or less what I expected from a classic 90s rap album. I was surprised that I really liked it, there are some songs that I would definitely listen to again and I think it merits another closer listen when I can focus more on each song. Also noted a couple of verses that I recognized which surprised me. Track #10 (The $20 Sack Pyramid) threw me for a loop and will be a skip.
Hip hop classic
Culturally significant, highly important to our own shift in culture and the cultivation of gangsta rap. Whether or not that was a good move away from previous forms of the genre is certainly up for debate. Hearing lots of Snoop was refreshing and Dre's beats are incredible. That this was his introductory album speaks volumes to his abilities as a producer and the way he influenced rap and hip hop long-term.
Good Album. Crazy start to kick off solo after NWA! He should have taken more features and let other contribute more to this album than dre alone could do.
Top ten best album of all time
This shit was tight.
So far out of my normal listening zone but someone I know if very notable. It's funny to see the songs named how our "slang" and IM language used to be. We've progressed a lot in that realm. Away from "wit" and the use of z's. Deeez Nuuuts! Is this the source of that?? This seems like it is probably very good for it's style. It's not a style of music I'm super familiar with or would necessarily listen to on my own. But it's well made, chill, and engaging.
I like the chronic, good beat. I like the snoop dogg features, he has some fun rhymes. The album is very dated, with the sounds and putting zs in stuff, spelling words, but it's so old that at this point it feels vintage, like wrought iron or a game boy. nothin but a g thang is fun, makes sense that it's one of the more popular ones. I thought deez nuts came from vine, but seems like it's older. is this the first use? the album kicks off with a lot of good songs but as the time goes on, I feel like the quality is going down a little. I do not like or care at all about the non musical interjections, those could have been left out. I like that there are a lot of different features on the album, so you get to hear a variety. I wouldn't choose to put on this album but I enjoyed listening to it, that's what I like about doing this, I get to find all sorts of cool music that I would never have listened to otherwise.
This album has a lot of bangers. I generally liked a lot of it too, which says a lot seeing as this is quite an old rap album. I enjoyed how the group dynamic seemed very supportive of each other and very wholesome. This probably got a real bad "rap" back in the day, but the topics covered really aren't anything crazy or horrible (other than murder I guess). Extra points for snoop.
Snoop Dogg is great on this. I think this is basically the first thing he did so pretty strong start. Dr. Dre is actually less relevant as a performer these days since he's mostly a producer now. Lots of "izz"-ification (Drizze, hizzouse, drizzown) on here which is kinda funny since no one does that anymore since white people started doing it. Similar in some ways to the Public Enemy album from a few weeks ago. Slightly further "evolved" i.e., more guns, women diss tracks, less social issues. A bit more fun to listen too but a little less socially important. Deeez Nuuutz!! Got 'em since 1992.
Great sound/production, awesome samples - def nostalgic It's pretty campy and very vulgar. This could be a 5 with a bit more artistic attention/more grown up
Classic
What a visionary He made a deez nuts joke in 1992
A seminal album that paved the way for west coast hip hop throughout the 90’s (and beyond). Some of the lyrics were uneven and can sound hokey 35 years later, and some of the best lines were songs that weren’t written by Dre at all. With that being said, the production is immaculate and Snoop Dogg pushes this record from good to great.
Nice hip hop album. Lots of swearing, MF and guns.
This era of hip hop is so damn good
A classic and very influential rap album. When I think of the west-coast rap sound, I think of this. It has that signature, laid-back California style. I'm typically more of a fan of the gritty east-coast sound but I truly like this record. You can't deny Snoop and Dre's talent.
Rump shaking, hard beats. Dr. Dre on his first solo album with significant collaboration with Snoop Dogg. This album broke ground in West Coast hip hop and gangsta-funk. I’ve never heard the N-word dropped so many times and I think they’re giving Samuel L a run for his money.
This was sick: this is what I want to listen to when I think about a classic rap album. The samples are well crafted and just iconic, the flow is solid and the lyrics hold more meaning than 90% of what is produced now. At points I kinda forgot it was Dr. Dre and not Snoop Dog bc that man bossed on this album. Back to back solid tracks, enjoyed this listen.
Young snoop dogg going off. Unique layered sounds with the classic LA hip hop aesthetic
Production is of the highest quality and there are some absolutely great tracks on here, but as I age I find myself less amused with the obscene lyrics. Sure, it’s a goof, a show, but one that in less attracted to these days.
4.20/5
I prefer the later stuff but this is still a classic. 4 stars
Loved it. Great west coast rap album.
The music is still excellent, but I have outgrown the lyrics. They make me cringe at times.
Legendarisk, velproduceret, g-funk, gangsta, snoop, indflydelsesrigt
Classic hip-hop, il y a un avant et un après The Chronic.
Merkilegt menningarframlag þess tíma. Mörg góð lög en líka mikið af lögum sem máttu missa sín. Snoop lögin langbest. Lil ghetto boy uppgötvun mín í þessari yfirferð.
The jams are good. The driving bass, and basslines, and electronic piano-like melodies are all really nice to listen to. This is Snoop in his element, which I don't think I've heard before - it's good. It's good music to work to - there's nothing distracting about the songs, there's no noise, every instrument has a place. Disc spinning is great - basically I've only heard it before on Tony Hawk game soundtracks lol (there's definitely some nostalgia tied to this sound because of Tony Hawk games). The language is "mature" in the sense that it has the explicit label, but since it's genuine (and feels that way) I think it's awesome that there is music that I imagine sounds like the way people talk in real life. There's a lot of talking in the album, which I wonder if that was new or not - seems like it fits the overall vibe of the album.
The beats and tunes are so incredibly good on this album that I want to continually loop it. However, the content and tone of some of the lyrics... Hard for me to get past. I'm gravely conflicted.
Dre is a legend
(Misogyny aside) I really liked this album. It did feel a little on the long side, and I think Snoop is a better rapper than Dre, but Dre has great production.
Seminal album of West Coast Rap. Let Me Ride and Nuthin' But a G Thang are classics, but the album on the whole is solid. Other notables are Stranded on Death Row, High Powered, and The Roach. The Day the Niggaz Took Over struck me, not having heard it before but thinking of the context of the LA Riots that happened that year.
I’m a little embarrassed to say that I’m not sure I know much Dr Dre. I’ve certainly heard of him and know he was a massive name in hip hop, but I’m not sure I could name more than one or two songs. This is just not my area of expertise, so I’ll be listening to this album today as if it was brand new. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang, Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat The embarrassment gets worse. I recognised the title Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang, but didn’t recognise the actual song whatsoever. Anyway, this sounded really good. It sent me back to when I’d be playing GTA San Andreas - although I didn’t recognise any specific songs today, I would be very unsurprised if I was to see Dre on the soundtrack. The beats are funky, and the high pitched squeaky whistle synth feels to be definitive of the era or hip hop. I say that as if I have a clue. I haven’t. I did really like this though.
No doubt an important rap album. Let me Ride, lyrical gangland were track highlights. Subject matter not something I can identify with and can be hard to listen to. Skits also felt quite infantile. Production was very good
A lot of this has not aged well, but it was iconic at the time and remains influential.
