What's going on people? In a year that saw phenomenal releases from the likes of Black Moon, Eightball & MJG, the Violator compilation, Pharoahe Monch, and Mobb Deep, perhaps the album that was the most talked about was from a true icon in hip-hop. Having already setting the standard for west coast hip-hop with his landmark debut, The Chronic. This album established Deathrow as a force within hip-hop, as it introduced the likes of Snoop (Doggy) Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, Lady Of Rage, and RBX (where's he been?) With all-time classic singles like "Nuthin' But A G Thang", "Fuckin' With Dre Day", and "Let Me Ride", plus monster album cuts like "Stranded On Death Row" and "Little Ghetto Boy" , it's no wonder this album has sold over five million units domestically. How in the world would this artist follow up such a monumental game shifter like The Chronic? The answer would come seven years later, and good Lord was it a follow-up. This is a twentieth anniversary salute to Dr. Dre and his sophomore album, 2001.
What was easily among the most anticipated sophomore albums of the nineties was the sequel to Dre's Chronic album. As was aforementioned, careers were spawned from this release such as Snoop, Dogg Pound, and Dre's half brother Warren G. Plus, between '95 to '99, the relationship between Dre and Snoop had soured somewhat and Snoop didn't have Dre's assistance again until the incredible cut "Bitch Please" from Snoop's No Limit Top Dogg album of '99 (salute coming perhaps). To fully whet the appetite of hip-hop lovers worldwide, the first single was released, and indeed it was Dre and Snoop again on the triumphant, G-funk laced "Still D-R-E". From there the super dope follow up single with newly signed Aftermath artist Eminem dropped "Forgot About Dre" , as well as "The Next Episode" and "The Watcher". Every track on 2001 (why it wasn't just called Chronic 2001 is beyond me) was tailor made for Dre and anyone else associated with him. Much like The Chronic, this album hosts guests a-plenty such as already established stars like Xzibit, Defari, west coast vet King T, and former N.W.A. cohort MC Ren, as well as up-and-comers such as Hittman, Six-Two, Knocc-turnal, and Ms. Roq. All the guests on this album delivered with precision and quality, with Em easily being the highlight emcee of the album.
The production here was next level Dre, as it sounded like an updated G-funk sound, and this especially prevalent on cuts like "XXXPlosive" (which Erykah Badu ended up also using for "Bag Lady"), "Housewife", and the slick-sounding "Bitch Niggaz". Other cuts like "The Watcher", "What's The Difference", "Fuck U", and "Bang Bang" really hit you in the face with their knocking, thumping production and non-fuck-giving rhymes that exemplify a Dre album. While the production here is as top notched of a Dre one could imagine considering how brilliantly epic The Chronic was, all the guests here show tremendous talent. Yes folks, Em outshined each and every person here, but don't undermine the contributions of folks like Xzibit, Snoop, and the once promising Hittman. Thus making this album a very well-rounded package.
With the exception of the highly reflective and somber "Message" (written by Royce 5'9"), this was one hundred percent gangsta shit. Did you expect anything less from a Dre album? Dre's 2001 was the perfect follow-up to The Chronic and ended up establishing its own legacy, not to mention selling over seven million units. While he followed this up nearly twenty years later with Compton, which was pretty damn dope in itself, it still didn't quite live up the gargantuan expectations from The Chronic and 2001. Regardless, 2001 served as one of the greatest sophomore albums of all-time and showed the world that Andre Young was in fact hip-hop's Quincy Jones for a reason. Until next time homies!
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