Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Dr. Dre
How Dr. Dre built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Dr. Dre, born Andre Romell Young, is a highly influential American rapper, record producer, music executive, and actor. He launched his career with the World Class Wreckin' Cru and later gained prominence as a member of the pioneering gangsta rap group N.W.A., which popularized explicit lyrics depicting the realities of street violence. In the early 1990s, Dr. Dre significantly contributed to the development and widespread appeal of West Coast G-funk, a distinctive hip-hop subgenre known for its synthesizer-driven sound and laid-back production style. He is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics, and co-founded Death Row Records.
1967: Inspiration from David McCallum's "The Edge"
In 1967, David McCallum released "The Edge" which became the inspiration for the main melody from The Next Episode.
1972: Inspiration from Leon Haywood's "I Wanna Do Somethin' Freaky to You"
In 1972, Leon Haywood released "I Wanna Do Somethin' Freaky to You", which Dr. Dre sampled for "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" in 1992.
1984: First Recording Session
In 1984, Dre and Yella recorded "Surgery" in their first recording session at Eve After Dark's back room studio.
1984: Career Beginnings with World Class Wreckin' Cru
In 1984, Dre started his career as a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru. The group would become stars of the electro-hop scene that dominated early-mid 1980s West Coast hip-hop.
1985: Joined World Class Wreckin' Cru
In 1985, Dr. Dre officially joined the musical group World Class Wreckin' Cru, marking a significant step in his early career.
1986: Meeting Ice Cube
In 1986, Dr. Dre met rapper Ice Cube and collaborated to record songs for Ruthless Records, a hip-hop record label run by Eazy-E.
1988: Produced Eazy-E's Solo Debut
In 1988, Dr. Dre produced tracks for Eazy-E's solo debut 'Eazy-Duz-It' on Ruthless Records.
1989: Produced Efil4zaggin
In 1989, After Ice Cube left N.W.A, Dr. Dre produced and performed for much of the group's second album Efil4zaggin. Dre also produced Michel'le's self titled debut and the D.O.C.'s debut No One Can Do It Better.
1989: Success of Straight Outta Compton
In 1989, N.W.A released 'Straight Outta Compton,' which became a major success despite lacking radio airplay due to its explicit content.
1990: Produced Above the Law's debut album
In 1990, Dr. Dre produced tracks for Above the Law's debut album, Livin' Like Hustlers.
1991: Departure from N.W.A
In 1991, Dr. Dre left N.W.A due to disputes with Eazy-E, leading to the formation of Death Row Records with Suge Knight.
1991: Produced Jimmy Z's Muzical Madness
In 1991, Dre produced tracks for Jimmy Z's album Muzical Madness.
1991: Formation of Death Row Records
In 1991, upon leaving Ruthless Records, Dr. Dre formed Death Row Records and enlisted the help of Chris "the Glove" Taylor, Greg "Gregski" Royal, and Colin Wolfe.
1992: Release of The Chronic
In 1992, Dr. Dre released *The Chronic*, considered one of the most well-produced hip-hop albums of all time.
1992: Release of 'Deep Cover' and Debut Album
In 1992, Dr. Dre released his first single, "Deep Cover," with Snoop Dogg, and his debut solo album, 'The Chronic'.
1993: Success of 'The Chronic' and Grammy Win
In 1993, 'The Chronic' was certified triple platinum, and Dr. Dre won a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance for "Let Me Ride."
1993: Grammy Award and Album Success
In 1993, Dr. Dre's debut album 'The Chronic' made him one of the best-selling American music artists of the year and he also won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance for "Let Me Ride".
1994: Mentoring Warren G
In 1994, Dr. Dre mentored producers such as his stepbrother Warren G, leading to the multi-platinum debut Regulate... G Funk Era.
1994: Produced Snoop Dogg's Debut Album Doggystyle
In 1994, Dr. Dre produced Snoop Dogg's debut album Doggystyle, which became the first debut album to enter the Billboard 200 album charts at number one.
1994: Earliest recordings released
In 1994, Dr. Dre's earliest recordings were released in a compilation titled Concrete Roots.
1994: Pushing G-Funk Boundaries
In 1994, starting with the Murder was the Case soundtrack, Dr. Dre attempted to push the boundaries of G-funk further into a darker sound.
1995: Signed 2Pac to Death Row Records
In 1995, Death Row Records signed rapper 2Pac, and began to position him as their major star. He collaborated with Dr. Dre on the commercially successful single 'California Love'.