West Coast G Funkin parhautta. Siinäpä se
When some inattentive driver endangers me or my brood while we are out braving the public roadways, and I find myself in need of a proper insult to belittle the offending driver (if only to myself), i reach into my quiver of verbal brutality, and about 4/5 times, i come out with a lyric from the chronic. maybe this album has influenced me too much. this album is the pinnacle of west coast g funk. Dre's production and Colin Wolfe's work on the basslines are outstanding. and it's been added to the recording registry in the library of congress, which mean, "deez nuts" are firmly cemented in the annals of history. a fact that will forever bring me joy.
From the very first minute I've got back to my memories of first missions in GTA: San Andreas. I really like music. Beats and other things are making the mood here. It is especially audible in "Lil Ghetto boy" in part without vocals. One of the best if not the best rap albums on this list. Lyrics are the reason why this is not 5/5
Awesome
Solid album, I can see why this is the benchmark for many artists. Music and themes felt a little outdated.
It was good
Great album apart from the bigotry
Classic album, drags a little in the third quarter but I actually liked it more than I remembered liking it previously. 3.5/5
A redefining of the Gangsta Rap genre. Dre and The Chronic had cats bouncing their heads and their cars. With old skool jazz and funk, riffs and samples, modern day beats layered on them, The chronic was a smash hit. Not to mention, it was also the introduction of the rap/hip hop icon Snoop Dog. Although I’ve never been that big of a fan of the genre, I can’t help but appreciate what this album brought to the music table. It’s time to take a ride. 4
It really felt like a glimpse into a world I have no experience with. The interludes help to narrate the story very well which I think hip hop and rap does so well. To me, this felt like a transitional album in between old school and new school rap for the time.
A true classic. The epitome of West Coast rap. It sounds just as relevant today as I imagine it did when it came out.
The thing with both Dr. Dre albums is that their high points are as high as like any music can get over the last 100 years, but there is always a bunch of filler. Even if the unifying theme, production and repeat guests are mostly great, there is always TOO MUCH or TOO MANY that just don’t quite live up to the highs. Anyway, this is great and is an all time classic but it’s probably not even a top 200 rap record of all time for me.
Classic hip hop album. Amazingly textured beats, super groundbreaking for its time. Funny and real storytelling. Some lyrics were trash though and most were ghostwritten(which is not a good look for a rapper imo)
A classic, though like a lot of rap from this era not all of it has aged well. Personally I prefer 2001 as well
Starts really strong. Dre Day is the best for me. Production amazing throughout but the deeper cuts don't hit as hard as the singles. Bitches Ain't Shit great closer though.
This is a certified classic. Dre was always a better producer than rapper, but he does well here. I have no big complaints with this project except that it’s not very strong lyrically speaking, and that can really hurt you in hip-hop. Other than that, immaculate and always fun to run through again. 4/5
Great beats, changed the game. Cringey.
A classic with an influence that cannot be overstated. The beats throughout the record are incredible and are easily the main feature of the album. Although the lyrics are repetitive, sometimes dumb, sometimes really offensive, they contribute to create the vibe that the album gives off. It is cool to be a gangsta. This definitely contributed to the huge success of the genre which overshadowed all other varieties of hip hop for quite some time, for better or worse. My favourite tracks: Let Me Ride, Nuthin but a G Thang, Deeez Nuuuuts, Lil Ghetto Boy. The last one is my favoriteof the album, this flute feels so out of the context and yet it fits right in with the beat, adds lots of depth into the record. All these tracks come in the first side of the album, then it gets a bit worse. The skits were dumb but kinda funny, although after first two listens I now skip them immediately. Last thought: I enjoyed Dre’s rapping and I think the best tracks on the album include him as a rapper.
Firmly in classic album territory. Such a fun easy funky listen.
Great introduction to West Coast rap.
pretty good Favorite Tracks: Let Me Ride, Nuthin But A "G" Thang, Lyrical Gangbang, Bitches Ain't Shit 4-4.5/5
Classic rap from this era.
Dre's genre-altering album is angry as hell. There are a lot of records I wasn't allowed to listen to as a kid, and I still don't really understand why. With this one...I get it. It was pretty inaccessible to me growing up, but I remember peers wearing the shirts and talking about it. I was always curious. I really sat down with it for the first time in college, and it kind of didn't make sense to me at the time why it was such a big deal. 10 years later, having been through it a few times, it makes total sense why this album is considered one of, if not the best hip hop record of all time. I mean, just the beats alone are enough to solidify that idea. Snoop is at the top of his game throughout, and the production is top tier. One thing I always struggle with in discussing albums like this is the blatant misogyny sprinkled throughout. I have to look at it through a lens of privilege, so it's really difficult to speak on the reasoning for some of the lyrics here, but on that level, I can't commend the album based on lyrics alone. But I think the biggest detriment to this album is the cultural impact it's had, i.e., you can buy T-shirts of the cover at Walmart. It suffers the Nevermind effect. But either way, it's the go-to template for a reason, even if I'm conflicted about it.
Classic. Snoop Carries it
Classic hip hop album. Dre’s production is pretty unparalleled
Old school hip-hop just fucken slaps, the samples and beats just go so hard. I can understand how impactful this album was.
I dont think snoop has ever sounded this good. I could do without the skits, they haven't aged well at all. But all in all its outstanding. Really good vibes. Scrapes a 4
4.5, lost half a star for Dre loving battering women
8/10 maybe a little overrated, but still a great hip hop album
Classic
Beats still sounds fresh, not dated. Iirc, this was next level when it came out. It's good, but too long.
Man! This album. I remember getting this through columbia records cd subscription. This and Cypress Hill. Everyone was bumping this! 1992. I was 13, 8th grade at Edna Thomas Middle school in Corvallis. lol Cross colors clothing was the shit, and Boyz in the Hood had just come out a year earlier.
bom
Highlights: Nuthin' But a "G" Thang, Let Me Ride Leave Em's: Deeez Nuuuts, High Powered Overall Thoughts: A big bite of West coast hip hop sound from the 90's. I really like the instrumentals that were used in early hip hop, although they do lead to songs sounding similar especially when listened to back to back like this. The lyrics tended to feel repetitive and made songs blend together. The goods songs definitely pull their weight and make it enjoyable throughout but it is not quite perfect.
not my thing but i respect the artistry
One of the best
Rapzao nask
Fantastic rap album, production and beats are on point and Dre gets help from snoop and co with rapping
Foundational. Perfect to put on at a bachelor party.
Not thr biggest fan, but understand it is good music
4/5
Once you get past the cold slap in the face from the profanity that starts off this album, it settles into a profanity laced chronicle for the ages. Bow wow wow yippy yo yippy yay.
Lit and rambunctious and amazing
I remember when this came out and I just started college. It definitely change the way most people listen to hip-hop and think about it and it’s what essentially catapulted Snoop Dogg to be a star it’s not perfect up especially the homophobic and misogynistic stuff that was all over hip-hop in the late 80s and into the 90s. But so many songs are still listenable and fun.
Dre's productions are amazing, he really created some impressive sounds, quintessential G-funk. Snoop Dogg's contributions really elevate the album, and in large part define it. It's too long - clearly violating the 40-minute rule which has become a reliable marker almost 900 albums into this journey. Trim some of the fat and this album would be even better.
I quite like it. Wavering between 3* and 4* three tracks in. I'm giving it a 4*, but a low 4*.
