The Chronic
Dr. Dre

3.6 + Yes, it’s deservedly considered a “stone cold classic.” Snoop Dogg has one of the greatest introductions to the mainstream rap game ever (“bow wow wow yippee yo yippee yea”). The rhymes flow, the songs flow and there some undeniable cultural touchstones at every turn. I love the Parliament/Funkadelic samples. And to an extent, I can excuse some misogyny in hip hop (though it feels like I’m reinforcing a double standard). But songs like “Bitches Ain’t Shit” simply take that misogyny way too far for my taste. I’m not denying the importance of this record, but the woman-hate makes it hard for me to really enjoy.

3