It's no secret at this point, you know I'm a sucker for west coast hip hop. And as far as classic of the west coast are concerned, very few come close to The Chronic. Released late in 1992, Dr Dre dropped what is considered one of the best and most influential LPs in rap music. Which is no overstatement, since a lot of the lines, flows and even production styles of this album can still be heard being referenced or straight-up stolen in modern rap music. Guys like Kendrick and YG are constantly referencing, or working with Dre and Kendrick even had a major feature with Dre on his last full length on the track "Compton".
So, The Chronic is a pretty well known and respected LP, and truth be told, that is still true to this day. Though there is some pretty terrible things said about women, and pretty much anyone who isn't on Death Row records, The Chronic still proves to be a hard-nosed, sometimes hilariously clever hip hop album that I enjoy immensely.
Tracks like the classic "Nothin' But a G Thang" and the smooth "Let Me Ride" still sound fresh and for an album that is just about 21 years old, that's no small feat. I also really enjoy the little skits that play between some of the songs, most notably (though I'm not proud of myself) the one introducing the track "Deeeez Nuuuuts".
Though The Chronic is a lot of fun, there are more serious moments, like "Lil Ghetto Boy" and "The Day The N****z Took Over", which actually has a sinister beat that I absolutely love. Also, it's hard to deny the flows on this LP, they're simply immaculate, with Dre and a young Snoop Dogg, who is easily one of my favorite MC's of all time, especially on this and his own debut Doggystyle.
Aside from some questionable lines about women and certain parts of the male anatomy, The Chronic still stands as one of, if not the best, examples of west coast hip hop and rap in general. I love this album, and chances are you already do too, but if you've never given the album a listen, I implore you to do so ASAP.
10/10
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