2000s rap def, fakker middels med
Great beats, great sounds, great swagger. I totally appreciate the skill to rap at this level. So much happening on these songs and it was a new art form at the time. Minus one point because I can't get past the violence and sex drenched lyrics. I get it, but don't like it.
Lyrically a little rough but damn the music is really good and Snoop steals the show.
Good production. The combination of Snoop and Dre worked better for me then the NWA album.
This was my first listen through. Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang & Bitches Ain’t Shit were instant saves. Good vibes overall.
The sound itself is really good and the production is excellent. Unfortunately, so many of the songs are a miss for me lyrically. Some really aren’t bad, but on other tracks the lyrics took away a fair amount of enjoyment. Still for the sound alone I will give it a 4. Didn’t expect to, but damn that production.
Still holds up pretty damn well. Fav track: A N**** with a gun Straight 4/5
The Chronic is the debut album by the American hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre. This is Dre's first solo album after leaving the hip hop group N.W.A, and features many appearances by rapper Snoop Dogg who used this album to jumpstart his own hip hop career. The Chronic popularized a new style of gangsta rap called G-funk (gangsta funk) and has been regarded as an important album from the golden age of hip hop. This album is certified triple platinum and was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. The hip hop tracks confidently paint realistic situations of the inner city youth while being backed by funky beats that any listener can enjoy. This influential hip hop album is straight nostalgia for me and was a joy to listen to. Gangsta rap might not be for everyone - and it's not even that popular anymore - but this album is a gem that everyone should lend an ear to.
As a 21-year-old white dude, I have nothing new to say about the most influential and possibly best hip-hop album of its era but I will also say that it's insanely well-produced. I think this album finally pushed me over the edge into fully enjoying most 90s hip-hop because it had great beats all around despite the typical occasional cringe lyrics and especially dumb skits. Regardless, the radio that played after the album ended made for a very enjoyable afternoon. I am now very excited to get Illmatic and 2001.
This surprised me - west coast hip hop has good sounds and beats but plenty of anger. The lyrics take a bit of stomach on the first few, but the overall sound is great.
Very close to a 5. Very, very close.
Theres filler on here that kept it from a 5, but this was the soundtrack for ‘92
9/10 nose que le cambiaria a este album, es buenisimo de principio a fin y las skits son chistosas sin interrumpir mucho. lo unico esq siento q tiene cmo un single q es let me ride(10/10), pero del resto como q ninguna sobresale pami.
Enjoyed but hard to rank with first album. Enjoyed all tracks, would rank maybe 7/10 but didn’t hear the Led Zeppelin influence.
Really like it, has some classics on it. Doesn't get as good as 2001 though, which is a clear 5 for me, so can't get any higher than this in my opinion. Have to say this type of rap is probably the only genre I enjoy though, so I'm a bit biased maybe. The lyrical content definitely hasn't aged very well, I'm not sure how they got away (did they?) with the women degrading stuff they were spewing back then (even though it "might" have been satirical, still not cool). I'm not sure that would fly today.
Not really my genre, but this was classic and pretty good.
3.5 really.
Aside from having such an edgy lyrical content, the nice synthy production made this album a behemoth of rap. Not as good as I expected as a listen, but still enjoyable on a somewhat shallow level.
Classic. Insanely influential. Maybe not quite the Songs in the Key of Life for 90s hip hop but something close to it.
Rating: 8/10 Classic hip-hop album, one of the most influential hip-hop albums of all time.
The un-explicit version of a review of Dr. Dre's The Chronic: "This ------ is -------- fire. The beats are legendary, and you have to be a ------ ------ not to recognize the long-lasting impact of this ------ album. Some themes might be ------ silly, like -----, --------, or ------, but the overall production and vibe is ------- magnificent. The bass on 'Let Me Ride' is godsent."
Reviewing The Chronic is not as easy as it may seem just after finishing a record filled to the brim with some of the best beats and hooks hip-hop has ever delivered. The positives: The beats are beyond terrific. Dre never fails to deliver and it's astounding how many classics fills up The Chronic. I'm especially surprised at how awesome Snoop Doggy Dogg is as well. Not that I should be. It's not my first time listening to this, but I somehow always forget just how good he is in particular. The skits are kept to a minimum as well - something I always appreciate in a rap album. Then there's the negative: The amount of misogyny, homophobia and unsettling violence is - maybe not shocking the era of hip-hop taking into consideration - but at least unnerving. Times are a-changing and yada yada yada.. But still. At times it feels like a party dedicated to degrading women and shooting people. Robert Christgau negatively described The Chronic "sociopathic easy-listening". I tend to agree. For that reason it's quite an accomplishment that I after listening were able to take a step back and come to the conclusion that I enjoyed it 90 % of the time. Maybe I should feel somehow bad about it? But I don't.
Chefz kiffs
Okay so I'm a white girl but this is another album I grew up listening to. When I was young in the 90's we used to dance around to Bitches Ain't Shit. This is gangsta rap with an introduction to g-funk. They rap about committing violent acts, doing drugs and having sex. It's basically a war between two sides of the country. Yes, the lyrics are outrageous, vulgar and offensive... but at least most are interesting and creative. I can understand if this isn't for you, but since this is the lifestyle these men grew up in I think it's okay for them to rap about these subjects, people can change overtime. Listening to this again I was laughing out loud at some of the lyrics but still rocking hard with the beats. It's really well made. A product of it's time but you can hear the influence it had. Dre is great (better producer) but Snoop is incredible. Also really love The Chronic 2001. Thanks for finding Eminem, I guess. In conclusion, Fuck Suge Knight and fuck Beats. (sorry Dre)
I like the sense of humour but gotta knock a star off for the track that was just straight up sex noises. I did not consent to listen to this bro
Production off chops. Could do without the skits and the jammier tracks are weaker than the big hooks but so many great vibes. Didn't know it was so much bout beef!
Great samples and beats, funny skits. Solid hip hop classic
What an iconic rap album!
Undeniable impact on the industry. Great debut. Yeah some stuff ages poorly but it would be naïve to expect otherwise. For me this is when the genre full sheds any last remnant of the corny factor from it's nascent era and steps into its own. G funk toes a crucial line.
69
This one takes me back. I love the production on this album. I don't think any of the other 90's gangster rap artists ever pulled off the musicality that Dre did. It was such a polished sound. I can't get behind a lot of the homophobia and misogynist lyrics, but I still enjoy the album as a whole.
This is probably the most important rap album ever made. It changed how the game was played and how it’s done since, but it doesn’t 100% hold up. Like many of its contemporaries, misogyny creeps its head in, some of the beats are repeated to their detriment, and frankly, Dre was always a better producer than rapper. But everything else just sounds soooo good. Been debating leaving it at B+, but nah, it’s an A-.
Great album. Solid reminder, too, of the long and rich history of hip-hop. This year's (2023) Grammys show had a fantastic ensemble performance celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and of course, Dre was in it. Just fantastic!
Given the rave reviews this got, I thought it'd be worth giving this a listen - was not disappointed. Dre's production is funky, punchy and very difficult to not get down to. Hadn't realises how much they came for Eazy E on this record. Dre and Snoop take no prisoners. The gang banging and throat fucking is relentless. No wonder America was scared of CPT and LB. Snoop's flow is perfect for this album. My highlight was 'The Day the Niggaz Took Over' which anarchic and a real statement of rebellion post LA riots. The hits on this have ages brilliantly and rightly still get played today. The tailend of the album does drop off a bit but overall this is a grear hip hop album.
