Dr. Dre

Lore & Background

Dr. Dre began his career as a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru in 1984, and later found fame with the gangsta rap group N.W.A, which he formed in 1987 with Eazy-E, Ice Cube and Arabian Prince. N.W.A's debut album Straight Outta Compton (1989) was one of the most successful albums in the West Coast hip-hop scene. During the early 1990s, Dre was credited as a key figure in the crafting and popularization of West Coast G-funk. After N.W.A disbanded in 1991, Dr. Dre released his debut solo album, The Chronic (1992), which made him one of the best-selling American music artists of 1993.

Its lead single, "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" (featuring Snoop Dogg), peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, while its third single, "Let Me Ride", won Best Rap Solo Performance at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards. In 1996, Dre left Death Row Records to establish Aftermath Entertainment. He signed Eminem in 1998 and 50 Cent in 2002. He has won seven Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.

Accusations of Dr. Dre's violence toward women have been widely publicized, including a 1991 no-contest plea for assaulting television host Dee Barnes.

Reader's Guide

Dr. Dre's career spans from his early work with the World Class Wreckin' Cru and N.W.A to his solo success with The Chronic and 2001. He founded Aftermath Entertainment and mentored artists including Eminem, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Warren G, and Daz Dillinger. His third studio album, Compton, was released in 2015.