"2001", also known as The Chronic 2001 or The Chronic II, is the second studio album by American rapper and producer Dr. Dre, released on November 16, 1999, by Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. It followed his groundbreaking 1992 debut The Chronic. The album features guest appearances from several prominent artists including Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Xzibit, Hittman, Eminem, and Nate Dogg, and was produced mainly by Dr. Dre and Mel-Man, with additional contributions from Lord Finesse.
Musically, 2001 expands on the G-funk sound Dre pioneered on The Chronic, but with a more refined production style. The album touches on typical gangsta rap themes such as violence, crime, promiscuity, drug use, and street gangs. The album debuted at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and sold 516,000 copies in its first week. It has since been certified 6× Platinum by the RIAA and has sold 7.8 million copies in the U.S. as of 2015. 2001 was generally well-received by critics, who praised its production, though some criticized its explicit content.
The album's title underwent several changes during its creation. Initially, Dre planned to call it The Chronic II: A New World Odor, but after he left Death Row Records, the project was shelved. When Dre formed Aftermath Entertainment, Chronic 2000 was initially announced, but complications arose when Death Row Records' new distributor, Priority Records, used the same name for their album. A legal dispute followed, and Dre ultimately settled on the title 2001.
In an interview with The New York Times, Dre explained that his motivation for recording 2001 came from a desire to prove to fans and the media that he still had the ability to produce and rap at a high level. He also emphasized that the album wasn't intended to send any particular message, but rather to serve as pure entertainment with a mix of hard-core hip-hop and dark humor.
The recording process involved collaborations with several key figures, including Royce da 5'9", who is rumored to have ghostwritten some of Dre's verses. The production saw Dre moving away from the extensive use of samples that characterized The Chronic, instead employing a more minimalistic approach, using sparse beats and a blend of live instrumentation. Key collaborators included Scott Storch, who contributed piano, strings, and orchestration, and played a significant role in shaping the album's sound.
The album's production was widely praised for its innovation. Critics highlighted the sleek, clean beats, the use of ominous strings, and the combination of soulful vocals with reggae influences. Dre’s signature sound—lean beats, strategic silences, and pithy combinations of rap and melody—was also noted for its sophistication and depth.
Lyrically, 2001 has been both criticized and praised. The album contains explicit content, with lyrics often focused on themes of violence, drugs, promiscuity, and street life, which some found repetitive and excessive. However, many critics noted that Dre's flow and delivery remained top-notch, with his return to the forefront of hip-hop clearly articulated in tracks like "Still D.R.E." and "Forgot About Dre." The album also included "The Message," a somber track reflecting on the loss of Dre's brother, which some critics singled out as the album's standout moment, praised for its emotional depth and sincerity.
Overall, 2001 helped cement Dr. Dre's legacy as one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, with a sound that continued to define the genre for years to come.