1995: Influence of G-funk
In 1995, Doggystyle and The Chronic's G-Funk sound became the basis for Notorious B.I.G's hit single, "Big Poppa."
1995: Collaborated with Ice Cube on Natural Born Killaz
In 1995, Dr. Dre collaborated with fellow N.W.A member Ice Cube for the song "Natural Born Killaz". Also, Dr. Dre recorded "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" for the film Friday.
1995: Mentoring Daz Dillinger
In 1995, Dr. Dre mentored producers such as Snoop Dogg's cousin Daz Dillinger, leading to the double-platinum debut Dogg Food by Tha Dogg Pound.
March 1996: Leaves Death Row Records
In March 1996, Dr. Dre left Death Row Records amidst a contract dispute and concerns about Suge Knight's behavior.
October 1996: Performed 'Been There, Done That' on SNL
In October 1996, Dre performed 'Been There, Done That' on Saturday Night Live.
November 26, 1996: Release of Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath
On November 26, 1996, the album 'Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath' was released, featuring songs by Dr. Dre and newly signed artists.
1996: Innovation of Sound and Transition to Akai MPC3000
By 1996, Dr. Dre looked to innovate his sound, recruiting Camara Kambon and being introduced to Melvin "Mel-Man" Bradford. He also switched from using the E-mu SP-1200 to the Akai MPC3000.
1996: Appeared on Blackstreet's "No Diggity"
In 1996, Dr. Dre appeared on the single 'No Diggity' by R&B group Blackstreet, which topped the Hot 100 charts.
1996: On-screen appearance in Set It Off
In 1996, Dr. Dre made his first on-screen appearance as a weapons dealer in the movie *Set It Off*.
1996: Departure from Death Row Records
In 1996, Dre left Death Row Records to establish his own label, Aftermath Entertainment.
1996: Release of First Round Knock Out
In 1996, a compilation album titled 'First Round Knock Out' featuring Dr. Dre's various tracks was released.
1996: Founding Aftermath Entertainment
In 1996, after founding Aftermath Entertainment, Dr. Dre took on producer Mel-Man, and his music took on a more synthesizer-based sound.
1996: Influence on Geto Boys and Eazy-E
In 1996, the Houston-based group Geto Boys' song "Still" and Eazy-E's "Wut Would U Do" were influenced by Dr. Dre's darker G-funk sound.
1997: Produced tracks on The Firm's Album
In 1997, Dr. Dre produced several tracks on the Firm's 'The Album', however it was met with negative reviews. Rumors began to abound that Aftermath was facing financial difficulties. Aftermath Entertainment also faced a trademark infringement lawsuit by the underground thrash metal band Aftermath.
1998: Signing Eminem
In 1998, Dr. Dre signed Eminem to Aftermath Entertainment, marking a pivotal moment for both artists' careers.
October 23, 1999: Dr. Dre Performs on Saturday Night Live
On October 23, 1999, Dr. Dre performed popular hit singles "Still D.R.E." and "Forgot About Dre" on NBC's Saturday Night Live.
November 16, 1999: Release of 2001
On November 16, 1999, Dr. Dre released his second solo album, '2001'.
1999: Eminem's Debut Album
In 1999, Dr. Dre produced three songs and provided vocals for two on Eminem's successful debut album The Slim Shady LP, bringing Eminem to public attention.
1999: Release of album 2001
In 1999, Dr. Dre released his second studio album, 2001.
1999: Collaboration with Mike Elizondo
In 1999, Dr. Dre started working with Mike Elizondo, a bassist, guitarist, and keyboardist.
2000: Grammy Award and Up in Smoke Tour
In 2000, Dr. Dre won the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. He also joined the Up in Smoke Tour with Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Ice Cube in 2000.
2001: Lawsuits Involving Dr. Dre
During 2001, Dr. Dre was involved in several lawsuits, including one from Lucasfilm over the THX trademark.
2001: Appearance in The Wash and Training Day
In 2001, Dr. Dre appeared in the movies *The Wash* and *Training Day*. His song "Bad Intentions" was featured on *The Wash* soundtrack.
2001: Dr. Dre's Financial Success
In 2001, Dr. Dre earned about $52 million from selling part of his share of Aftermath Entertainment and producing hit songs, making him the second highest-paid artist of the year according to Rolling Stone.
2001: Production for Other Artists
In 2001, Dr. Dre focused on producing for other artists, including Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP, Mary J. Blige's "Family Affair," and Eve's "Let Me Blow Ya Mind." He also signed Truth Hurts to Aftermath in 2001.
