DR. DRE
Dr. Dre 2001 (Aftermath)
Rating: 5 out of 7
By Billy Johnson Jr. 

   Dr. Dre 2001 is a good record, but it's not The Chronic. 
   Dr. Dre 2001 is better than most records released this year, but it's not The Chronic. 
   Dr. Dre 2001 has a couple of the best songs I've heard in a good while, but it's not The Chronic. 
   What folks have to keep in mind is that it's not a cardinal sin for The Chronic to be Dre's only classic album in his pool of three solo records. When Dre released The Chronic seven years ago, the setup was different. The disbanding of N.W.A. still had the hip-hop community confused. Dre was feuding with Eazy-E and Cube. The Chronic was his opportunity to prove that his ingenious production work could co-exist without the direct support of two of hip-hop's most influential icons, not to mention M.C. Ren and DJ Yella. 
   Not only did The Chronic prove that Dre could survive, it showcased his ability to recreate himself as a lead rapper and the inventor of a new, even funkier brand of hip-hop that would direct a generation of producers thereafter. 
   Dre's collabs with Snoop, "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang" and "Dre Day," won the mainstream and underground alike, and album cuts like "Stranded On Death Row" proved that Snoop wasn't the only new M.C. on board with exceptional skills. The Chronic set up Death Row Records with one of the most talented hip-hop rosters, including Tha Dogg Pound, the Lady Of Rage, and RBX. Anticipation for their forthcoming solo records was intense. 
   Dr. Dre really has nothing to prove today. Sure, Dr. Dre Presents... The Aftermath was a flop, but considering the drama brewing at Death Row at the time, Dre was not penalized for releasing such a mediocre record. He did score half a hit with the album's likable single "Been There Done That." 
   Dr. Dre 2001's first release, "Still D.R.E.," comfortably readies the world for Dre's anticipated return. He's back with old partner Snoop Dogg and proclaiming that he hasn't changed, when in fact his focus has. 
   While Dre's G-Funk sound has been refined, laid-back and funky as ever--thanks to intricate live instrumentation
--he's not the murderous gangster of yesterday. Now, instead of being inundated with shoot-outs, DreÕs lyrics mix in a bit of introspective commentary about his day-to-day trials on "The Watcher," "Big Egos," "Forgot About Dre," and "The Message." 
   On the addictive, bass-grooved "The Watcher," for instance, Dre announces that he's not "a thug" while addressing his rationale for moving out of the hood: "How would you feel/If n-ggas wanted you killed/You'd probably move to a new house/On a new hill." 
   On other standout tracks, the Southern-twanged "Xxplosive" and the booming club pick "The Next Episode" (featuring Nate Dogg doing his best ghetto crooning), Dre and his compadres merely unleash freestyles. 
   Dre also raises eyebrows elsewhere. Houston's Devin The Dude will finally get his props for his nasal, sing-song chorus on the nasty, '70s funkdafied "F.U." Sharp pianos and humming bass drive "Big Egos." Eminem lays some sincere sentiment over "What's The Difference"'s punching trombone samples, then joins Dre on "Forgot About Dre" to prove that they can rhyme 1000 words a minute. ProtŽgŽes Hitman and Ms. Roq add whispery flows atop "Murder Ink"'s pulsating bass and tapping piano notes inspired by the theme music from Halloween. Mary J. Blige even adds her inner-city blues to "The Message." 
   Dr. Dre 2001 easily includes twice as many incredible songs than your average rap or R&B album of late. The problem is Dre's new crop of up-and-comers aren't nearly as talented as the original Death Row crew. Hitman, Ms. Roq, Knoc-Turn'al, and Six-Two make several appearances on Dr. Dre 2001 and only warrant attention on the aforementioned "Murder Ink." Otherwise, their various appearances on the "Light Speed," "Let's Get High," "Bitch N-ggaz," "Ackrite," and "Bang Bang" drag on without one redeeming rhyme or rap style between them, leaving listeners to ponder Dre's motivation for featuring them so heavily on his album. It would have been better to showcase Xzibit, Snoop, and Eminem on more songs. 
   Additionally, the most important song on the album, "Some L.A. N-ggaz," featuring the all-star team of West Coast heroes M.C. Ren, King T, Xzibit, Defari, Kokane, Time Bomb, and Knoc-Turn'al, fails to live up to its potential. In giving props to the West Coast, each M.C. begins his verse with a few lines from a California classic by Eazy-E, Volume 10, the Pharcyde, Ice-T, or Ice Cube. The idea is ingenious, but the lyrics and production are decent at best. 
   Even with the flaws, Dr. Dre 2001 is highly recommended. Hell, if I program my CD player to play my favorite 10, I'd still have about an hour of nearly flawless songs to enjoy. 

All recordings courtesy of Aftermath/Interscope Records.  ÒStill DreÓ written by A. Young, M. Bradford, S. Carter and S. Storch, courtesy of WB Music Corp./Ain't Nuthin' Goin' On But F****n Music (ASCAP)/WB Music Corp./Hard Working Black Folks Publishing (ASCAP)/EMI Blackwood Music, Inc./Lil Lulu Publishing (BMI)/Scott Storch Music (ASCAP).  ÒThe WatcherÓ written by A. Young and M. Mathers, courtesy of WB Music Corp./Ain't Nuthin' Goin' On But F****n Music (ASCAP)/ Ensign Music Corporation/Eight Mile Style Music (BMI). ÒThe Next EpisodeÓ written by A. Young, M. Bradford, C. Broadus, B. Bailey, courtesy of WB Music Corp./Ain't Nuthin' Goin' On But F****n Music (ASCAP)/WB Music Corp./Hard Working Black Folks Publishing (ASCAP)/My Own Chit Music, administered by EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI)/Loot On Loose Leaves/Big Yacht Publishing (ASCAP).