Dr.Dre feat. Snoop Dogg-Still D.R.E. The Cronic 2001 uncesor
Masterminds Behind The Music
By Ron “Mr. Kane” Alexander
(Dallas,Texas)
Have you ever been cruising in your ride, going your thing, flipping from radio station to station, and then all of a sudden you hear a song, or particular sound that just grabs your undivided attention? Whether it’s the beat, or what’s being said, or the way the person is saying it, there’s always going to be numerous songs that give you the same pleasing effect! That my friend, determines what musical taste bud’s are! It’s me Mr. Kane with more to give you all, but this time I’m hitting you with “Masterminds Behind The Music”. Now I know there’s been times when you’ve heard that certain song you love, and just couldn’t pinpoint the person (or persons) accountable for the sounds! Well, I’m here to elaborate a bit on some of my favorite music masterminds, and I’m more than sure they’re probably yours as well! So once again, you all know the routine, hop in, buckle up and lets take a ride, but this time, lets turn the music up full blast and get lifted! Yeah.
The true artists behind the sounds, most of the time, are the ones who get less recognition. The majority of the time, the average music fan chooses to focus on the lead singer. You know, there was a point in time, when producers really didn’t get credit at all. Like “The World Class Wreckin Cru”, the group, “Dr. Dre” first got his start in music. He pretty much was responsible for more than 90% of their sound, and still, he didn’t get much recognition. The group, as a whole blew up, but most fans were more focused on who’s singing, which was supplied by Dre’s ex-girlfriend ‘Michelle’. I have no clue on the true reasons behind the groups departure. It could have either had something to do with financial issues, or acknowledgment reasons. Because Dr. Dre, even then, knew his own personal capabilities and values behind his work, and what and where he can apply his knowledge. Dre was already known around Los Angeles for creating great beats. The beat smith decided to hook up with Eazy-E and the rest to construct some serious magic. Dr. Dre was really big on using 808’s and 909’s, as well as other various tools and keyboards. It is incredibly rare to find a producer who has the ability to compose the exact righteous sound to match not only vocals, but topics and wordplay too. Sampling was also a starting point, in which Dre partially exposed in a different sense as well. Plus, he had an extremely huge contribution in being one of the first to become a “rapper / producer” as well. And that unique trend became very popular later on in Hip Hop, and still is to this day. Truth is, Dre made it hip to be a producer! In fact, Dr. Dre was the first Hip Hop producer to drop a solo album, in which led to another album (and one more coming very soon). Dre’s first album, (The Chronic) really hit the rap game by storm! It completely rearranged everything as far as Rap music. The man actually took charge of something he knew he had a serious advantage over, and that is making hit records. Now I’m sure you remember tracks like “deep cover”? The song that first introduced “Snoop Dogg” to the entire world? Yes, Dr. Dre knew on the spot, this kid from Long Beach had a style that truly differed from others. So Dre worked with the youngster and made him a worldwide phenomenon! (As well as one of the biggest rap artists in Hip Hop history). I’m sure you remember classics like “Ain’t Nuthin But A G’Thang” and “Dre Day”, Let me Ride”, and other explosives from the Chronic album huh? All well known Masterpieces! I mean, just the way Dre took Snoop and molded him in with his sound, and his beats, the way everything fitted perfectly was kind of rare for just any producer to do. In fact, Snoops first solo project dropped a year after the “Chronic” did, which was ’93 and became just as big as a classic as the Chronic. “Doggystyle” (Snoops first album) contained classics like (I know you all remember these!) What’s My Name? (Who Am I), “Gin and Juice”, Murder Was The Case”, and “Doggy Doggy World” in which all received constant (I do mean constant) rotation on MTV, BET, The Box and other music video channels. Dr. Dre really gave a new and improved meaning to the word “producer”.
There were other classical producers doing their thing as well, before Dre, and after Dre too. You had cats like “Rick Ruben” for Def Jam. He was known for making hits for legends like “Run –D-MC, LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys” and other Def Jam artists. But Ruben, (like Dre) was what you can consider an “in-house” producer for his label. Which means he’s obligated (contract wise) to take care and provide beats and sounds for fellow artists under his or her label.