2001: Production on Bilal's Single
In 2001, Dr. Dre produced and rapped on singer Bilal's single "Fast Lane," which was released through Interscope.
2001: Studio Instrument and Sampling Preferences
In 2001, Dr. Dre stated his primary studio instrument is the Akai MPC3000, and he prefers musicians to recreate sounds he wants to use rather than sampling them.
2001: Aftermath Releases The Wash Soundtrack
In 2001, Dr. Dre's Aftermath label released the soundtrack to the movie The Wash, featuring several artists who ultimately did not release full-length albums with the label, and apparently ended their relationships with Dr. Dre.
2001: Release of 2001 and Live Instrumentation
In 2001, Dr. Dre's critically acclaimed second album, *2001*, featured live instrumentation replacing sampling. For every song on the album, Dre had a keyboardist, guitarist and bassist create the basic parts of the beat, while he himself programmed the drums, did the sequencing and overdubbing and added sound effects.
2001: Jay-Z Ghostwrites for Still D.R.E.
In 2001, Jay-Z ghostwrote lyrics for the single "Still D.R.E." from Dr. Dre's album 2001.
2001: Scott Storch's Contribution to 2001 Album
In 2001, Scott Storch contributed to Dr. Dre's second album 2001, being credited as a songwriter on several songs and playing keyboards on several tracks.
2001: Early Work on Detox
In 2001, work began on Dr. Dre's third studio album, Detox, initially described as "the most advanced rap album ever."
March 2002: Jacques Loussier Sues Aftermath
In March 2002, French jazz musician Jacques Loussier sued Aftermath for $10 million, claiming that Eminem track "Kill You" plagiarized his composition.
2002: End of Co-Production with Mel-Man
Around 2002, Dr. Dre and Mel-Man stopped sharing co-production credits, though Mel-Man remained a key influence on the Aftermath sound.
2002: Coors Light Commercial Appearance
In 2002, Dr. Dre appeared in TV commercials for Coors Light beer.
2002: Signing 50 Cent
In 2002, Dr. Dre signed 50 Cent to Aftermath Entertainment, further solidifying his label's prominence in the music industry.
2002: Signing 50 Cent to Aftermath
In 2002, Dr. Dre signed rapper 50 Cent to Aftermath in a joint venture with Interscope and Eminem's Shady Records.
2002: Executive Producer of The Eminem Show
In 2002, Dr. Dre was the executive producer of Eminem's album The Eminem Show, producing three songs and appearing in the video for "Without Me."
February 2003: Executive Producer of Get Rich or Die Tryin'
In February 2003, Dr. Dre served as executive producer for 50 Cent's debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin', producing or co-producing four tracks.
2003: Coors Light Commercial Appearance
In 2003, Dr. Dre appeared in TV commercials for Coors Light beer.
2003: Production of The D.O.C.'s Album
In 2003, Dr. Dre produced The D.O.C.'s album Deuce and made a guest appearance on several tracks.
2003: Dr. Dre Ordered to Pay The Fatback Band
In 2003, Dr. Dre was ordered to pay $1.5 million to The Fatback Band for alleged infringement regarding its song "Backstrokin'."
April 2004: XXL Magazine Statement on G-funk Influence
In the April 2004 issue of XXL magazine, Bad Boy Records producer Chucky Thompson stated that the sound of Doggystyle and The Chronic was the basis for the Notorious B.I.G.'s 1995 hit single "Big Poppa".
2004: Emphasis on Drum Equalization
In 2004, Dr. Dre told *Scratch* about the importance of equalizing drums properly and mentioned that he uses the digital audio workstation Pro Tools to combine hardware drum machines and vintage analog keyboards and synthesizers.
2004: Formal Music Theory Study
In 2004, Dr. Dre told *Scratch* magazine that he had been formally studying piano and music theory, and collaborated with Burt Bacharach.
2004: Dr. Dre Ranked 44th in Earnings
In 2004, Dr. Dre was ranked 44th with earnings of $11.4 million, primarily from production royalties.
2004: Mike Elizondo Discusses Collaboration with Dr. Dre
In 2004, Mike Elizondo claimed that he wrote the foundations of the hit Eminem song "The Real Slim Shady" when speaking about his work with Dr. Dre.
2005: Initial Detox Release Date
In 2005, Detox was initially set for a fall release, before being delayed.
November 2006: Production on Various Albums
In November 2006, Dr. Dre began working with Raekwon on his album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II. He also produced tracks for albums by Young Buck, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, and Jay-Z.
