Legendary producer Dr. Dre shares candid thoughts on modern hip-hop, admitting his lack of inspiration from today's music landscape while reflecting on his own creative journey.
- Dec 18, 2024
AceShowbiz - Dr. Dre isn't feeling the vibe of modern hip-hop. He opened up about his views on the current state of hip-hop during a conversation with Complex to promote his latest album "Missionary" with Snoop Dogg. "I don't want to be disrespectful to anybody right now, but I'm not really inspired by what's happening with hip-hop these days. It's not for me," he stated.
He emphasized that his lack of excitement for contemporary hip-hop helps him stay focused on his craft, saying, "I haven't heard anything that makes me go, 'F***, why didn't I do that?' I haven't heard that in a long time, which makes my job easy, to be honest."
Dre's comments may come as a surprise to some, given his influential role in shaping the genre. However, he clarified that his perspective isn't meant to disrespect the work of current artists. Instead, it's a reflection of his personal taste and artistic drive.
Despite his reservations about today's hip-hop, Dre remains deeply committed to his music. He revealed that working on "Missionary" with Snoop Dogg allowed him to tap into what he loves most about creating music.
"Snoop came in and allowed me to get down the way I get down. You know, I feel like this is some of my best work. Because my mentality for the musicianship and everything that goes into doing this s*** within those 12 notes has just advanced so much," he said.
Interestingly, Dre also shared that he doesn't enjoy listening to his old material. Reflecting on his extensive career, he said, "I don't listen to any of the songs I've ever made since 1985, which is when I started. I don't even allow my family or anybody to play that s*** around me."
He acknowledged that the recording process itself is what brings him the most joy, rather than revisiting past work. "Just recording the albums, and I'm listening to it enough while we're recording, and when we finish recording, I wake up listening to that s*** once it comes out. I'm ready to listen to the next s***," he explained.
As for the music that has inspired him recently, Dre pointed to Kendrick Lamar's critically acclaimed albums "good kid, m.A.A.d city" (2012) and "To Pimp a Butterfly" (2015). Both projects feature Dre's contributions and showcase the talents of one of his protégés.
In a time when the hip-hop landscape continues to evolve, Dr. Dre's perspective offers a thought-provoking commentary on the genre and underscores his unwavering dedication to the art of music creation.