Not really a big fan of hip-hop, but I have to appreciate an album like this, it was a landmark piece that pathed the way for the 'Gangsta rap' scene in the 90s
Some really good music here. Snoop and the music steal the show.
Impeccable production. The misogynistic and homophobic lyrics are unfortunate but also not uncommon for rap at this time. Snoop’s energy and authority are a highlight.
Every newer 90s hip hop album tried to be this. The flow of the rapping sounds dated. The gangsta rap lyrics are stupid as always, especially the later songs on the album are ridiculous. The beats are varied enough for an entire album. Favorite song: Stranded On Death Row.
Chest nuts and chin nuts after all this time I finally get the Dees nutz reference. Much better than Paul's boutique. Hoppity-hippity, Snoopdog-infused goodness. Big up.
Quite possibly the most influential hip-hop production of all time, and the combination of Dre and Snoop Dogg is dreamlike
3.5
Such mixed feelings. Spicy basslines, amazing music, but idk man. Def a product of it's time. The lyrics kept it from a 5 for me
I feel like I've been taken back to the 90s.
Phenomenal mixing and rhythms.
I'm alive!
Bangers
Cool
In these reviews I see a lot of assertions that the music and lyrics have aged poorly; the fact that these complaints echo the same pearl-clutching and overtures towards respectability politics which had talk show pundits demanding these thugs pull their pants up, it underlines timelessness of the project.
Love The Chronic. Runs a little long for me, but cant deny its impact on west coast and rap in general. $20 sack pyramid is my favorite skit 4/5
Can't really argue with The Chronic
Dr. Dre moves on from NWA by taking an innovative approach to hip-hop by making a shift away from sample-heavy production to live instrumentation, a change that would influence hip-hop for years to come. As the genre "G-funk" implies, this album is heavily inspired by the works of the famous Parliament-Funkadelic collection. Not just with their use of PF samples, but also in their beats, basslines, and space synths. It's immensely colorful and works well with Dre's style, which is much cooler and more relaxing than the high-energy state of hip-hop at the time. It starts out fantastic, with memorable songs. Some like "Lil' Ghetto Boy" you can hear influence from other funk artists like Curtis Mayfield. The skits are funny, and Dre forms a fun dynamic duo with Snoop Dogg. In the second half, songs don't stand out as much, relying too much on the same techniques. On one hand, we get a consistent experience with songs where almost every song can be enjoyed individually. But on the other hand, it becomes tiresome and drags on too much, not justifying its hour length. Specifically, "High Powered" and "Stranded on Death Row" sound like filler, not adding anything new. Another complaint is that the themes become too repetitive, and although the hooks and flow are there, I became tiresome of the overused gangster subject matter that doesn't say or feel much.
Weirdly no longer available on steaming platforms but listened to it not too long ago in the grand scheme of things. Have a bias towards this album because I grew up on all of that stuff. Back when hip hop was at its best. Boss.
Iconic
Great but way too fucking long
A classic. A couple of really good old school raps and a consistent theme.
Is this a Dre album or a Snoop album? Either way, incredible benchmark album for hip hop. The songs range from vicious to laid back with ease. Some of the synth lines and beats are absolutely iconic. I was hearing bits that rappers are still sampling to this day. Also, is this the origin story of "deez nuts" or what??
Chronic? More like Iconic
Classic album. Dre at his best musically speaking. I have never been a fan of certain aspects of west coast gangster rap as far as some of the lyrical choices and skits but I didn’t grow up in that situation. Best album I have been recommended.
Snoop Dogg on the intro is insane!!! Lol. Can’t believe I hadn’t heard this track. The interpretation of Funkadelic into hip hop on this debut album is pretty amazing and executed flawlessly through the first 3 tracks. Goddamn track 4 on the LA riots! Never heard this, what a great bridge between 3 and 5. BDP and Jamaican vibes. Side A is hitting me way better than I expected. Deez Nutz might be a slight lull but Nate Dogg jumps on the scene in great form! Lil Ghetto Boy closes out a phenomenal side A. Again, the Jamaican influence is a nice surprise, and this is an excellent landmark of G-Funk. Side B kicks off with great samples, hilarious $20 Sack skit, slows down a bit toward the end. Only thing that really feels like filler is the P-Funk chronic Outro. Its a little corny and long-winded. The final song is another low point for me, where the overt misogyny seems to nudge out the humor and fonk as the dominant force.
Sick album. This is definitely a classic Rap album. Some really banger tracks such as Let me Ride or Nothing but a g thang. Overall nice listen with funny Skits. Solid 4 / 5
4.5
Too many bad words, my grandma didn't like it
Most of these tracks, aside from the skits, are great. Excellent production and beats, with lyrics masterfully delivered. The content, however, is misogynistic and repetitive as hell.
It's a hell of an album, but I've also kind of aged out of it. I can appreciate the artistry of the mix, production, style while taking a dimmer view of the content. Still, it is of its time and projects the lifestyle of the people and places from where it derives, which has its own value.
Se nota que es de los discos papás del hip hop gangsta. Las secuencias muy de la época 90era. Disco largo que muestra todas las habilidades de Dre con la palabra, no por nada es el referente de la costa Oeste. 3.5 estrellas que suben a 4, porque aunque me cuesta mucho trabajo el género, está bien hecho y por eso tuvo la influencia que tuvo.
I am a big Parliament fan so the production is really cool. I dig the flow, and its cool to see the launch of Snopp Dogg's career. The lyrics are pretty damn crass, but that lends to its "realness". The middle of the album starts to feel pretty slow, especially with the sketch. The Roach is a great homage.
The braggadocio can get tiring and the skits are very skippable, but the music never disappoints. The start of a whole new era (for better and worse).
*Immaculate* production, excellent sound, boosted Snoop into the mainstream, all of which put more tension than usual on finding the themes kinda dumb & gross.
4.5
It's an undeniable classic that had significant impact on culture, and the production is impeccable. That being said, there are still a few issues. It seems like several songs include extended outros that are mostly shit talking Easy E, and several skits about fucking or "DEEEEEZZZ NUTZZZZ".
Rap/hip-hop might be the remaining bastion of complete album experience. The style and degree of intention for them sort of require that every song stand on its own, and not be anchored by a particular hit. This album, even after two listens, has minimal impact from a single track and that is only because of the reference/shout-out to The D.O.C. As objective as this review can be, the subject matter and related experiences are a world that not everyone will completely understand. This production is every bit as personal as it is a means to entertain so for some it is an education of sorts, where for others it is a commentary on their actual lives.
Hardest album to rate so far. I will start with the negatives. Generally I don't like albums that are not conceputal to last over an hour and I can clearly see some stuff being crossed out here. Despite being a solo record it's heavily carried by Snoop Dogg (and to lover extend by other guests, Dre is clearly the weakest rapper on most tracks). On the positive side this is very clearly massively influential record and what I appreciate the most - it puts you in a mood. This has no chance of turning into background music like a lot of albums does. It bangs and slaps and paints clear picture of 90's West Coast scene for you. And I enjoyed it. I don't agree with this failing the test of time or ageing poorly, because it doesn't try to stay relevant - it is true to it's time.
This is still a great record. But you have to be in the right head space for it. Times have changed and some of the content has not aged well.
