When the excitement over Detox started up again last year, Dr. Dre even teased his next, next album -- an instrumental project called The Planets, with songs inspired by the "personalities of each planet." We're still waiting for Detox, so the chances of ever hearing Dre go all Gustav Holst are slim, but a nutty, no-rapping release about space actually sounds more interesting than a decade-in-the-making sequel to The Chronic 2001. Plus, there's plenty of enthusiasm for boundary-pushing instrumental hip-hop right now.
The subgenre quietly and creatively returned this year, and last month saw the arrival of two game-changing releases: Electronic Dream by Dipset producer Araabmuzik; and Rainforest from Lil B beatmaker Clams Casino. Making a similar instrumental move could be a savvy career shift for Dre -- someone who once had his finger on the pulse of burgeoning trends, yet now seems to be chasing them.
But that's not going to happen. "Detox coming soon!" will remain the mantra. For AraabMuzik and Clams Casino, though, who've come up in the digital era where free downloads and iTunes albums reign, a production credit (let alone cash) for their work is hard to come by. Stepping out of the box and doing their own mini-versions of The Planets is almost a necessity. Instrumental albums are the culmination of a rising profile and a reasonable answer to the increased artistic excitement generated by their experimental beats.
I love the idea of The Planets album if it were to ever see the light of day. Dre definitely has the talent and capability to create something cosmic. Alot of the hip hop music back in the early 80s(electro) era were done instrumental Examples Chris the Glove" Ichiban scratch " Hashim "Primose Path" Jonzun Crew "Pack Jam " If anyone on here get's a chance look up these old songs they're pretty descent Chris the Glove is actually credited for work on the original Chronic I am almost as excited to hear of this project than Detox
ReplyDeleteU know i have the planets blog too lol - still tweakin it but u will find this piece of news over there too ; )
ReplyDeletewhere can I find your 'the planets' blog?
ReplyDeleteIt's a nice thought, personally I'm into this whole concept of a spacey instrumental album but I'm not going to hold my breath. I don't think Dre ever mentioned it again or ever will, the thing just seemed to slip publicly because it's something he thought was an interesting idea to play with at the time and perhaps did spend some time on it in the studio, but Dre has a whole laundry list of projects he never got around to halfway finished. He isn't capable of sticking to anything or anyone for too long. Anyone seriously waiting for this should save themselves the frustration.
ReplyDeleteI'd like nothing more than Dre to finish Detox and step back from mainstream hip-hop to do genuinely interesting and creative shit he wants to do. Dre is capable and after a while it feels like he can do more than what he's been doing. It'll never happen because almost everyone will be bugging him for a beat or executive producer work until he dies but it's a lot of veteran talent going to waste signing and producing the same rap shit for an eternity in an industry that's more and more detached to quality or real shit and more about selling ringtones. The man is 50-years-old and maybe it's his time to score films, bring to musical life ideas and concepts no one else has done like The Planets, and move on to a higher plane in his career. It would be nice if Detox was the ultimate send-off so he can put his effort into things that have a longer reach than producing gangster rap for another flavor of the month.
the planets blog
ReplyDeletehttp://drdre-theplanets.blogspot.com/
still in the works.
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg Connect in Cannes
ReplyDeleteDr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
It was a West Coast reunion overseas when Dr. Dre met up with Snoop Dogg in Cannes, France. The hip-hop veterans, along with Warren G, kicked it at Gotha nightclub for Snoop’s concert presented by Beats by Dr. Dre. Tha Doggfather surprised guests when he brought out a buff Dre to share the stage with him on their Cali classics. Envy the lucky partygoers by peeping the rest of the pics.
Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre
Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Warren G
Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
Snoop and lil wayne should do a album together produced by dre swizz beats pharell and fred wreck.
ReplyDeleteThank god that will never happen.
ReplyDelete