Throwback: Dr. Dre-Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang

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Dr. Dre’s “Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang” introduced his G-funk prototype and was the next phase of his work with Snoop Dogg. He was clearly Snoop Dogg’s mentor when they first worked together on the Deep Cover soundtrack. By the time of The Chronic, they sounded more like collaborators as Snoop’s voice was just as essential as Dre’s on the album but towered over all the other contributors. The D.O.C. and Snoop Dogg wrote “Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang” which sampled Leon Haywood’s “I Want’a Do Something Freaky To You.”  The knobbly bass, feline-pitched synthesizers and live instruments set a new standard of production for hip-hop. Dr. Dre’s first solo album after leaving N.W.A. pioneered the celebration of California cannabis culture and has maintained its influence on the genre and pop music as a whole.

This rebirth of funk was not without its criticism because of all its sexist tropes which made the rise of G-funk a bittersweet moment. The stylistic and commercial success of The Chronic established Death Row Records, redefined West Coast rap and was a landmark of its era. The Library of Congress recognized the cultural importance of The Chronic in 2020. Dr. Dre released his third solo album Compton in 2015 as the soundtrack to the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton. The long-anticipated Detox still does not have a release date.

Snoop Dogg became the owner of Death Row Records in 2022 and he released his 19th studio album BODR. Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg will be the first hip-hop artists to perform at the Super Bowl when they take the stage for 2022 LVI halftime show. Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and some surprise guests will join them for the performance. 

 

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