This isn't the Chronic, hell most rap and hip hop releases aren't. But still a very solid album from Dr. Dre that shows he is still on top of his game as a producer. It's pretty neat to see Dr. Dre as a wiser and older rapper in the music industry talking how it's evolved over time and stuff like that. It's definitely an interesting take for the rap world.

To me, the thing that drags it down is that there are far too many guests and it is a long album at 22 tracks. The second half is not as good either after Bitch Niggaz. Another thing is how many songs can be about pussy, guns, cars, and violence before it becomes a tired theme and it does on this album. Snoop does not sound as ready to go on this album as the Chronic. Sounds more tired and a lower tier rapper. I was impressed by Hitman on this album though and some tracks like Big Egos he does a great job. Eminem like most times does a great job as well and he's great on both What's the Difference and Forgot About Dre.

The skits especially the opening, Eddie Griffin's Ed-ucation and Pause 4 Porno are pretty funny.

Trackwise, I love the first half. If the first half was as good as the second half, it'd come close to the Chronic but the second half is pretty mediocre. The first half is loaded with great songs like Still D.R.E., XXplosive, Whats the Difference, Forgot About Dre, the Next Episode and the Watcher and Big Egos are often overlooked songs as well, but very good with interesting messages in them. The second half the best song is probably Let's Get High so there's a huge drop off. Still if you're a rap fan you'll love this one. Some great beats, guest appearances from familiar rappers and some great raps, the theme just tires after a while.

Amazing production. Flawless beats. But Dre still can't rap.

A solid release and a classic.

In terms of the more 'gangster' side of hip hop, and for being far after NWA, this is a solid rap album made by Dr. Dre. Though it's amazing how far he fell off after this.

It's tough, smooth, knocks the booty and shakes the rump. The album brings both time-earned attitude and time-honoring reverence, especially bookends "the watcher" ("Things just ain't the same for gangsters / Times is changing, young niggas is aging" and "Nigga we started this gangsta shit / And this the motherf*ckin' thanks I get?") and "the message" ("I'm anxious to believe in real G's don't cry / If that's the truth, then I'm realizin I ain't no gangsta"), w/ Mary J. Blige. In between's a lotta ballin', like on "fuck you", which starts with some pathetic ho crawlin' back on the phone to dre before he confesses "you's a bad girl ain'tcha? / gotta thank you for the head clinic". Tough to pick out quotes because these kinda rap songs are one long G jocularity. Snoop puts in his best rhymes since his debut. Other highlights = "still d.r.e." (w/ snoop), "xxplosive", "what's the difference?" (feat. eminem), "forgot about dre" (feat. eminem), "tha next episode" (w/ snoop again), "let's get high" and "bang bang", along with those bookends i talked about.

No one can ever make better hip hop records than Dr.Dre . High quality is the only way to describe his products. If only he could live forever.

1. THIS WAS INCREDIBLE!!! 2. Massive Deja Vu while listening to this. I can't help think of I have already listened to this without realizing I had. Very strange.

Best track: Still D.R.E.