I would have never picked up this album by myself. I enjoyed it. It was angry and funny and had a great style to it. It took me a little while to get into but overall enjoyed it
A lot better than I expected. Can see myself listen to it again.
not necessarily my cup of tea but the album maintains a really high quality all the way through
I forgot how hard the album actually was. Listened to the chronic when it came out. The lyrics spoke to me when I was younger. Not so much anymore
Sadly not available on Spotify as of September 2022. Solid album
If you smoke a lot of weed this the album for you
man some of the greatest rap songs of all time, but the rest of the album was just okay for me. keeps it from getting a 5
😋$20 sack pyramid😋
When the inevitable happens and I must enter into gang warfare with 1 hour to prepare....this is the album I will be listening to. Deez nuts.
Classic, not on Spotify. Liked it better once upon a time
Très bon album qui s'enchaîne bien. Les beats sont bons et pas trop répétitifs, la vibe est intéressante, et l'histoire derrière l'album l'est tout autant. Belle collab avec Snoop Dog, les "bars" sont intéressantes. Un peu long par contre.
Really enjoyed this one! The only real negative for me would be the skits cause I could've done without them but the production on this is incredible and it makes me want to definitely check out more stuff by everyone who was involved.
Always love Dr.Dre
Aged like a fine deez nuts joke 🍷
Very much wavering here between a 3 and 4, it's a milestone album for it's genre, but some of the subject matter and the attitudes expressed have not aged well (not that they were necessarily okay at the time either).
It's a classic, it's a belter
Only one track available on Spotify, but I remember when this came out back in the day. Hell of a debut and what a way to move on from NWA;
Sadly due to Snoop Dogg's ego, belief in NFTs and business interests this has been removed from all the major streaming platforms, so unable to follow the link to listen. Luckily for me, I have it on vinyl so can listen to it when the mood takes me (as long as I'm in the house...). As debuts and statements of intent go, this is hard to beat.
4.0/5 first half of the album is astounding! 2nd half is ok but too many features not enough Dre. Prediction throughout the album is amazing! Standouts: Fuck wit Dre Day Let me ride🔥🔥🔥 The day n*** took over Nuthin’ but a g thing 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Lil ghetto boy A n*** with a gun🔥 $20 sack pyramid Lyrical gangbang High power Bitches ain’t shit
West Coast classic.
I really enjoyed this album. Too bad Spotify does not have the whole album.
I'm going to skip this, simply because I know this album as well as I know my little brother. (Quite possibly better) Side A (tape, since you're asking) remains one of the most incendiary passages I've ever heard in pop music (pop music: music explicitly intended for engagement by and the entertainment of anything more that an niche audience. A useful, if complete heuristic: if there's a third party budget on the table that extends beyond minimum wage, then it's pop.) Side B...actually, I will listen to this again. There may be stuff I've missing. I don't see how, but neither do I see how the two sides could be the creation of the same entity. (Later). Nah, Side B still sucks. So my rating is purely on the energy, the inventiveness, the playfulness, the shamelessness of Side A
**6/18/2022 - ALBUM #142** Today's Album: "The Chronic" by Dr. Dre - This is a pretty solid rap album from one of the biggest legends in hip-hop. Dr. Dre emerged onto the hip hop scene as a member NWA in the late 80s and early 90s, but this album was released after Dre's departure from the group and he definitely puts his fallout with them to work lyrically on this project. The album even opens up with disses on NWA member Eazy E and manager Jerry Heller, showing that Dre is not messing around on this album and he continues throughout the tracklist to justify his stature in the rap game, which he does well. Snoop Dogg also features on this album a ton, pretty much every track, and although he is a bit more cut throat than usual here, I really think the moments that emphasize his smooth and laid back flow pair so well with Dre's more straightforward rapping technique. I think it's pretty clear that Dre and Snoop are having a ton of fun writing this album, with lots of talk about "deez nuts", but they also cover a lot of really hard hitting topics on tracks like Lil Ghetto Boy and High Powered. It feels really fresh compared to many of the rap albums the generator has given me so far, and I think a lot of the tracks here are really great. Nothin' But A 'G' Thang and Bitches Aint Shit are absolute classics in rap and pretty fairly represent the quality of rapping throughout this album, which is pretty damn solid for its time. There are definitely moments on this album where Dre's tone while rapping starts to feels like being shouted at in a slam poetry club, but it's not too bad to the point where it ruins any song for me. Overall, this is a really great introduction to the very unique and skillful hip hop of Dr. Dre, even if some of it hasn't aged super well to my personal tastes. Give this one a listen if you want a 90s rap project still worth listening to today Highlights: Let Me Ride, Nothin' But A 'G' Thang, Lil' Ghetto Boy, High Powered, Bitches Aint Shit. Score: 7.5/10 A very well executed 90s hip-hop album.
7.5/10
Pretty dated and too long. Still, I appreciate that this album essentially created G-funk, which is such a cool genre. 7/10
Legendary producer and pioneer of Gangsta Rap of the 90's. Great album overall although most of the skits I did not enjoy. The middle songs were also a bit lacking. Nothin' But A G Thang is easily top 5 best Rap songs of all time.
Pretty good! The squealy synth G-funk thing makes everything feel much more laid back and chill, which is funny considering stuff like the message of Fuck Wit Dre Day. Speaking of message and lyrics, there's plenty of lines in The Chronic that just feel dated as hell. Judging a 30+ year old album by today's sensibilities is often a fool's errand, but the homophobic and sexist references come off as way more toothless and corny nowadays than aggressive or clever. Despite all that, I had a good time overall with the album. Thanks for reminding me of the The $100,000 Pyramid theme song.
Probably the first hip hop album I really appreciated. I love Dre's backing tracks. It feels as much a Snoop album, but darker.
Some classic hip hop flawless production but in my opinion some questionable bars, love Dre by snoop carrries
Top album, laatste tijd zeer veel goede old school hip hop albums langs gekomen
This is widely considered to be a classic album and some consider it one of the best rap albums of all time. I can’t say I really agree. I know how influential this album was in shaping the west coast/gangster rap sound and I do believe Dr. Dre is one of the greatest producers of all time but I’ve always felt that almost every song on this album sounds the same, probably because every beat uses the flute/synth sound that came to define west coast hip hop and there are just too many features of the same people over and over. I prefer the sequel, The Chronic 2001
I’ve heard this before and remember it being well produced if filled with homophobia and sexism (rightly) not acceptable today. Snoop Dogg truly brings it to his world debut and the G Funk sound is fun, just wish it was less vulgar.
Didn't age that well, but the beats are still pretty sick. Snoop is at his best in this album and I think it should be his face on that cover. I had a good time, even if an hour of gangsta rap talking about how big their dick is can be quite long (maybe as long as their dicks, who knows?). The breaks are mostly annoying too and doesn't add anything to the album but unnecessary length. Anyway, a very important piece of rap culture nonetheless and some great hits that I'll certainly come back to.
"With a producer who can rap and control the maestro at the same time". This line represents Dr. Dre very well. In addition to being, in my opinion, the best hip-hop producer I know, he has his own vibe on the microphone and he knows how to rap. The lyrics on this record have certainly aged badly, and the album might be a little too long, but the tracks are musically mind-blowing. The appearances of Snoop Dog are also excellent.