2006: Co-founding Beats Electronics
In 2006, Dr. Dre co-founded Beats Electronics with Jimmy Iovine.
2006: Scott Storch Interview with Rolling Stone
In 2006, Scott Storch, who contributed to Dr. Dre's second album, gave an interview with Rolling Stone.
February 2007: Production deal with Crucial Films
In February 2007, it was announced that Dr. Dre would produce dark comedies and horror films for Crucial Films, a company owned by New Line Cinema.
2007: Appearance on Timbaland's "Bounce"
In 2007, Dr. Dre appeared on Timbaland's track "Bounce" from the album Timbaland Presents Shock Value, alongside Missy Elliott and Justin Timberlake.
2007: Detox as Final Album
In 2007, Dr. Dre's Detox album was slated to be his final studio album.
June 2008: Snoop Dogg Claims Detox is Finished
According to a June 2008 Rolling Stone magazine report, Snoop Dogg claimed that Detox was finished.
July 2008: Launch of First Beats Headphones
In July 2008, the first brand of Beats headphones was launched.
December 15, 2008: Appearance in "Set It Off" Remix
On December 15, 2008, Dr. Dre appeared in the remix of the song "Set It Off" by Kardinal Offishall.
February 12, 2009: "Crack a Bottle" Reaches Top of Billboard Chart
On February 12, 2009, the single "Crack a Bottle" by Eminem, featuring Dr. Dre, reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
May 28, 2009: Premiere of Detox Snippet
On May 28, 2009, Dr. Dre premiered the first official snippet of Detox in a Dr Pepper commercial.
October 9, 2009: Deal with Hewlett-Packard
On October 9, 2009, Hewlett-Packard announced a deal to bundle Beats By Dr. Dre with some HP laptops and headsets.
2009: Beats Electronics Commercials
Beginning in 2009, Dr. Dre appeared in TV commercials that also featured his Beats Electronics product line. A Dr Pepper commercial featured Dr. Dre DJing with Beats headphones and playing a snippet off the never-released Detox album.
April 20, 2010: "Under Pressure" Announced as First Single
On April 20, 2010, Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre announced "Under Pressure" featuring Jay-Z as the first single from Detox.
June 16, 2010: "Under Pressure" Leaks Online
On June 16, 2010, "Under Pressure" leaked online in an unmixed form, leading to lukewarm reception and its eventual removal from the final album.
August 2010: Instrumental Album The Planets
In August 2010, Dr. Dre stated that an instrumental album, The Planets, was in its initial stages of production.
November 2010: Release of "Kush"
In November 2010, Dr. Dre released the single "Kush", a collaboration with Snoop Dogg and Akon.
2010: Detox Release Scheduled
In 2010, Detox was scheduled for release, following albums by 50 Cent and Eminem, with Dr. Dre handling the bulk of production for Eminem's Relapse.
2010: HP Laptops Commercial Cameo
In 2010, Dr. Dre had a cameo in a commercial for HP laptops that featured a plug for Beats Audio.
February 2011: Release of "I Need a Doctor"
In February 2011, Dr. Dre released "I Need a Doctor" with Eminem and Skylar Grey, achieving international chart success.
November 14, 2011: Announcement of Music Break
On November 14, 2011, Dr. Dre announced he would take a break from music after producing for Slim the Mobster and Kendrick Lamar.
2011: Chrysler 300S Commercial Narration
In 2011, the Chrysler 300S "Imported from Detroit" ad campaign had a commercial narrated by Dr. Dre and included a plug for Beats Audio.
January 9, 2012: Headlining Coachella
On January 9, 2012, it was announced that Dr. Dre would headline the final nights of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2012.
April 2012: Headlined Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
In April 2012, Dr. Dre headlined the final nights of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
2012: Forbes Estimates Dr. Dre's Net Worth
In 2012, Forbes estimated Dr. Dre's net worth at $270 million, later reporting that he acquired $110 million, making him the highest-paid artist of the year.
May 2013: Donation to USC for Arts Academy
In May 2013, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine donated a $70 million endowment to the University of Southern California to create the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation.
January 2014: Introduction of Beats Music
In January 2014, Beats Music was introduced and launched as a streaming service.
June 2014: Marsha Ambrosius on Detox
In June 2014, Marsha Ambrosius stated that she had been working on Detox, but the album would be released under a different title.
