Andre Young Andre Romell Young
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Dr. Dre Andre Romell Young pioneered G-Funk and gangsta hip-hop as a founding member of N.W.A. and producer of the seminal 1992 album The Chronic. He discovered and mentored Eminem and Snoop Dogg, co-founded Death Row Records and Aftermath Entertainment, and became a billionaire co-founder of Beats Electronics. His work earned him a Grammy for Producer of the Year in 2001 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2024.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Dr. Dre — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Dr. Dre by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Dr. Dre — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Born Andre Romell Young on February 18, 1965 in Los Angeles, California, Dre grew up in South-Central Los Angeles. He attended John C. Fremont High School and Centennial High School, but his education took a back seat to his growing passion for music. In the early 1980s, he began performing at house parties and clubs with the World Class Wreckin’ Cru, wearing a doctor’s mask and adopting the stage name Dr. Dre.
In 1986, Dre met Ice Cube and began writing songs for Ruthless Records, leading to the formation of N.W.A. with Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella. Their 1988 album Straight Outta Compton became a landmark in gangsta rap, notorious enough to draw an FBI warning. After Ice Cube left in 1989, Dre departed N.W.A. in 1991 to co-found Death Row Records with Suge Knight. There he discovered Snoop Dogg and produced the 1992 solo debut The Chronic, which pioneered G-Funk and became a multi-platinum success. Frustrated with Death Row’s turmoil, Dre left in 1996 to form Aftermath Entertainment. In 1998, he signed and produced Eminem, whose major-label debut The Slim Shady LP 1999 revived Dre’s career. He released the album 2001 and won his first Grammy for Producer of the Year in 2001. In 2014, he co-founded Beats Electronics, which Apple acquired for $3 billion.
Dre married Nicole Threatt in 1996; they separated in 2021. He has children: Curtis Young Hood Surgeon, La Tanya Danielle Young, Truice Young, and others including Tyra Young and Marcel born 1991 with singer Michel’le. His son Andre Romelle Young Jr. died in 2008. Dre’s half-brother Tyree was killed in a street fight in 1989.
Dr. Dre shaped the sound of West Coast hip-hop through his production work, launching the careers of Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and 50 Cent. The Chronic 1992 was the first gangsta rap album to achieve mainstream acceptance. The California Hall of Fame inducted him, and he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2024. The 2015 Oscar-nominated biopic Straight Outta Compton chronicled his life. Dre is remembered as hip-hop’s greatest producer and a transformative figure in music and technology.
The complete filmography of Dr. Dre — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Dr. Dre — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Dr. Dre — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
I Got Ice Cube His Start. I Also Launched Eazy-E. There Ain’t No Question That NWA Became What It Was in Large Part Because of My Music and My Producing. Me and Eazy Had Agreed from Jump Street That We Was to Be Partners. Now Eazy Says He’s the Owner of the Record Company, Ruthless. Well, Let Him Own It Then. but I Was Never Supposed to Be Signed to Him or Owned by Him.
The Only Two Things That Scare Me Are God and the IRS.
I’m Never Gonna Stop Music, It’s Like Air to Me.
I Am Never Going to Give Music Up.
You Got to Realise That When I Was 20 Years Old, I Had a House, a Mercedes, a Corvette and a Million Dollars in the Bank Before I Could Buy Alcohol Legally.
People Are Always Coming up to Me, Thinking I’ve Got Some Magic Wand That Can Make Them a Star and I Want to Tell Them That No One Can Do That. Making Hit Records Is Not That Easy. but It Took Me Time to Realize That Myself.
When I Think of the Future, I Think a Lot of Quincy Jones and How He Is an Inspiration. Look at the Quality of His Work Over so Many Years. He Didn’t Even Make His Best Record, ‘Thriller,’ Until He Was 50. That Gives Me Something to Look Forward To. Nothing Pulls You Back into the Studio More Than the Belief That Your Best Record Is Still Ahead.
I’ve Looked at Pictures That My Mom Has of Me, from When I Was Four Years Old at the Turntable. I’m There, Reaching up to Play the Records. I Feel Like I Was Bred to Do What I Do. I’ve Been into Music, and Listening to Music and Critiquing It, My Whole Life.
I Just Want to Get My Music Out and Make Sure That It’s Heard in the Right Way.
Black Women Are the Strongest Most Hardworking People on Earth.
