On this date in 1991, “the world’s most dangerous group dropped their second and final album as a group, ironically titled Efil4zaggin on the Ruthless/Priority imprint.
On the heels of Ice Cube departing from N.W.A. on a sour note to embark on a solo career, the now four-man group was slowly disbanding, but managed to churn out one last full length album. Dr. Dre and D.O.C. left the group to help form Death Row Records shortly after this project was released. The album offered up three singles; the memorable “Always Into Somethin”, “Appetite For Destruction”, which featured an Ice Cube sub and “The Days Of Wayback”. Because of the group’s success, the LP did eventually reach platinum status.
Salute to Dre, Yella, Ren and Eazy for giving us a piece of Hip Hop history!
Tha Dogg Pound are back and better than ever. The West Coast powerhouse has been promoting the hell out of their upcoming album on podcasts. Kurupt and Daz Dillinger have mended fences after years of dissent, and everything we’ve heard so far suggests that they put their best foot forward when it came to making W.A.W.G. (We All We Got). Even the title advertises the newfound sense of unity the group feels. Now that Dogg Pound has dropped the tracklist, though, we can confidently say they have a lot.
Snoop Dogg is technically not a member of Dogg Pound. The group always comprised of Kurupt and Daz, with Snoop being part of the larger D.P.G.C. (Dogg Pound Gangsta Clicc). That being said, he’s a major part of this album. Tha Doggfather is featured on eight of the album’s fourteen tracks, which is more than enough to qualify him as the honorary “third” member. It doesn’t hurt that Snoop is now the owner of Death Row Records, which W.A.W.G. is being released through.
Fans of the Death Row heyday will be thrilled to know that other OGs are in the mix. Lady of Rage and RBX will contribute verses to the last song, which is fitting given their essential contributions to the Dr. Dre album that started it all, The Chronic. There will also be multiple features from Butch Cassidy, who wasn’t present for Death Row but has worked with all of its affiliates over the years. Cassidy is a Long Beach native, just like Snoop and Daz. The more intriguing collaborators come from the production.
Mike & Keys handled the lion’s share of the album’s songs, which makes sense given their LA sound. It’s cool to see a producer as capable as Daz, who produced most of the first two Dogg Pound albums, hand over the reigns to younger artists to see what they can provide. It will ensure that W.E.W.G. doesn’t sound like a retread. Hyphy legend Rick Rock will work his magic on two songs, one of which features Will.i.am. The most exciting producer choice, though, is Dogg Pound linking up with DJ Premier for the outro, titled “Who Da Hardest.” That one is going to hit hard.
Dee Barnes is one of the loudest voices when it comes to domestic abuse in hip-hop. She was assaulted by Dr Dre during a 1991 party, and subsequently sued the rapper. He pleased no contest, and went on to have a relatively unscathed career despite his crimes. Dee Barnes is revered for her bravery and her willingness to discuss her experiences. This made her uniquely qualified to speak on the recently released footage of Diddy assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway.
Barnes, a former rapper and journalist, shared her thoughts via social media. She made it clear that she was horrified by what she saw on the security footage, as it reminded her of the ordeal she went through decades ago. “Seeing that video is extremely triggering,” she wrote on X. “Dr. Dre punched, slammed, kicked and stomped me out. #Concussion.” Barnes then said that she was getting off social media due to the widespread exposure the footage received. “Logging tf off.”
Dee Barnes did, however, return to X the evening of May 19 to voice her support for Cassie. She also made sure to call out Diddy for his horrible actions. “I’m disgusted and disappointed with Sean Combs,” she tweeted. “I stand with #Cassie, #KimPorter and all the other victims of his violent abuse.” This was tweeted shortly after Diddy issued a public apology in the form of an Instagram video. The mogul tried to address the assault footage and the other crimes he’s been accused of, but the response to the apology has been overwhelmingly negative.
Barnes was similarly skeptical when Dr. Dre issued a public apology in 2015. The producer addressed his violent past during a profile with the New York Times, and claimed he had changed in the ensuring years. “I was a young man drinking too much and in over my head with no real structure in my life,” he claimed. However, none of this is an excuse for what I did… I’m doing everything I can so I never resemble that man again.” Barnes responded to the apology with a curt: “I hope he means it.”
On this date in 1993, N.W.A. co-founder and then-Death Row Records in-house producer Dr .Dre released the second single from his iconic The Chronic album entitled “Dre Day”. Dre Day was, in fact, a diss record featuring Death Row newcomer Snoop Dogg, who together took aim at Dre’s former partner Eazy-E, Miami Hip Hop pioneer Uncle Luke and Bronx rap nemesis TIm Dog.
Originally titled “Fuck wit Dre Day(And Everybody’s Celebratin’)”, Dre sent shots at former N.W.A. members Eazy-E and Ice Cube, accusing Eazy of cheating N.W.A. members out of their money along with Jerry Heller. This was also the diss track aimed at Cube that ws the catalyst for “No Vaseline”.
