2001

by Dr. Dre

Overview

The Slim Shady LP announced not only Eminem's arrival, but it established that his producer Dr. Dre was anything but passe, thereby raising expectations for 2001, the long-anticipated sequel to The Chronic. It suggested that 2001 wouldn't simply be recycled Chronic, and, musically speaking, that's more or less true. He's pushed himself hard, finding new variations in the formula by adding ominous strings, soulful vocals, and reggae, resulting in fairly interesting recontextualizations. Padded out to 22 tracks, 2001 isn't as consistent or striking as Slim Shady, but the music is always brimming with character. If only the same could be said about the rappers! Why does a producer as original as Dre work with such pedestrian rappers? Perhaps it's to ensure his control over the project, or to mask his own shortcomings as an MC, but the album suffers considerably as a result. Out of all the other rappers on 2001, only Snoop and Eminem -- Dre's two great proteges -- have character and while Eminem's jokiness still is unpredictable, Snoop sounds nearly as tired as the second-rate rappers. The only difference is, there's pleasure in hearing Snoop's style, while the rest sound staid. That's the major problem with 2001: lyrically and thematically, it's nothing but gangsta cliches. Scratch that, it's ueber-gangsta, blown up so large that it feels like a parody. Song after song, there's a never-ending litany of violence, drugs, pussy, bitches, dope, guns, and gangsters. After a full decade of this, it takes real effort to get outraged at this stuff, so chances are, you'll shut out the words and groove along since, sonically, this is first-rate, straight-up gangsta. Still, no matter how much fun you may have, it's hard not to shake the feeling that this is cheap, not lasting, fun. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/16/1999
Label:	Aftermath / Polydor
UPC:	0606949048624

Tracks

1. Lolo (Intro)
2. The Watcher
3. Fuck You
4. Still D.R.E.
5. Big Ego's
6. Xxplosive
7. What's the Difference
8. Bar One
9. Light Speed
10. Forgot About Dre
11. The Next Episode
12. Let's Get High
13. Bitch Niggaz
14. The Car Bomb
15. Murder Ink
16. Ed-Ucation
17. Some L.A. Niggaz
18. Pause 4 Porno
19. Housewife
20. Ackrite
21. Bang Bang
22. The Message

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Dr. Dre   Primary Artist,Lead Vocals
Knoc-Turn'al   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Charis Henry   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
MC Ren   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Mel-Man   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Bass,Vocals
Reil   Primary Artist
Thomas Chong   Primary Artist,Vocals
Ms. Roq   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
King T   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Traci Nelson   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Tracy Nelson   Primary Artist
Tray Deee   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Tray-D   Primary Artist
Six Two   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Snoop Dogg   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals
Devin the Dude   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
King Tee   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Kurupt   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
K.O.   Primary Artist
Chris Henry   Primary Artist
Eminem   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background),Vocals
Eddie Griffin   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Defari   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Nate Dogg   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Mary J. Blige   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
J Steed   Primary Artist
Jake Steed   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Eddie   Primary Artist
Eddie Friffin   Primary Artist
Hittman   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Xzibit   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Rell   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Time Bomb   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Timebomb   Primary Artist
Kokane   Featured Artist,Vocals
RBX   Guest Artist
Jake $Teed   Featured Artist
Devin   Featured Artist
Koka Kambon   Featured Artist
Sean Cruse   Guitar
Phish   Vocals (Background)
Taku Hirano   Percussion
Colin Wolfe   Bass
Mike Elizondo   Bass
Anthony Mana   Vocals (Background)
Camara Kambon   Keyboards
Scott Storch   Keyboards
T.Y. Nichols   Vocals (Background)
Scruncho   Vocals
Lord Finesse   Keyboards
Preston Crump   Bass
Carl Breeding   Keyboards
DJ Pen One   Scratching

Technical Credits

Traci Nelson   Performer
Six Two   Composer,Performer
Snoop Dogg   Composer,Performer
Andre Young   Composer
Devin the Dude   Composer
Kieran Walsh   Engineer
King Tee   Performer
Kurupt   Composer,Performer
Brian Bailey   Composer
Eddie Griffin   Performer
Elai Tubo   Assistant Engineer
Richard Bembery   Composer
Roger McBride   Composer
Marquese D. Holder   Composer
Defari   Composer,Performer
Ian Blanch   Assistant Engineer
S. Harris   Composer
Chris "The Glove" Taylor   Composer,Producer
Richard "Segal" Hureida   Engineer
Royce da 5'9"   Composer
Nate Dogg   Composer,Performer
Mary J. Blige   Performer
R. Weaver   Composer
Randy Muller   Composer
Alvin Joiner   Composer
Craig Longmiles   Composer
Ryan Montgomery   Composer
Royal Harbor   Composer
Isaac Hayes   Composer
Knoc-Turn'al   Composer
The D.O.C.   Composer
D. Johnson   Composer
Laylow   Composer
Eminem   Composer,Performer
Jeff Burns   Assistant Engineer
Jay-Z   Composer
MC Ren   Performer
Mel-Man   Composer,Producer
Mauricio "Veto" Irragorri   Assistant Engineer
Aaron Harris   Composer
Ms. Roq   Composer,Performer
King T   Composer
Raquel Weaver   Composer
Gerrell Gaddis   Composer
Hittman   Composer,Performer
Marquis Holder   Composer
Stefan Harris   Composer
Richard Bembry   Composer
Scott Storch   Composer
Royal Rosheam Harbor   Composer
Charles Azanvour   Composer
Racquel Weaver   Composer
Jason Lemiere   Assistant Engineer
Alex Slinn   Assistant Engineer
Marek   Assistant Engineer
Xzibit   Composer,Performer
Kokane   Performer
Jake $Teed   Performer
Crystal Johnson   Composer
Charles Aznavour   Composer
Patrick Shevelin   Assistant Engineer
Dr. Dre   Composer,Producer,Executive Producer
Lord Finesse   Composer,Producer
k.   Performer
Rell   Performer
Michelle Lynn Forbes   Assistant Engineer
Time Bomb   Composer,Performer
Calvin Broadus   Composer
Bill Curtis   Composer
Duane Johnson   Composer
Melvin Bradford   Composer
Steve Macauley   Assistant Engineer
Shawn Carter   Composer
Tom Gordon   Assistant Engineer
Daniel Romero   Assistant Engineer
Johnny Flippin   Composer
Wilbut Gerrell Gaddis   Composer
Nathaniel Hale   Composer
Robert Hall   Composer
Devin Copeland   Composer
Ricardo Brown   Composer
Ted Reiger   Assistant Engineer
David Tenhouten   Assistant Engineer
Tracy Curry   Composer
Marshall Mathers   Composer
Pete Novak   Assistant Engineer