Dr. Dre: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies)

It is almost impossible to listen to a current hip-hop song that does not bear Dr. Dres influence. With innovations in style that started with the hip-hop group N.W.A. and later as a solo rapper and producer Dres influence and lasting impact on hip-hop music and culture is undeniable. He pioneered a new style of music that in the early 1990s would come to be known as gangsta rap and his proteges - Snoop and Eminem - are both considered some of the top rappers to emerge since rap was born on the streets of New York three decades ago. This biography traces Dres rise to fame a story that parallels the rise of hip-hop as one of the most dominant cultural forces in America.Dre came of age at the time when hip-hop culture (rapping breakdancing Deejaying and Graffiti art) began an underground trend in urban America. Chapters take the reader from Dres childhood in Los Angeles through his friendships early influences and the birth of his music career. Also discussed is the tragic tale of Death Row Records which culminates in the high-profile murders of rap artists Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. and serves as a lesson on what can go wrong when people in the rap business believe their own gangsta hype. Dres ability to survive in the rough-and-tumble rap industry is a testament to the power of artistic vision and the payoff of sheer persistence.A timeline highlights significant events in Dres life and career. A bibliography provides biographical sources reviews interviews critical articles and related Web site information.