Dr_Dre

Considered by some to be 'revolutionary rap visionaries', Dr. Dre (Andre Young), Ice Cube and otheres from L.A.'s Compton neighborhood were founding members of N.W.A. (niggas with attitude). "Fuck The Police", off their debut album 'Straight Outta Compton (1988) upset so many people that the group was investigated by the F.B.I. It also made NWA rich and famous overnight. After his split from the group, Dre first solo album, the Chronic, became the sixth biggest seller of 93. The album earned him 2 grammys. Dre's hot label, Death Row Records, launched the careers of Warren G and Snoop Dog: it grossed $75 million in 1994.

In the early 90's, Dre was sued by a women who accused him of assaulting her in a nightclub, and later by his ex colleague Eazy-E. The godfather of ganster rap was also convicted of assulting a record producer and arrested for punching a cop. On probation, he wore an electronic monitor, which meant he had to be at his million-dollar mansion by 9 p.m.It got worse in 94. After being pulled over for doing 90 in his Ferrari, Dre failed the alcohol test. He was sentenced to five months in the slammer for violating probation.

In 1996, a frustrated Dre split with Death Row, forming a new label, Aftermath, and released 'Dre Presents...The Aftermath' later that year. The album was a compolation of tracks by his protreges and only featured one track compiled by himself, "Been There Done That". Although the release didn't live up to critical expectations, listeners were introduced to a new, forward looking Dre, one who declared gansta rap to be dead.

Dre kept a low profile for the next few years, appearing briefly on duets including Kurupt, LL Cool J, Snoop Dog, and most notably, his new disciple Eminem. The Dre-produced Eminem record 'Slim Shady LP' featured the Doctor on Em's demon track "Guilty Conscience". This album both made Eminem one of the stars of 1999, but also brought Dre back to the peak of his career.

In 99, Dre finally released his second album, 2001, which quickly rose the charts to No 1. The record proved that the erstwhile king of rap haden't lost his touch, with chart toppers including 'Still D.R.E', and the touching 'The Message' which laments the loss of his brother saying: "from anxious to believing real G's dont cry, if thats the truth, then i'm realising it aint no gansta, its just not me...Sometimes, i wish i just died with you!"

While many of Dre's peers have succumbed either to violent death (2pac, Notorious B.I.G) or to relative obscurity, the doctor has kept his rhymres as fresh as ever. There seems no doubt that he will remain in the pantheon of hip hop legends for years to come.