In “Dre Day,” Dre vows to “to creep to South Central,” which is Ice Cube’s hometown, “on a Street Knowledge mission,” while Cube’s own record label was initially named Street Knowledge Productions. Dre lyrically “steps in the temple,” evidently alluding to Cube’s affiliation with the Nation of Islam, and claims to “spot him” by a “White Sox hat,” which Cube often donned. Earlier that year, Cube had the single “Check Yo Self.” Dre adds, “You tryin to check my homey, you best check yo self.” Not parodied in the “Dre Day” music video, however, Cube instead would cameo, signaling reconciliation with Dre, in the September 1993 music video of the next and last Chronic single, “Let Me Ride.”
“Dre Day” prompted a response from Eazy-E with “Real Muthaphuckkin G’s”, an EP from Tim Dog titled Bitch With a Perm and Luke even shot back with his second solo album’s song “Cowards in Compton,” whose music video parodies both Dre’s inclusion in the 1980s electro-rap group World Class Wreckin’ Cru and casts Dre and Snoop lookalikes ridiculed in a mock of the “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” music video.
T.I. is a monster on the mic. There’s a reason he’s been able to call himself the King of the South for almost three decades. He’s a trap pioneer, so much so that his breakout album is literally called Trap Muzik. That being said, TI is not limited to Southern fried instrumentals. The rapper recently went on Power 106.1 and dropped a head-spinning freestyle over production that is antithetical to what we expect. TIP showed fans that he could pivot towards G-Funk without missing a beat.
Adorned in a hoodie and sunglasses, TIP skated over the classic instrumental to “Dre Day” by Dr. Dre. “F*ck a player hater, I’m a mayor maker,” he spits. “Out in L.A. laid up like I’m Ghost on Takers, know I’m staying with it.” In the span of a couple lines, TI makes it clear that he’s still the King. He also tips (no pun intended) his cap to the West Coast and references the 2010 film in which he starred, Takers. The rest of the freestyle follows this dense rhyming pattern. The instrumental changes halfway through TI’s verse but he doesn’t slow down.
If anything, he picks up steam. “Old dime a dozen a*s n**ga you are not rare,” he raps. “21 years in this motherf*cker, top tier. We are not peers, when we cheer it is not beer.” He also incorporates the 21 from the previous line into a shoutout to 21 Savage, whom he affectionally dubs his “grandson.” It’s impressive to see TI adapt his flow and style so seamlessly, but it makes sense given what the rapper has in store for his next album.
He talked about the album on the Baller Alert Show back in 2023, and revealed a plan to experiment with different sounds. “I been making some music, and the music I’m making is… how can I say,” he explained to the hosts. “It’s expanding beyond just the concept that I have. I’ve been making somewhat, I guess, more melodic, you know, more R&B vibes, Afrobeat-R&B vibe, party music.”
TI hasn’t provided updates on the album this year, but he has maintained that it will be his last. Kill the King, as it’s been titled, will be a double album and a sendoff to the rapper’s reign. “It’s time to evolve beyond a career as a rapper,” he stated to We In Miami podcast. If he’s rapping like he is on this latest freestyle, fans are in for a classic.
The Eminem hype cycle has begun. The rapper has been quiet for nearly four years, but fans are feening for what he has to say on his upcoming album. Not just because he’s been gone for so long, but because the title of the album is, provocatively, The Death of Slim Shady. Em will be closing the book on his iconic alter ego, which means he will be bringing it back to the beginning of his career. 50 Cent popped up in the teaser video for the album to call Slim a “psychopath.” The bigger revelation came on Instagram, though, when the rapper hinted at the album’s production.
50 Cent hopped in the comment section of The Death of Slim Shady teaser to hype up fans even more. He announced that Dr Dre, the man who put both him and Em on, will be producing the album. “This sh*t got some heat on it,” he wrote. “Dre back at it!.” This is music to the ears of Eminem fans, since Dre was crucial in developing the Slim Shady persona. He produced the rapper’s breakout single, “My Name Is,” and served as an executive producer on The Slim Shady LP. He also provided beats and creative input for Em’s subsequent four releases.
Dr. Dre has continued to work with Eminem over the years, but his involvement has lessened. He only worked on the interludes for the rapper’s most recent album, Music to Be Murdered By. He was nowhere to be found on Kamikaze, and received only an executive producer credit on Revival. 50 makes it sound like Eminem and Dre are linking back up in a more significant way than they have in decades. The two men haven’t lost any respect for each other in this time. If anything, their appreciation for each other’s abilities has grown.
Dr. Dre praised Eminem’s lyricism during a recent appearance on This Life of Mine with James Corden. He went as far as to call Em the greatest rapper of all time. “His imagination is off the charts, and I don’t think anyone would disagree with that,” he noted. “I think he’s the best MC ever. Point blank, period. I don’t think anyone that’s rapping can touch Eminem on that microphone.” It’ll be exciting to see what these two cook up for Slim Shady’s final chapter.