I Always Loved the Way Music Made Me Feel. I Did Sports at School and All, but When I Got Home, It Was Just Music. Everybody in My Neighborhood Loved Music. I Could Jump the Back Fence and Be in the Park Where There Were Ghetto Blasters Everywhere.
When the Ideas Are Coming, I Don’t Stop Until the Ideas Stop Because That Train Doesn’t Come Along All the Time.
Engineering and Mixing Are Absolutely Key. Once a Song Is Done, for Me Personally, It’s Usually Two or Three Days to Get the Mix Down.
I Had Fun Doing It, but Acting Ain’t Really My Thing. I Am More of a Production/director Type. I Would Rather Be Behind the Scenes and Organizing and Putting Things Together Like That.
I’d Rather Deal with Tipper Than Bush. He’s Trying to Kill Everybody in Jail.
Anyone That’s Trying to Do Something to Improve Sound… That’s All Good.
Before Now, I’ve Always Taken My Mixes Out to the Car and Listened to Them in the Parking Lot. I Still Do That, but More so Now I’m Listening to It on the Beat Box, and I Think People Should Give It at Least a Listen and Check It Out and See What It Is.
Mission Accomplished, We Didn’t Have Any Problems as Far as Violence Goes.
In Fact, I Would Advise Against Anyone Doing Reality Shows. I Won’t Be Doing ‘X Factor’ Just Yet.
I’m Gonna Try and Change the Course of Hip Hop Again.
I Believe in Reincarnation, and I Believe I’ve Lived Quite a Few Lives. I Was at This Party and There Was This Psychic, This Little Old Lady with a Flower in Her Hair. I Don’t Believe in That Stuff. I’m the Biggest Skeptic. But, Hey, It Was a Party, and I Decided to Sit Down with Her. She Looked Right Through Me, Kind of Freaked Me Out. She Did Past-life Regression. She Started Telling Me Things That I Really Believe. She’s Telling Me That I’ve Been Back Several Times Before. She Says, This Is the Last Time You Have to Come Back. You Don’t Have to Come Back Anymore If You Don’t Want To. I Was Taking It as Entertainment. but Something Inside Me Was Saying, Hmmm.
I Have Social Anxiety. I Don’t Like Being in the Spotlight, so I Made a Fucking Weird Career Choice. That’s the Reason for My Mystique and Why I’m so Secluded and Why Everybody Knows Nothing About Me.
Little-known facts about Dr. Dre — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Became an employee of Apple Inc. on May 28, 2014 after Apple announced it would purchase his company Beats Electronics.
Credited with discovering rapper Eminem.
First hip-hop artist to gain mainstream acceptance with gangsta music via the album The Chronic 1992.
Reconciled with fellow MC and actor Ice Cube in 1993 after Cube’s departure from NWA in 1990.
His stepbrother Warren G played a demo tape of Snoop Dogg at a party, leading Dre to record the theme for the film Deep Cover 1992.
On February 21, 2001, Dre became the first hip-hop producer to win a Grammy for Producer of the Year; he was also nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for Forget About Dre with Eminem.
His son Andre Romelle Young Jr. passed away on August 23, 2008 at their Woodland Hills, California home.
Forbes magazine estimated his net worth at $740 million.
Father of Curtis Young, Tyra Young, Marcel born 1991 with singer Michel’le, son Truth born 1997, and daughter Truly born 2001.
Initially did not want any part of the Oscar-nominated biopic Straight Outta Compton 2015; he was portrayed by Corey Hawkins.
Assaulted TV hostess Dee Barnes on Pump It Up 1989 in retaliation for her interviewing Ice Cube about a derogatory comment against NWA.
One of his half-brothers, Tyree, was killed in a street fight on June 25, 1989.
Voted the 54th Greatest Rock n Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.
Founded the record label Aftermath Entertainment in 1998.
Departed from Death Row Records on March 22, 1996 to create his own label, Aftermath Entertainment.
Ranked #7 on VH1’s 50 Greatest Hip Hop Artists.
Founded Beats Electronics with Jimmy Iovine.
Won an MTV Music Video Award for the hit single Keep Their Heads Ringin 1995; the video starred Chris Tucker stealing a Boeing 747.
Awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6840 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on March 19, 2024; Snoop Dogg and Jimmy Iovine were guest speakers.
His third studio album Detox was announced in 2001 but remains unreleased as of 2014.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Dr. Dre.
Celebrities similar to Dr. Dre — same craft, ranked by reach.
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