The most hugely influential album when it comes to west coast hip hop. Great beats, great production. Relies on Snoop Dogg a lot though, and the skits aren't very good at all.
Solid example of early 90s rap. Dre transitions from the 'Gangsta Rap' label that NWA acquired and turns to Hip Hop Impresario by featuring the Death Row players. This is where Snoop emerges and turns into an eventual impresario himself, but that's another story. 4/5.
I’m not even sure I’m listening to the actual album. Seems to be hard to track down. Anyway, what I heard was recorded rich nth degree detail, and obviously a few big popular tracks.
4.5
An album totally of its time. Love the sound, synths and swampy bass lines. I'm going to have to listen through to the samples list. The lyrics could have used a second pass, but here we are. These men really, really, really like talking about dick sucking.
A bit puerile but still good.
I feel like I spent the entire year that this album came out having to explain to my white friends why they couldn't also say the N-word. Other than that I like it. It's probably about a 3 for my enjoyment level but it gets and extra point for being so influential.
4.75
Production stood out on this one, Dre developed that classic whistle synth so well that you immediately know it's him when the beat starts. Back then artists really were ride or die for the label. Snoop laid down so many iconic rhymes on this album that he took into Doggystyle the next year. So this album essentially set Snoop up to drop one of the most legendary hip hop albums of all time. Favorite songs - Nuthin but a G Thang, Stranded on Death Row, Bitches Ain't Shit
One of the greatest gangster rap albums of all time. Few albums can make you feel more like a bad ass than this one. The level of talent Dre has discovered and groomed is ridiculous. He doesn’t get as much credit as like JayZ because he didn’t start a clothing line or a make his own cologne. But - he just stuck to rap. For like 40 years. And is awesome at it.
When surrounded by NWA and Snoop, Dre doesn’t hold up as much but still classic
Damn, almost forgot about Dre
Onhan tää pirun hyvin tuotettu, ei voi muuta sanoa. Jokainen biitti rullaa nätisti ja kaikilla hyvä flow. Etenkin Snoopin tyyli sopii tähän kuin nenä päähän. Lyriikat on perus gangsta shittiä ja iskeehän sieltä tasaisesti jotain kuraa korvaan (vika biisi esim ugh). Mut jos pistää taustalle soimaan, niin on kyl oikein tunnelmallinen ja groovaava levy.
This of course defined G funk, launched Snoop, and was a landmark album, but for my money, not as many memorable songs as 2001.
Legendary album and massively influential. Demonstrates the flawlessness of Dre’s production and mixing, as well as classic 90s rapping. The run time is quite long however and each song follows the same tempo and musical formula, that it loses its effect after the first half. The production is what pushes it to a 4 for me.
Speaking as a white man from the suburbs this album was definitely not made for me
Vibes
4.5
Of a time for sure but still has some absolutely brilliant moments and tracks
I forgot about Dre. 🙁
Hearing this made me think about my time in high school. It has a very unique sound that made me think of west coast and California. I enjoyed it!
Instantly recognizable to a time and place. Imagine hearing this opener without knowing who Snoop is. "What in tarnation are bizzalls and jizzaws?"
Fantastic album. Great mixing - better than a lot of the albums coming out now.
Never listened to it before but had heard certain songs. Thought it was really good but a bit long.
Classic
Good rock album. Probably my second favorite ac/dc album. It’s consistent with its rock tone throughout. Doesn’t let up much but also doesn’t vary. Starts strong but not many other songs are as popular as the title theme. 6.5/10
Catchy hip hop album. Love Snoop's cameos.
Get my dick in a baguette and eat it, this is superb.
Og
Dit vond ik toch wel echt heel goed. En door die film Straight Outta Compton heb ik veel respect gekregen voor Dr. Dre. Daarom vier sterren.
Es rollt so smooth, die Gefahr läuft süß und honigfarben aus den Boxen und ich Whitie Weißbrot imaginiere mich fast fühlbar ins L.A. der frühen 90er - dahin, wo ich nie gehörte und I know it. Fantastische Platte, alle Props mehr als verdient.
Hahaha, yeah, nine-deuce Death Row Records, creepin' while you're sleepin' Songs with attitude? Shit yeah, songs with a mid-90s flava, brought back some memories If I quote any more lyrics I'll get arrested Love the beats Sexism can go get flipped
What a launchpad for Snoop Dogg. It's amazing how present he is on this. It's hard to believe he wasn't already a famous and known entity. Dre knows talent. He also knows how to produce an album. There's so much work here. He attacks his enemies, proclaims his greatness, breaks new talent, and gets creative lyrically. Even his material that has not aged well can't be dismissed due to its cleverness.
Classic Dre. Whole album slaps, but if you're looking for hits: Nothin' But A Thang, Bitches Ain't Shit, and Let Me Ride. I really dig Rat-tat-tat-tat and Stranded On Death Row as well.
Visa mig ett album från 90 talet där de int har en minut lång sex-skit SNÄLLA
Now, i'm not the worst middle aged white guy to review Mr Dre's '92 groundbreaking, raw and significant album, but this was awesome, and bonus point for heavy sampling of P-Funk. I ain't going to be singing along aloud though.
Brilliant, full of excellent tracks
10/31 Ridiculously well produced, classic gangsta rap. Standout Tracks: Let Me Ride, Nuthin' But A "G" Thang, Deeez Nuuuts, Lyrical Gangbang, Stranded On Death Row, The Roach (The Chronic Outro)
3.25
dze vind ik leuk !
Yes Dr.Dre we will never forget
The thing that stands out the most is the production, its superb 👌. Its quality really gives the songs an extra oomph. Its great to listen to depside not being the biggest fan of rap and lyrically unrelatable as a Caucasian from the other side of the world. Some of the music and beats can be incredibly dated like Lyrical Gangbang, but bangers like Let Me Ride and Nuthun' But A "G" Thang more than make up for it. Plus it gave the world Deez Nuts.
Great album. A lot of classics. I had heard the entire album before and I will continue to listen to it.
de este tipo sin ser mi estilo lo he disfrutado, buenos ritmos y líneas de bajo. madafaca pussy
I think If I was more knowledgeable about the progression of rap, this album would be even more impressive. Still, when you consider how cheesy or juvenile rap was in the 80's (Sugarhill Gang, Young MC, Beastie Boys-at times), you can appreciate the rawness of the lyrics and songs on this album. I'd say one knock is how some of the songs are just being angry at or trying to be superior to other "gangstas" or women. Some, like "The Day the N Took Over" and "L'il Ghetto Boy" has more political commentary like his work in NWA (or work by Public Enemy) and that's the stuff I really appreciate. I probably also don't appreciate how much his sampling and beats changed the industry. But looking at just how much he sampled and layered in, it's pretty impressive.
No doubt this album is special. Especially for it's time. I listened to Dre's albums a while back and never caught on and here I was listening again, nodding my head to the tracks but ending wondering why I felt the same way. This isn't a bad album, in fact, it's the best album this week so far, but I still couldn't find any songs on it that I'd take away. Maybe I like 2001 more, maybe Dre just isn't my style, but I still can't deny how good this is. I'd listen to it anytime.
