Dr. Dre
The producer behind the January 29, 2000 single "Forgot About Dre" featuring Eminem.
Dr. Dre is an American rapper and producer who released "Forgot About Dre" on January 29, 2000, as the second single from his album 2001 (1999). The track features Eminem and is often mistakenly thought to be a response to Suge Knight's compilation 'Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000', but that compilation was actually released in November 1999, before the song. In the song, Dre outlines his importance in the rap world by listing artists he brought forward, including DOC, Snoop D.O. Double G, and the group that said "Motherfuck the police." (Ice Cube is not included, as he was already established with N.W.A. prior to Dre's solo production career.) The track also addresses criticism regarding Dre's move toward pop music.
- Release Date
- January 29, 2000
- Album
- 2001 (1999)
- Single Number
- Second single
- Featured Artist
- Eminem
- Sample Source
- No sample used
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The song emerged as a calculated response to Death Row artists, though it is often incorrectly linked to the compilation 'Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000', which was actually released in November 1999, before the single. Dre uses his verse to reclaim his legacy, listing the heavy hitters he launched: DOC's, and Snoop D.O. Double G's careers. (Ice Cube is not listed, as he was already a star with N.W.A. before Dre's solo production.) He directly counters claims that he abandoned hip-hop for pop music. Eminem contributes a verse filled with the bizarre violence and aggression typical of his "Slim Shady" alter ego. Interestingly, these lyrics were originally written for Snoop Dogg; Eminem recorded them as reference vocals, but Dre liked the sound so much he kept Eminem's version instead. The track does not sample any other song.
In Their Own Story
Filming took place between December 24 and December 26, 1999, under director Philip G. Atwell. The video premiered on January 9, 2000. It opens at night with Dre rapping in front of a city newsstand while Eminem walks through dark streets. A specific scene replaces explicit lines in Eminem's verse: a skit where he answers reporter Jane Yamamoto's questions about a fire he and Dre started. The video concludes by switching to "Last Dayz" by Hittman, who raps the first verse of that track. This visual work earned the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video in 2000.
Reader's Guide
Critics hailed the track as a standout, with Stephen Thomas Erlewine praising Eminem's unpredictability and NME noting it jogs memories of Dre's accomplishments while keeping his legend simmering. PopMatters' Chris Massey highlighted Eminem's frantic rap as the freshest voice on board, while SPIN's Greg Tate described Dre asserting his majesty with Eminem standing by him like a "cartoon pitbull." The song is widely regarded as one of Eminem's best; Rolling Stone and The Guardian both ranked it number three on their lists of greatest Eminem songs. In an interview, Kendrick Lamar stated that this track and Six-Two's verse from "Xxplosive" tied for the best verses on 2001.
Did You Know?
- Eminem's lyrics for the song were originally written to be performed by Snoop Dogg.
- Dre kept Eminem's version after liking how he sounded performing them as "reference vocals."
- The music video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video in 2000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dr. Dre's role in Eminem's career?
He serves as both a legendary producer and mentor who was instrumental in launching Eminem to stardom. Their partnership is most famously highlighted on the single 'Forgot About Dre' from the album 2001.
When did the song 'Forgot About Dre' come out?
The track was officially released as the second single on January 29, 2000. It appears on Dr. Dre's 1999 studio album titled 2001 and features Eminem heavily.
Was 'Forgot About Dre' written to address Suge Knight?
No, fans often mistakenly believe it responds to the Chronic 2000 compilation, but that project actually launched in November 1999. The song instead focuses on Dre's personal legacy and the artists he cultivated.
Which rappers does Dr. Dre name-drop in the track?
Dre lists talents like The D.O.C., Snoop Dogg, and members of a group known for their anti-police lyrics within the verses. Ice Cube is notably left out because he had already achieved significant success independently.
Does 'Forgot About Dre' contain any music samples?
Production data confirms that no external samples were used to construct the instrumental beat for this single. The track relies entirely on original instrumentation created during the recording sessions.
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