2001 INSTRUMENTAL

Personnel: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Hittman, Kurupt, Nate Dogg, King T, Sticky Fingas, Ms. Roq, RBX, Defari, Xzibit, Knoc-Turn'al, Six-Two, Eddie Griffin, MC Ren, Kokane, Rell, Traci Nelson, Jake Steed, Time Bomb, Devin AKA The Dude, Mary J. Blige, Tray-Dee (vocals); Aaron Harris, Laylow (various instruments); Sean Cruise (guitar); Carl Breeding, Scott Stocrch, Finesse, Camara Kambon (keyboards); Mel-Man, Mike Elizondo, Colin Wolfe (bass); Taku Hirano (percussion); DJ Pen (scratches); Koka, T.Y. Nichols (background vocals). Engineers include: Ted Reiger, Steve Macauley, Alex Sinn. "Guilty Conscience" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance By Duo Or Group. "Forgot About Dre" won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group. DR. DRE 2001 was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. "The Next Episode" was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Personnel: Dr. Dre; Sean Cruse (guitar); Scott Storch, Camara Kambon, Dinky Bingham, Carl Breeding (keyboards); Mike Elizondo, Colin Wolfe, Preston Crump, Mel-Man (bass); Taku Hirano (percussion); DJ Pen (scratches). Engineers include: Richard "Segal" Huredia, Dave Tenhouten, Tom Gordon. "Still D.R.E." was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group. With 2001, Dr. Dre has managed to do the seemingly impossible: resurface yet again after a five-year disappearance from the rap game, and shatter all expectations. The first two tracks lull the listener into thinking this is going to be a mellow, G-funk outing, but when the piano loop and beat commence in "Still D.R.E.," it's obvious Dre is still light years ahead of the rest. The seemingly disparate styles of guest artists MC Ren, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem are all unified by Dre's singular musical vision. What makes this record stand out from any other gangsta rap recording before it, however, are the flashes of brutal honesty that pepper the lyrics ("What's the Difference"). Something about Dre's persona and delivery softens his often misogynistic, violent lyrical content. It's as if the audience understands he's only posturing and knows that, deep down, he is a dedicated family man (something he proudly admits). Other standouts on this highly impressive return to the spotlight include "F*** You," "Big Ego's," and the self-explanatory "Still D.R.E."