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Still DRE: Remembering the legend we almost lost through photos
When it comes to icons like Dr. Dre, it’s important to document their accomplishments through photos.
The Hip-Hop world stood still for a moment as reports came out that legendary Hip-Hop artist and producer, Dr. Dre, suffered a brain aneurysm.
This genre has seen its fair share of death and many of the legends of Hip-Hop die younger than anyone should. The world was able to exhale as Dr. Dre himself assured fans that he was ok.
Dre’s health scare is a reminder that we need to give people their flowers while they can still smell them, and that’s what we plan to do. Here are 10 iconic photos detailing some moments in Dr. Dre’s legendary career.
Humble beginnings
He got his start in the music business with N.W.A. The rap group hailing from Compton, California is etched in Hip-Hop royalty for their contributions to the culture.
In this photo, it’s seen that Dr. Dre served as the main producer of the group and much of his early hard-hitting production style found its roots with N.W.A. The beginning of a legend starts here.
Nuthin But A G Thang
Here’s one hell of an iconic Dre. Dre moment captured by photographer Dave Allocca.
Here the famed music producer pulled up to the MTV Movie Awards on June 7, 1993 fresh off of his solo debut album “The Chronic” releasing at the tail end of 1992.
One of the biggest hits from the classic album was “Nuthin But A G’Thang” featuring Snoop Dogg. The pair performed the song at the awards show and rocked the house introducing Dre to the masses.
The Dogg and the Producer
Allocca hits us again with another vintage photo of Dre. Dre…
It can’t be overstated how influential Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg are to each other’s careers. This snap from the Billboard Music Awards on December 8th, 1993 is a testament to their friendship.
Dre met snoop through another West Coast legend, Warren G, and eventually signed him to Death Row. Throughout his career, he has always shown a penchant for scouting talent and Snoop is no different.
Their partnership would create classic hits for Hip-Hop fans to enjoy forever.
Dr. Dre wins “Best Rap Artist”
Out of all these photos of Dr. Dre this one is a keeper. To put music history in perspective, imagine TLC and the upcoming producer, in the same place back in 1994.
Yes, that happened. On February 7, 1994, at the 21st annual American Music Awards, Dr. Dre won the award for “Best Rap Artist” presented by the girls of TLC.
This was a key moment for his career. A signal that he was now a big enough artist on his own apart from N.W.A.
Remember the Source Awards?
This photo from August 18, 1999, shows the producer at the infamous Hip-Hop Source Awards. The Source Awards were a beacon of the culture in the ’90s and early 2000s so of course, Dr. Dre would be in attendance.
Finding Slim Shady
What would we have done if we lost Dr. Dre to a brain aneurysm?
The producer was able to find talent just about anywhere. One of his first signings to Interscope Records was a kid from Detroit we all know now as Eminem.
This picture from September 9, 1999 shows the pair at that year’s MTV Video Music Awards in NYC. Here Eminem, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg shared the stage to perform.
Pull up to The Wash
Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg photographed by Jeff Kravitz during the premiere for the film “The Wash” in Los Angeles, CA – November 12, 2001
The music artist also worked in the film industry staring alongside his friend Snoop Dogg in the movie “The Wash.” This is the pair at the premiere of the film in LA on November 12, 2001.
Play Ball!
This picture is from March 18, 1999, during MTV’s Rock and Jock baseball game where celebrities competed with professional ballplayers.
Now the icon isn’t all business. He has time to play some games here and there too. This definitely goes down as one of the best Dr. Dre photos.
Do you have 50 Cent?
Even though 50 Cent was discovered and signed by Eminem to his Shady Record’s label under Aftermath/Interscope, Dr. Dre was pivotal in the making of his career.
The producer giving Eminem a platform to sign artist gave 50 Cent an opportunity to grow along with Dre executive producing his first album Get Rich or Die Tryin.
Out of all the photos, this places Dr. Dre in the position of having influenced three of Hip-Hop’s biggest artists. His fingerprints were all over the culture at this point.
Straight Outta Compton
In 2015, the critically acclaimed film “Straight Outta Compton” released introducing the world to the story of N.W.A. the icon served as a producer on the film.
The hype surrounding its release led to him releasing his first studio album in years, “Compton” to celebrate this mark of Hip-Hop’s history and culture and cementing his and N.W.A.’s place in it.
The real danger of Dr. Dre’s brain aneurysm
These Dr. Dre photos are great and we are glad that the legend is doing well. Still, brain aneurysms are no joke and can sometimes be detected before they take a life.
If there’s anything these hard times have shown us is that it’s important that we don’t take chances with our health. Click here for more information about brain aneurysms.
Get well soon, Dr. Dre…