Warren G is Death Row royalty. The rapper was one of the key members of the West Coast crew, courtesy of hits like “Regulate” and “This DJ.” According to Death Row co-founder Suge Knight, however, Warren G didn’t always get along with his peers. During the April 14 episode of Knight’s podcast, Collect Call With Suge Knight, he claimed that Warren G was beaten up by his own step brother, Dr. Dre. The claim that was denied by the Regulator himself.
Suge Knight started the episode by reflecting on Death Row’s heyday, but things took a turn for the awkward when Knight switched to the Warren G story. “You know when you was trying to use the phone when you wasn’t supposed to in front of Andre — your brother — slapped your a*s around,” he stated. “You start[ed] saying, ‘Okay blood. Okay blood. Please don’t do it no more, I’m sorry.’ You can say that that didn’t happen, but everybody knows it’s true.”
Despite Knight’s insistence that the incident was true, Warren G wasn’t having it. The rapper hopped on Instagram to call out Knight. “History would repeat itself, because n***a you wasn’t the only n***a in the room, n***a,” he reasoned. “You wasn’t by yourself. It was other people in the room, too. I’m not gonna say no names because like you said, we don’t talk…So why you on here talking? Let that sh*t go, man.” Warren G also criticized Knight’s reputation as a tough guy. He claims he defended Death Row’s honor whenever Knight got into trouble in the 1990s. “When you was at the comedy store,” Warren G added. “Fighting that little buff a*s n***a, who saved your muthaf***in ass? Me.”
To call Suge Knight’s reputation dubious would be an understatement. The ex-bodyguard is currently serving 28 years in prison, and will not be eligible for parole until 2034. Warren G, meanwhile, is getting ready to go on tour with fellow West Coast icons Snoop Dogg and DJ Quik. The trio will be embarking on the Cali To Canada tour, which kicks off June 3rd in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
On this date in 1992, Dr. Dre took the first step in his successful solo journey and released this single 32 years ago today
On April 9th, 1992, the premiere single from the silver screen blockbuster Deep Cover was released and it featured the former producer from “the world’s most dangerous group” and a fresh 21-year-old Crip from Long Beach known then only as “Snoop”.
After the very public and messy break up of N.W.A., Dr. Dre and his behind the boards prowess were invited to create the musical score of the dirty cop flick starring Larry Fishburne. He brought along one of his little brother Warren G’s homies and the rest was history. The song became a hit and the track continues to be recognized as one of the best-crafted tracks in Hip Hop history. Fat Joe and the late Big Pun even created a classic remix of the joint that featured Dre and Snoop in the video entitled “Twinz”(Deep Cover ’98).
Salute to Dre and Snoop for this timeless gem and look forward to another one from them in another 29 years! Peace!
Beats by Dr. Dre (Beats) and Alo Yoga (Alo) have joined forces to introduce the Beats X Alo Special Edition Fit Pro true wireless earphones. This exclusive collaboration combines a sleek black finish with polished chrome accents, offering a stylish yet functional accessory for workouts and daily wear.
Featuring a debossed Alo logo on the right earbud and pearlized “b” logos on both buds, these true wireless earbuds make a subtle yet fashionable statement. The custom Beats Fit Pro case boasts a high-gloss coating infused with shimmering sparkles, complemented by a reflective chrome-like finish inside.
The Beats Fit Pro earphones, renowned for their premium sound quality, include features such as Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, Adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, and the Apple H1 chip. They are also compatible with Android phones via the Beats companion app.
“The Beats x Alo collaboration felt truly predestined as both Los Angeles hometown brands have made a lasting impact on fitness and culture,” said Chris Thorne, Beats CMO. “Beats and Alo have a shared passion for high-performance products that allow our customers to express their unique and distinct personalities. We’re thrilled to join forces with Alo and bring the perfect tech accessory to the world of fitness.”
“We are thrilled to announce an exciting collaboration between Beats and Alo Yoga, uniting the worlds of premium sound and mindful movement. This partnership is more than just a fusion of technology and fashion; it’s a celebration of the rhythm of life and the practice of being present. Together, we aim to inspire our communities to live their most authentic lives, amplified by the power of music and movement.” Said Danny Harris, Co-CEO and Co-Founder.
To coincide with the launch, Beats and Alo enlisted GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Tyla for the campaign. Filmed in the Bahamas, the campaign immerses viewers in an sensory experience set to the track “Safer” from Tyla’s debut album, TYLA. For more information, visit beatsbydre.com.
“Partnering with Beats and Alo has been a dream collaboration for me,” said Tyla. “I’m so excited to join forces on this campaign and share a product I personally rely on day-in, day-out.”
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