When you hear Dre's name nowadays it is usually alongside words like "the most innovative producer of the hip hop/rap" scene. His solo cd's "The Chronic" and "Chronic 2000" along with cd's by Snoop Dogg and Eminem have garnered him this recognition.

But let's step back to 1996. At the time Dre quit Death Row records. He was considered a producing genius and it was believed that his next projects would sell millions.

But on 11/26/96, he released the "Aftermath" on his own label and it was a commercial flop.




It was rumored that Dre was trying to re-unite the members of N.W.A. as he needed a commercial hit after this defeat. Of course, luckily for him, Eminem practically fell into his lap and the rest is history.

But where would Dre be now if Eminem hadn't been discovered?

I am sure he would have found someone else to produce. He makes hella good beats. His Cronic 2001 sold millions and Eminem was only on 2 of the songs. So I think he wouldn't have been SOOO big but he would still be around.

Perhaps a better question would be: Where would Eminem be without Dr. Dre? Certainly his early stuff relies heavily on the mixes and basslines that Dr. Dre made famous back in the days of "The Chronic". He probably would have made it regardless on his talent alone, but I think his music would sound vastly different. Sorry to hijack your thread. Please go about your business as before...

I can't believe I'm responding to a post like this but.....

Dr. Dre would be lounging on a yacht counting his millions from all the platinum albums he's produced.

Eminem didn't fall into his lap and he took a big risk signing a white rapper that no one had heard of.

All that "Dr. Dre presents the Aftermath" album was is a compilation. It was no big deal any way.

Look at Snoop, he pretty much has sucked since he stopped working exclusively with Dre. His albums aren't very good anymore and he sounds uninspired these days.

I agree with flabio --- Dre means more to the history and world of hip-hop than Eminem...

This is like asking "Where would Paula Abdul be without MC Skat Kat?"

Exactly. Precisely what I thought of saying before I even clicked on the thread.

I know the cd was just a compilation (seems most rap cd's nowadays have more than one rapper) but on the Chronic 2001 cd, Dre raps in two different songs: (Paraphrasing) "...my last album was the Chronic, ...." and "...when my last cd was out, you wasn't bumping me."

Obviously, Dre feels that both cd's were "his." And in both repsects he is correct. He had a lot of new artists featured on both cd's which never took off. Sure, Snoop isn't much w/out Dre. But Dre w/out Snoop and now Eminem wouldn't seem like much too me either.

As for counting his millions, he didn't have much when he relied on Suge to bankroll Death Row. And Suge made it clear that Dre left w/practically nothing.

As for hijacking my own thread, my answer is this. Eminem has a lot of talent and drive. He would have been discovered by somebody. Look at what Jay-Z has "done" for Ja Rule. Ja was an unknown who used his bit part on Jay-Z's song to make himself one of the most requested "guest" rappers in recent memory.

So I think Em would have been fine w/out Dre, just maybe not as successful.

What an interesting proposition.

Just where the hell would Paula Abdul be without MC Skat Kat?

The world waits - hushed and breathless - for an answer.

Actually that was Ja Rule's song that he gave to Jay-Z to put on the Rush Hour soundtrack. It was originally going to be on his debut album. Until his popularity exploded like it has he said he sometimes kicked himself for giving it away.

O-kay. I think Dre would have pushed much harder for an N.W.A. reunion cd because his label would have gone under w/out it (or Em). He would have crumbled under the on slaught of new rappers and would have been lost in a sea of hip-hop'ers today.

Dre would be past tense. Old School. Talked about the same way people talk about Quincey Jones. Factualy, some rappers might have even dissed Dre if he had a string of commercial flops.

Word.

Eminem would be no where if dre didn't take a BIG chance on him.

I dunno. Where would Walt Disney be without Haley Mills? OK, probably still in a freezer in Anaheim, but you get my point, right?

An even better question would be: Where would Dr. Dre be without Parliament/Funkadelic samples?

AMEN!

true dat

p funk rules

Sampling doesn't have much to do with the overall production style of Dre. Sure, he is leaning on it way too much lately, but his flow is still good without the obvious samples. Wouldn't have been enough to save his career if there wasn't Em, though.

Dr. Dre would still be making mo money than you could imagine....Eminem didn't save the Docta...

How could there be an N.W.A. reunion CD in '96 or later when Easy-E died in '95? Has MC Ren done anything relevant since the breakup(although the tune You Wanna **** Her is one of the songs I most often quote and I'll just randomly think of it for no apparent reason)? Sure, you'd have the Cube factor, but I really doubt a remaining members of N.W.A. reunion would have been all that.

I believe Dre would only be relevant as a historical figure if not for Eminem. He could be chillin' with Luther Campbell and Snoop Dogg on a houseboat in Florida these days. Where would Eminem be without Dre? Tough to say, but it would probably make an interesting story on VH-1 like Kid Rock's someday. It blows my mind that 26 year old women enjoy his singles, just as there are 50 year old women who do. People who would change channels as soon as they hear that H to the Izzo, V to the Izza crap sing along with Eminem.

So dre has done nothing else apart from eminem, is that the message?

I am not a huge follower of dre/eminem and the rest, but what about Mary J BLige's Family Affair, I believe Dre produced that, and that is making him some money..

I imagine a lot of people don't even know dre is behind eminem. He would certainly not be hurting for sure.

Place me in the where would eminem be without Dre camp

Snoop Dogg was announced as an N.W.A. "member" by Cube and Dre, which would have allowed him to take Easy place on any future cd's.

Em's talent would have landed him somewhere. I've yet to hear any interview in which he was trying for years to get signed by anyone.

Now Dre has said many times that he prefers producing, especially new acts since they tend not to question his production skills. That Mary Blige was prolly a one time few and far between deal.

And as I've said, from his BTM interview it doesn't sound as if he left Death Row with as much money as he should have.