September 2014: Title Change Confirmation
In September 2014, Aftermath producer Dawaun Parker confirmed the title change of Detox and mentioned the creation of over 300 beats for the album.
2014: Sale of Beats to Apple
The 2014 sale of Beats to Apple contributed to what Forbes termed "the biggest single-year payday of any musician in history" for Dr. Dre.
August 1, 2015: Announcement of Compton Album
On August 1, 2015, Dr. Dre announced the release of Compton, inspired by the N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton, as his final album.
2015: Dr. Dre Becomes World's Richest Musical Performer
In 2015, Dr. Dre became the world's richest musical performer due to income from the 2014 sale of Beats to Apple.
2015: Production of Straight Outta Compton
In 2015, Dr. Dre co-produced *Straight Outta Compton*, a biographical film about N.W.A.
February 12, 2016: Apple's Vital Signs Series
On February 12, 2016, it was revealed that Apple would create its first original scripted television series, Vital Signs, reflecting Dr. Dre's life, where he would serve as executive producer.
October 2016: Appearance at Bad Boy Reunion Tour
In October 2016, Dr. Dre, along with Snoop Dogg and others, joined Sean Combs on his Bad Boy reunion tour.
2016: Anderson .Paak Praises Dr. Dre
In 2016, Anderson .Paak praised Dr. Dre in an interview with Music Times, stating that working with Dre was a dream come true.
June 2017: Commitment to Compton High Performing Arts Center
In June 2017, Dr. Dre committed $10 million to the construction of a performing arts center for the new Compton High School.
September 2018: Cancellation of "Vital Signs"
In September 2018, Apple cancelled the television series "Vital Signs," on which Dr. Dre was an executive producer, due to its graphic content.
2018: Production on Anderson .Paak's Oxnard
In 2018, Dr. Dre produced four songs on Anderson .Paak's album Oxnard, also serving as the executive producer.
2019: Executive Producer of Ventura
In 2019, Dr. Dre was the executive producer on Anderson .Paak's album Ventura.
2020: Production on Eminem's Music to Be Murdered By
In 2020, Dr. Dre was the executive producer of Eminem's album Music to Be Murdered By and produced four songs on the album and two more on the deluxe edition.
2020: Expected groundbreaking of Compton High Performing Arts Center
In 2020, the groundbreaking of the performing arts center for the new Compton High School was expected.
September 30, 2021: Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Announcement
On September 30, 2021, it was revealed that Dr. Dre would perform at the Super Bowl LVI halftime show.
December 2021: Dr. Dre Featured in Grand Theft Auto Online
In December 2021, a Grand Theft Auto Online update featured Dr. Dre and added some of his previously unreleased tracks.
February 3, 2022: Release of "The Contract" EP
On February 3, 2022, Dr. Dre released the previously unreleased tracks featured in Grand Theft Auto Online as an EP titled "The Contract".
February 13, 2022: Super Bowl LVI Halftime Performance
On February 13, 2022, Dr. Dre performed at the Super Bowl LVI halftime show, which later won a Primetime Emmy Award.
September 2022: Composition for Death for Hire
In September 2022, it was reported that Dr. Dre would compose the original score for the animated series Death for Hire: The Origin of Tehk City.
February 2023: Listening Party for Casablanco
In February 2023, Dr. Dre and Marsha Ambrosius held a listening party in Los Angeles for their album Casablanco.
September 2023: Jesus is King Part II Leaks
Around September 2023, Kanye West and Dr. Dre's joint album, Jesus Is King Part II, which remains unreleased, surfaced online in leaks.
February 2024: Launch of Gin and Juice Cocktails
In February 2024, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre launched a range of pre-mixed cocktails named after their hit single, Gin and Juice.
June 28, 2024: Release of Casablanco
On June 28, 2024, the album Casablanco by Dr. Dre and Marsha Ambrosius was released and received critical acclaim.
July 12, 2024: Production on Eminem's "The Death of Slim Shady"
On July 12, 2024, Dr. Dre produced two songs, "Lucifer" and "Road Rage", on Eminem's album *The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)*. The album received mixed reviews.
November 1, 2024: Release of "Gorgeous"
On November 1, 2024, Snoop Dogg released "Gorgeous", the first single from his upcoming album *Missionary*, which is entirely produced by Dr. Dre.
December 13, 2024: Release of "Missionary"
On December 13, 2024, Snoop Dogg released *Missionary*, an album produced by Dr. Dre, via Death Row/Aftermath and Interscope. The album features guest appearances from several artists and received generally favorable reviews.