Now lets move on to the mid ‘90’s now, Dre at the time was signed with “Death Row Records” as an in-house producer for Bad Boy Entertainment. Even though Dre started the rapper/producer thing, Puffy popularized the whole appearance in video with label mate thing. (He also followed suit, by dropping albums also). He basically showed the world that producers are just as important as the artist. Even though some say Puff did exaggerate his appearance at times, he did prove that producers/CEO’s can be stars too. Around this time, you had cats like “Master P”, and his “No Limit” empire. He started from scratch, with a $10,000 inheritment from his grandfather who passed away. He moved out West to Richmond California, opened a music store (No Limit Record store) and accumulated enough money to open up a second store in his home town of New Orleans. It didn’t take anytime at all for him to profit off of his business, so he started the “No Limit” record label quickly. Master P recruited his brothers, and fellow New Orleans people, and I can’t forget to mention his in-house producers (Beats By The Pound) which was led by KLC. These guys here were responsible for hits like “The ice cream man”, “Make Em Say Unnnh”, “How U Do That”, as well as numerous hits for Snoop Dogg and many more! No Limit was on a consistent record setting pace of dropping an average of 2 or more albums monthly within a 2 year period. P’s in-house producers were putting in some major work! No Limit sold more than 75 million records. Even though his producers didn’t really get the recognition they deserved, still, you’ve got to hand them credit for creating so many tracks. Same thing with Cash Money records, “Slim” and “Baby” Williams started from scratch, and formed a musical army. The thing with Cash Money, they did things a bit different from No Limit, even though they studied the same format and followed suit to a certain degree. Cash Money’s in house producer was the magnificent “Mannie Fresh”, who was responsible for hits like “Back Tat Ass Up”, Juveniles “Ha”, Get Ya Roll On”, “Hot girl”, Number One Stunna”, as well as other hits also. But unfortunately, within time, money became a factor, and the cash Money click slowly started to departure. First, it was Juvenile who accused baby of not paying exactly all of the personal earnings Juve deserved. But eventually, he ended up settling out of court along with one more last album deal for a million dollars. Once Juvenile moved along, so did the rest like “B.G”, “Young Turk” got locked up, and producer Mannie Fresh left as well. Now, a producer like Mannie Fresh should most definitely be a number one priority. He was responsible for Cash Money’s signature sound. The only one who ended up staying with the label was “Lil Wayne”, who is (as of right now) having his supreme success. Mannie is now an in-house producer for Def jam”, but still makes tracks for each and everybody he chooses. Producers in Hip Hop have always played a significant role in Rap music. “Rocafella” had “Kareem Biggs” and “Dame Dash”, who were not only producers but partial owners of the Jay Z / Rocafella sound. Then just like Cash Money, individuals had their differences and Jay Z ended up with the whole Rocafella brand all to himself. But I must give him major credit through, because there was two producers in which he was working with that stuck by his side and added more success with the Roc, brand. Just Blaze, is one of the Producers, who was responsible for tracks like “Show me What Cha Got”, and “Dec 4th”.Plus, he’s also known for making tracks for various other artists as well. The other producer who followed Jay-Z’s lead, turned out to become a major superstar who’s well respected not only for his production skills, but for his lyrics as well. And he goes by the name of Kayne West! There are so many tracks he’s responsible for, to where I can’t even name them all, but he has released 3 multiplatnum albums, and has a few Grammy’s under his belt along with another album coming out sometime next month. Producers today get major recognition, the recognition they deserve for their hard work. And not to forget, Dr. Dre has a new album coming out (detox album) either next month, or in the first quarter of 2009.
Whenever I listen to rap music, one of the first things I listen for is the way the beat sounds. D.J. Premier is another one of my favorite producers. He’s responsible for producing tracks for Nas, and has a significant style. “He’s” done tracks “new York State Of Mind” pt 1 and 2, as well as tracks off “Illmatic, it Was Written, I Am, and Stillmatic”. He specializes in sampling theme / movie type sounds, to make the track sound like a movie! Me personally, I don’t mind working with him in the near future, due to the fact, I feel he could bring out the best of my sound. Lets take it back down south for a second, I mean (My Home) The Lone star State. Scarface, is also well known for producing. Every album he drops you better believe he’s at least going to be responsible for at least 80% of the production. I’m sure you’ve heard classics like “Smile” (feat-2-Pac) and “6 Feet Deep”, “Never Seen A Man Cry”, Gangstas Don’t Live Tat Long (feat- Ice cube), and various others. In fact, Scarface pretty much gave “Rap-A-Lot” their signature sound. And “Pimp C” also, was another beat smith who crafted and molded the whole UGK sound, which still, even after his death, gets duplicated to this day. Growing up in Texas, this is the type of music I know, and cherish quite well! UKG has so many classics to where I can’t even count. And you can’t forget about “Suave House”, producer / CEO Tony Draper, opened doors for “8-Ball and MJG”, “Tela”, “Mr. Mike”, “Crime Boss” and many more. And then you had “Organized Noise”, a group of producers who molded the sound of Outkast and the whole “Dungeon Family”. As far as producing, there are so many names that are relevant now, and even then. Like D.J. Loomp, The Runners, Cool ‘N Dre, Play ‘N Skilly, D.J. Quick, Will. I. Am, D.J. Clue, Jim Jonsin, Daz, Jim Jones, Swiss Beaty, the legendary “Timbaland, Pharrel Williams, Nitty, Coli Park, E-40, Lil Jon, Jermaine Dupree, Devin The Dude, 3 Six mafia, Micheal Watts, The Rza, D.J. Muggs, and many others. I could forever expand this topic for real! All of the above (as well as many more) are pretty much responsible for the majority of all Hip Hop classics ever made.
So next time you hear one of your favorite songs, please try finding out (if you don’t already know) who’s responsible for the sounds. Because it might make things a lot more easier if you decide to try and find the particular sound from other artists.
Well, once again, this has been another ConvictedArtist exclusive, big ups to Casper and Blue, and Convicted Artists as a whole. Shouts out to my boys ‘Wero’ as well as all of my incarcerated brothers and ESE’s on lock. The album “Tales Frum Tha Metrosection” will be coming quite soon. Well it’s been good rolling with yall once again, but of coarse you know, this is the part where I drop you guys off. I will be back to pick you all up, and take you guys out really soon. For any type of feed back or questions please send me a message.
