During his decades as a producer and rapper, Dr. Dre formed a few noteworthy partnerships. Dre has a partner artist for each new era, sharing ideas and songs and building his legacy and theirs.
The following five musicians have benefited most from Dre’s close connection. See the list below.
1. Eazy-E
Eazy-E’s 1987 breakthrough single “Boyz-n-the-Hood” launched his and N.W.A’s successful careers. Ice Cube wrote and Dre produced the song, one of many Eazy rapped on with Dre’s music. Since N.W.A was signed to Eazy’s Ruthless Records, Dre continued to promote Eazy’s career and business until his 1991 departure.
2. Snoop Dogg
After leaving N.W.A and starting his solo career, Dre often collaborated with Snoop Dogg. Snoop and Dre were signed to Suge Knight’s Death Row Records in the mid-1990s and did each other numerous favors, including producing Snoop’s debut album Doggystyle and appearing on Dre’s songs like “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang,” “Still D.R.E.,” and “The Next Episode.”
Dre is producing Snoop’s long-awaited successor to Doggystyle, Missionary.
3. Eminem
As the ’90s began to transition into the 2000s, Dre found himself collaborating with burgeoning Detroit MC Eminem more and more. In 1999, they guest-starred on each other’s albums, with Dre hopping on Em’s The Slim Shady LP as a producer, and as a rapper for “Guilty Conscience.” Em landed on Dre’s 2001 for the track “Forgot About Dre.”
As time went on, Dre continued to craft the sonics for many of Eminem’s greatest hits, such as “Without Me,” “The Real Slim Shady,” “Stan,” “My Name Is,” and more.
4. 50 Cent
Dre began working with Eminem more as the 1990s turned into the 2000s. Their 1999 cameo appearances included Dre producing Em’s The Slim Shady LP and rapping “Guilty Conscience.” Em appeared on Dre’s 2001 for “Forgot About Dre.”
Dre produced many of Eminem’s biggest songs, including “Without Me,” “The Real Slim Shady,” “Stan,” “My Name Is,” and others.
5. Kendrick Lamar
In the 2010s, Dre found a new talent to help him become a superstar. The boy was from his hometown of Compton, California. Dre’s knowledge and mixing skills enhanced Kendrick Lamar’s already-elite composition on his early singles and albums, including “Swimming Pools (Drank),” “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” and “Poetic Justice” with Drake.