69
I’m definitely more of an East Coast rap guy, but I really enjoyed this one at first. The production is fantastic, and hearing the beginnings of the Death Row era and the sound that would define so much West Coast hip-hop was fascinating. Some of the lyrics definitely haven’t aged well, but I can appreciate the album as an somebody who hasn't lived that life, and as a snapshot of its time. “Lil’ Ghetto Boy” was another standout. Hearing Donny Hathaway’s voice from twenty years earlier addressing issues that were still relevant in 1992 was powerful. Sadly, more than thirty years later, much of it is still relevant today. My biggest problem was the length. I was loving the album early on and thinking four stars, but eventually the similar sound and subject matter started wearing me down. By “Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat,” I could feel myself checking out. Historically important, brilliantly produced, and absolutely worth hearing. I just think it could have been a tighter album.
This is rightfully recognized as a classic. That said. I do not think I am the target audience for this album
Ihan hauskaa settiä. Myöhemmin tais sitten tulla ne isoimmat styget, mutta kyllä tämänkin ihan mielellään tykitteli läpi.
This is a tough one to rate. There's clearly a certain nostalgia as this is one of those albums that was synonym for classic rap album when we were kids and started to listen to rap. I think the biggest thing this album has is it's sound and vibe. Lyrics are clearly the weakest part but it kind of plays into the vibe somehow. Probably would have given this higher if I didn't listen to it again. This album hasn't aged well outside the vibe, beats and nostalgia
It's an interesting time capsule and it has good moments, but it's not really my thing.
Like a 3.5. Entertaining and well-made.
for an album by Dre it really felt like snoop was there a lot
There are undeniable classics on this album but I am tired of the misogyny and the attitude in general. Maybe one needs to turn of the brain to enjoy this. I cannot thoroughly.
Definitely iconic; but not one of my all time favorites. Maybe one of those records whose influence is better than the actual album itself? The production, while iconic, gets a bit repetitive. Snoop carries a lot of the songs here too. But all that said, there are still some absolutley legendary tracks on here (Let Me Ride, Nothin' But A G Thang, Lil' Ghetto Boy), and you can't ignore the mark this record made. I'm wishing there were half stars here; this feels better than a 3 but not quite a 4.
Not really into gangsta rap and all the misogynistic and immature lyrics. This record is full of them. However, there are a few standouts that prevent this album from an all out reckoning from god, conservatives, the intelligentsia. Would I recommend, no but there is some nostalgia that is there and people seem to coming back to for some reason.
Not aged well! Beats are outstanding, the whole west coast sound up till today would not been possible without this record. Skits are weak, lyrics are neither cover topics as NWA did nor have interesting rhyme structure. Dre is not a good rapper, Snoop peaked later (and never as top tier) So what is the right rating here? Historically you could argue for a 5, based on my taste it is only a 3 and I have no real reason to get back to this on full album length
Como yo el inglés asi de primeras no lo entiendo y me falta el contexto cultural de hace 34? años, puedo juzgar solo musicalmente. Y no está mal, igual un poquito pesado pero entiendo la influciencia que tuvo y cómo crea un sonido.
Listening to this is like listening to Wagner's Ring cycle. I can see how it's good and I can get that a lot of people will love it, but I just don't get it. It's like I feel there's something there behind a door that I can't quite unlock. So yeah. I don't doubt that it's food. But......
Как по мне, средний альбом. Нет каких-то мегахитов. Снупдога слышно чаще чем Дре. Обычный рэп про жизнь нигеров в Комптоне
I think for the time this was a great record, listening now the sampling and production did not age as well as other contemporary albums imo, I think Ice Cubes 2 albums after NWA have aged much better production wise and have remained more fresh and accessible. I do think as well Dre is quite outshined on this record by Snoop Dogg in rapping ability. The content too while quite conscious in some areas is also quite braggart in others and is not my favourite. I do think it’s funny that the first 2 song are Eazy E disses
Eitt af þessum töff röppum. Nokkuð hár þristur en tími ekki fjarkanum.
3/5 Dre produces some great beats.
I always thought there were just too many skits on this album.
This was good, even if it was a little long. The skits suck as usual with this genre. 3.0/5.0: Good
gfunk is so smooth its hard to hate. obviously thats due in large part to george clinton and parliament/funkadelic which provided the basis for so much of this album. as for the songs themselves, they are fine. they left a good bit to be desired but other than the skits i didnt hate this.
A pretty filthy hip-hop album, there are some great hits in here. This is more like a snoop and dr dre album, with several other artists appearing as well. I did not love how many random skits are included, but the music was good.
Decent beats paired with lyrics that don't really have much to say. Misogyny is unsurprisingly present due to the era this was made in. The featured rappers are pretty great, with Snoop being an obvious repeat standout. "The $20 Sack Pyramid" is easily one of the funniest skits I've ever heard on an album. Favorite Track: Let Me Ride
Not very meaningful too me, but no denying that This album’s reputation precedes it. The concept album interludes Connect a story that resonates to this day I think…
Just getting the string of influential, genre defining hip hop/rap records this week, aren't I? I also need to revisit this one. Not the best week for album listening. Overall, it's as chill as chill can be. Effortlessly cool. Snoop is so effing charismatic. I get why liberal mothers everywhere love him as much as they do.
Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Very Good - An wonderful sound. The bass is so fat and the grooves are so lazy. Let Me Ride is great. Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang is one of the biggest tracks for good reason, it’s a hip hop masterpiece. Deeez Nuuuts is a great groove as well, the refrain towards the end is brilliant. A Nigga Witta Gun has a great bassline and the intro is cool. I think some of the interludes hold this album back a bit as when they just let the beats play it is top quality.
Not my type of music but good for what it is.
Solid beats but too much motherfucking dick bitch shit.
Don't think this has held up all that well: the beats still sound inventive and fresh, and the interplay between Snoop and Dre's personalities still conjures a certain magic, but it's hard to get wholly past the repetitive (and pretty juvenile) lyrical content.
Very famous album I have never listened to before. Beautifully produced, great bass, at times fantastic sampling. Some of the songs are beautiful (Lil Ghetto Boy; Stranded On Death Row; High Powered, at points). When the vocals are set deep in the bed, so that they are one more among a number of interweaving instrumental lines, the whole thing works very, very well. When the voices are isolated, so we really hear what they have to say ... oh, for heaven's sake ... this stuff worked to some extent at the time because being shocking and transgressive always has a kind of power artistically. But the violence, misogyny, and constant use of expletives was of dubious value at the time, and has aged very poorly. [The Roach: beautiful music, but dominated by a worthless vocal. Drop that shit in the mix, DJ!] What was clear at the time has only become clearer: this album is one of the supreme achievements in a style that was above everything else a grand display of enormous talents, misallocated. Closing with Bitches Ain't Shit just brings it all home, confirming / reinforcing the mix of strengths and egregious flaws. [bong sounds] What a mothafuckin waste. [gunfire effects] To quote a hilarious review on the Generator of the Waterboys' Fisherman's Blues: By the final ten tracks you're begging for it to be over.
Did not age well. 3 hip hop albums in a row. Come on, man
I’ve said before that I much prefer East Coast rap over West Coast rap, and this is another album demonstrative of my opinion. I understand that this album was incredibly influential to the G-funk genre, which was hugely impactful in the ’90s. I don’t dislike G-funk, in fact, I think there are a few great tracks here, with typical clean synths, deep basslines, and a slow tempo. However, where this album loses points is in its lyrics. Compared to Dre’s work with N.W.A., I feel that this album lacks a true message. Of course, Straight Outta Compton suffered from the same issues of misogyny and homophobia present here, but at least the end to those means was an overall and justified message of frustration from Black youth towards the white establishment. As well as that, Straight Outta Compton is consistently musically compelling. Here, however, that message is lacking, and instead these outdated and abhorrent values are too often on full display.
