Prolific producer Dr. Dre, who put West Coast rap on the map as musical director/co-rapper for N.W.A., takes center stage on his solo debut “The Chronic.” Surrounding himself with a plethora of rappers, singers and musicians, Dre administers a hardcore assortment of funky rhymes. Hard to go too wrong when you lean heavily on classic P-Funk backing tracks.
It’s a competent if unspectacular LP that proves Dre’s strength is behind the mixing console, not in front of it. However, this release is highly noteworthy for exposing Snoop Doggy Dogg to the world on his way to becoming a superstar.
GRADE: B
