The influence of Dr Dre cannot be understated. With his group NWA, he became one of the definitive voices of 1980s hip hop, going on to have an illustrious career in his own right before stepping into production and entrepreneurship.
Dr Dre is undeniably a pivotal member of the hip-hop community due to his profound influence and contributions. As a rapper, producer, and entrepreneur, he played a vital role in shaping the genre. Dre’s innovative production skills, evident in his work with NWA, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem, set new standards for hip-hop soundscapes.
His label, Aftermath Entertainment, provided a platform for emerging talent. Moreover, Dre’s cultural impact extends beyond music, as he played a key role in popularizing West Coast hip-hop and pioneered the blending of rap and entrepreneurship with Beats by Dre. His legacy remаins integral to hip-hop’s evolution and success.
For countless rappers, he has been a guiding light, and he is constantly cited as a key influence on some of the most established rappers in the world, including Eminem, Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent. But who is Dre’s favourite rapper? Well, thankfully, he opened up about this very subject in an interview back in 2010. Let’s take a closer look.
Andre Romelle Young was surrounded by music from the start. Born into a family in which both parents were singers, Dre started working as a DJ when he was a teenager after receiving a mixer for Christmas in 1984. For the next few years, he barely left his family’s home studio, spending hours and hours sampling pieces of music and stitching them together in new and interesting configurations.
After honing his talent, he began hĐ°nging out in the LA Nightclub Eve After Dark, where he was eventually given the opportunity to try his hand at the turntables. He was soon spotted by World Class Wreckin Cru, with whom Young began developing his persona, Dr Dre, the Master of Mixology.
Today, Dr. Dre still has his fingers firmly on the pulse. In an interview held back in 2010, for example, Dre was asked about the state of modern rap: “Just recently, actually, I’ve heard some really good artists,” he replied. “I’m a fan of J. Cole. I like Don Trip. Those two I was actually in this studio working with recently, and I really like their vibe. Especially J. Cole. I think that kid has a serious future ahead of him. He’s articulate. The way he speaks is – he’s got it. All he needs is the record now.”
But, in terms of veterans, there’s one rapper whom Dr. Dre ranks above all others: “Jay Z. Oh yeah. I meаn, Jay is my favourite. I’m a huge Jay-Z fan. I love it. I’m waiting for his record right now. Hopefully, I’ll get a track on it. We’ll see. Yeah, I love it. Because it helps keep alive the type of music that I love to do.”