Chronic

Product Information

You know what? That particular record, man, that’s like, I would say the toughest record that I’ve recorded in my career because, you know, it was right after my separation with Ruthless, and I was in survival mode. And, you know, going from that to the organization that I went to with all the things that were happening in the studio during the making, it was crazy. During that process, my house burned down, I was shot in the legs, and I was in the studio on crutches for a couple of weeks. So it was a lot that went into that record. It was blood, sweat, and beers that went into it, you know what I mean? So, that’s one of those records that I don’t even listen to anymore. Stranded On Death Row" contains a sample of " Do Your Thing" written by I. Hayes and published by Rondor Music (BMI).

Dre helped change the rap game with his gangsta rap productions on N.W.A’s 1988 album Straight Outta Compton. He once again changed the game with The Chronic as he helped popularize the G-Funk sound inspired by the P-Funk sounds of George Clinton and his Parliament-Funkadelic crew. Dre was also influenced by the jazz sound from A Tribe Called Quest’s 1991 sophomore album The Low End Theory. Musician Colin Wolfe, who worked with Dre on The Chronic and during the N.W.A days, talked about the inspiration for the album: Lil' Ghetto Boy" contains a sample of " Little Ghetto Boy" written by E. DeRouen, E. Howard performed by Donny Hathaway

Versions

First released on December 15, 1992, on Death Row Records/Interscope, The Chronic peaked at No.3 on the Billboard 200 and has spent 97 weeks on the chart since its release. The album also spawned three top 40 hits on the Hot 100, including top ten records with “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” (No.2) featuring Snoop Dogg, and “F__k Wit Dre Day” (No.8). Let Me Ride" contains a sample of " Mothership Connection" written by G. Clinton, B. Collins, B. Worrell Nuthin' But A "G" Thang" contains a sample of "I Wanna Do Something Freaky To You" written by L. Hayward and published by Jim-Edd Music (BMI).

Lil' Ghetto Boy" contains a sample of " Little Ghetto Boy" written by E. DeRouen, E. Howard performed by Donny Hathaway and published by Warner Bros. Music Corp. (ASCAP). Interscope Records, founded in 1990, subverted the musical landscape by introducing culture shaping artists across the full spectrum of contemporary music. From its inception, the label developed paradigm-defining performers and seminal music pioneers. Its roster includes Nine Inch Nails, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Dr. Dre, Juice WRLD, Selena Gomez, and Billie Eilish, to name only a few Interscope legends. The Roach" contains a sample of " P. Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)" written by G. Clinton, B. Collins, B. Worrell Despite the album’s classic status, Dre revealed that he doesn’t like listening to the album because it reminds him of a bad era in his life: Lyrical Gangbang" contains a sample of "Valdez In The Country" from the album " A-Nal-Y-Sis" written by D. Hathaway, performed by The Night Lighters

Recommendations

On top of the samples, G-Funk found on The Chronic featured heavy basslines and drums, Moog synths, keyboards, and live instrumentation to go along with the gangsta rap themes. This album helped further raise the profile of West Coast rap and helped establish Death Row as a powerhouse with the performances of the “Death Row inmates”: The Lady of Rage, Tha Dogg Pound’s Daz& Kurupt, Nate Dogg, and breakout star Snoop Dogg. Stranded On Death Row" contains a sample of "Do Your Thing" from the album " Shaft" written by I. Hayes Announced alongside news that the album would be returning to streaming services, the vinyl release will be coming via Interscope Records on April 21.

Nuthin' But A "G" Thang" contains a sample of " I Wanna Do Something Freaky To You" written by L. Hayward [sic] and published by Jim-Edd Music (BMI).Lyrical Gangbang" contains a sample of " Valdez In The Country" written by D. Hathaway, performed by The Nite Lighters and published by Warner Chappell (ASCAP). It can be differentiated from the later reissue Dr. Dre - The Chronic, by the different runout etchings: This version has been cut by David Cheppa. Let Me Ride" contains a sample of " Mothership Connection" written by G. Clinton, B. Collins, B. Worrell and published by Warner Chappell Music (BMI).