Dr. Dre

Not many producers, in the arena of hip-hop or otherwise, can boldly state that their sonic experiments twice (first with N.W.A, later with The Chronic) transformed the musical landscape. But, then again, every producer is not Dr. Dre. "Although I’m from the west coast, I try to make music that will have a universal appeal," says Dre, whose latest disc Dr. Dre 2001 (Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records) is as musically diverse as the constant sounds blaring in his brain. "It’s always been my desire to make music for the world."

Although it has been seventeen years since the release of Dr. Dre’s groundbreaking triple platinum The Chronic, a record that Spin magazine voted the eighth best of the decade, its not like the brother has been sleeping on the job. (Spin also voted The Chronic’s "Nuthin’ But A G-Thang"the best single of the 90’s.) Indeed, having constructed such projects as Snoop Dogg’s quintuple platinum classic Doggystyle, the bouncy "California Love" for 2Pac and the bugged The Slim Shady LP disc for rapper Eminem, a sophomore solo disc was the furthest thing from Dre’s mind. "I’ve always been just a producer at heart, but my friends and family kept insisting that I do another project."

In addition to Nate Dogg, Kurupt, Hittman, King-T, MC Ren and Xzibit, all of whom make appearances on Dr. Dre 2001, soul diva Mary J. Blige makes a cameo on the sorrowful track "The Message." Dedicated to Dre’s late brother, who was set to follow in his older brother’s giant footsteps, this is one of the most emotionally charged records in hip-hop history. "Anyone who has ever lost a loved one will be able to relate," says Dre. "And Mary’s singing just sends the song over the top."