CD Review: The Chronic

1) The Chronic
2) Fuck wit Dre Day
3) Let Me Ride
4) The Day the Niggaz Took Over
5) Nuthin' But a "G" Thang
6) Deeez Nuuuts
7) Lil' Ghetto Boy
8) A Nigga Witta Gun
9) Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat
10) The $20 Sack Pyramid
11) Lyrical Gangbang
12) High Powered
13) The Doctor's Office
14) Stranded on Death Row
15) The Roach
16) Bitches Ain't Shit
Yes, this album glorifies gangs. Yes, this album is an ode to marijuana. Yes, this album degrades women.
But is the album worth a listen? Yes. Can one deny the artistic merit of the rapping and production? No.
The beats are just THAT good. Dre created the sound of the gangsta, one defined by fat bass on the bottom, whiny synthesizers on top, and funky drums somewhere in the middle. Dre tops these amazing instrumentals with soulful hooks - like that of "Let Me Ride" - and crazy rhymes - well, the whole album.
The intro lets you know what you're in for with the other 15 tracks - a young, certifiably insane Snoop mocks Eazy-E and his Ruthless Records crew and shows love for his...um...ninjas? You know what I mean. "Fuck wit Dre Day" continues the announcement of Death Row's arrival, in case there was still anyone out there who wants to mess with Dre and Snoop.
It's been said that this album is the one that legitimized gangsta rap. With rapping and beats miles better than anything on Jam'n's play list, the disc proves that the genre is as much an art form as any other. The disc remains the soundtrack of criminals all over the US, and, at the moment, the music to which this nerdy high school senior in the suburbs updates his news blog.
****1/4 out of five