Seth - 2.8/5 Logan - 3/5
This was better than I expected, and actually there’s lots of good stuff in here. There’s a good variety of different approaches, the songs have layers to them, and the mixes and production are great. Some of the samples and instruments fit really well (eg. the flute on Lil’ Ghetto Boy) and there’s some real grooves too. The content is mostly awful and it’s misogynistic as fuck. 3.5 rounded down.
I do enjoy rap and hip hop music from time to time. mainly Eminem, Public Enemy and beastie Boys. This album didn't really work for me due to it being mostly about drugs, gang violence and misogyny. I guess I prefer my rap music to have some form of tongue-in-cheek humour, or is straight up socio-politically charged, or at least has some substance in the lyrics. Eminem works because a lot of his lyrics have either some form of satire, criticises politics, the music industry and the media, or at least tells a personal story about rags to riches. Public enemy's fear of a black planet works because of its comments on racism and social injustices. I would like to give NWA's FTP album a listen though.
Feels like a product of its time, but the influence on west coast hip-hop for decades to come is obvious from the first track. I don’t know that I feel it’s excellent on its own, but its influence is undeniable
Me gusto el álbum, pero no e lo que suelo escuchar. El ritmo estaba muy bueno
Far more musical than expected and started to enjoy it the longer it went on.
I've been wondering for some time if/when we'd get any Dr. Dre, so it's nice to finally have my question answered, and with a classic album. Overall, I think I'm more of a fan of his role producing other people's music, but it's fun to hear the original g-funk soundtrack in full and to appreciate how Dr. Dre helped open up the range of mainstream hip-hop sounds, not to mention steering away from heavy sampling and backbeats. And thankfully there are still some decent tracks here that aren't just straight up fights with former NWA team members, ridiculous skits, glorified gang violence or outsized misogyny, like "Let me ride", the big hit "Nuthin' but a 'G' thang", and the Donny-Hathaway-inspired "Lil' ghetto boy" (and the first two have fun videos featuring ridiculously young-looking Dre and Snoop Dogg and various cameos), with a nod to the monster-beat-Led-Zeppelin-backed "Lyrical gangbang" (too bad the lyrics don't match the power of that amazing and ubiquitous beat) and the fun Parliament riff "The roach".
I finally understood the simple reason why I don't get hip hop. When I listen to music, I am typically mostly interested in... well, music. I tend to listen to the lyrics in a second time (if at all) and, however amazing they might be, if the music sucks, I am not going to bother with that stuff anymore... (If I want to delve in beautiful words, I read a book or go to the theater, you know?) I guess this attitude is a blessing in the specific case of this album: I trust the other commenters that it contains lots of awful lyrics but most of them just didn't reach my ears (besides the unavoidable load of Ns and MFs). On the other hand, music and production are indeed way cooler than the average hip hop stuff I heard because of this project... so why not giving it 3 stars?
no de mis favoritos del género
I would replay these songs standalone but as an album in full I unfortunately sturuggled. 6/10
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 is impossible to fault from a production standpoint. Dr. Dre’s G-funk sound is smooth, distinctive, and hugely influential, and it’s easy to hear why the album became a hip-hop classic. Where it loses me is in its lyrical content. The production often keeps me listening, but the themes don’t do much for me and make it difficult to connect with the album as a whole. I was also surprised by how much of the spotlight is taken by Snoop Dogg. He delivers excellent performances, but at times it feels as though 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 is as much his showcase as it is Dr. Dre’s. I completely understand the album’s reputation and influence. Even so, while I admire its production, it never fully clicks with me as a complete listening experience.
I can understand why this was somewhat ground-breaking, with the G-funk sound and lots of talented rappers.
Just great, more misogyny… But putting that aside, the production and the sound on this is great. It still holds up today unlike some early rap that was clunky. Good album for a certain mood. Close to a 4, but not quite consistent enough on quality.
transitions into songs were cool, all songs had a great pulse and flow and i liked the drum grooves in each song 6.9/10
Een stijl die ik dankzij het pionierswerk van dit album al zo vaak gehoord heb, dat het ondertussen niet meer speciaal klinkt en dat is jammer.
I liked this more than Straight Outta Compton (sorry)
Not as good as expected
Saved? ✅ Would listen again? ✅ Would recommend to anyone? 🤔 Would buy on Vinyl? 🤔
Part of the early 90s hip hop I slept through as I became too indie for my own good. I know the hits and I'm fine with listening to Dre and Snoop take turns. It oozes west coast rap in production and verse. With that said, I probably missed my window to fully appreciate this.
3/5 - Personal enjoyment rating is much lower than a 3, but I know this belongs on the list, so a 3 it is.
The beats and productions are just top notch every single song. The actual album is fine, but not really my thing, though I do think Snoop Dogg is just a noticeably better rapper than Dr. Dre, and every time he came on it was great. Nuthin' But a "G" Thang, Lyrical Gangbang, and Bitches Ain't Shit were probably my favorite of the bunch. I think I may just be too white, though, because listening to Bitches Ain't Shit while doing picross is pretty jarring.
I didn't love this album but I recognize how iconic it is and I can appreciate that it's part of rap and Death Row Records history.
not my favorite dr. dre but still a good listen
6/10 I appreciate how much swagger this album has - every track is full of machismo and braggadocio, with a deep commitment to the west coast rap movement of the time (the number of call outs to South Central and Long Beach is astronomical). The production and music/beats are quite good for the time, impressively sounding almost timeless. I also find it fascinating to hear phrases like "deez nuts" and "rizz" slung around a good 35 years before they became part of meme culture in the 2020s. That being said, I honestly have no interest in the content of this album. It's not my cup of tea. I also think it's too long - if it were about 20 minutes shorter the album would be far tighter and therefore stronger. Regardless, it's a well-constructed album that is still discussed for a reason, so I can't complain too much, I guess.
First up, I doubt his medical or PhD credentials but he has a way with beats and backing. I was quite happy to lose myself in the groove of a lot of this but some of the lyrical content and interludes got boring very quickly. Hip-hop’s never really going to be my sort of thing, but despite being too long to hold my interest all the way through, this had some good moments.
Another otherwise great album undermined by seriously gross lyrics.
The music is good though many of the song sounded repetitive. Lyrics did nothing for me but I lack the experience to get them. If I could hear the album sans lyrics, I'd give it another go.
Haha najs 3/5
OH HELL YEAH. LOVE the production on this album. The lyrics are absolutely cartoonish swagger. Tight. Let Me Ride is a banger for all time. Turned the volume up on that one.. the shuffle percussion does somethin to me. The album kinda sags in the middle. I'm not sold on the skits. These songs seem aimless and not fun. It lands the outro, though. Fun sample spotting. I feel like listening to some of the Funkadelic source material. A 4 just because its not consistent. VERY high highs, no lows, about half mids.
Solid sampling and Snoop Dogg's flow is just so smooth Dre isn't bad himself on Nuthin' but a G Thang, which is by far the standout