Image via Complex Original
Dre Day is coming a day earlier than expected. Slated to release this Friday, Dr. Dre's first album in 16 years, Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre, will be exclusively streamed on Apple Music this Thursday. Longtime collaborators and protégés will make appearances as Ice Cube, Xzibit, and Above the Law's COLD 187um are once again lending their talents. While, Kendrick, Game, Snoop, Eminem, Jon Connor, King Mez, and newest Aftermath signee Justus round out the new class, Candice Pillay, BJ the Chicago Kid, Anderson Paak, Asia Bryant, Jill Scott, and Marsha Ambrosius will all lend their vocal talents as well. With the news that he scrapped the long-awaited Detox because "[he] didn’t like it," it's fair to have somewhat good expectations for this upcoming release. We can all thank the Straight Outta Compton movie for serving as the inspiration for this album.
With all the new faces on this project, we decided to give you guys a brief bio on each guest feature. Check 'em out below.
Angel Diaz is a staff writer for Complex. Follow him @ADiaz456.
King Mez
Featured on: “Talk About It,” “Darkside/Gone,” and "Satisfaction"
The North Carolina MC and producer is making a name for himself without the help of an industry machine behind him. He's opened for Wale, Big K.R.I.T., J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar, and has done well enough to inspire Dre to get him in the booth. Impressive for an independent artist, no? If you make good music, the Internet will always work in your favor. Long Live the King was his last project. Check his SoundCloud to enjoy his smooth delivery and entrancing production.
Marsha Ambrosius
Featured on: “Genocide,” “All in a Day's Work,” “Darkside/Gone,” and “Satisfaction”
One half of Floetry, the singer-songwriter has a surprisingly long history with Dre. She was briefly signed to Aftermath back in 2009, but the two have continued to work together. Dre was featured on “Stonger,” a track from her 2014 album, Friends & Lovers. Her voice feels like a summer night, and Dre certainly agrees as she's featured on four of the 16 tracks.
Candice Pillay
Featured on: “Genocide” and “Medicine Man”
Rap got their first taste of the South African singer's vocals on 50 Cent's “Bang Ya Head Harder” off his 2010 The Reconstruction tape. She independently dropped her album The Mood Kill last year, and it's pretty good, especially “Fall in Love.” Her voice will be a good edition to any track she's on.
Justus
Featured on: “Talk About It,” “It's All on Me,” and “Deep Water”
This might be the guy that really got Dre back on his shit. With the help of Dallas' almighty D.O.C., the Garland, Texas, native's demos made their way to Dre, and now he's signed to Aftermath. After he signed with the good doctor, his music has been hard to find on the 'net. The theory floating around the web is that he has some songs where he says “nigga,” and Dre and his team did their best to take his songs offline. We found this track that was posted on Jan. 30, 2015, on a YouTube page purporting to be his called Rap JT. The track in question confirms that he does indeed have a song where he says the word “nigga." However, it sounds very rough, like a demo or reference track, and he's freestyling over the "Go Hard" beat. This is just something to look out for once he gains more visibility. He kinda sounds like a mix of Kirko Bangz and Drake, which could be good or bad depending on your tastes. Or at least that's the vibe I get when I listen to this.
BJ the Chicago Kid
Featured on: “It's All on Me”
Although he's not signed to Interscope or Aftermath, the singer-songwriter is a TDE favorite. He's frequently collaborated with all four members of Black Hippy, and created impressive projects like 2012's Pineapple Now-Laters and last year's The M.A.F.E. Project tape. His TDE features definitely had to play a part in getting a placement on Dre's first album in 16 years. He's one of rap's best R&B features, the perfect mix of street and soul.
Anderson Paak
Featured on: “All in a Day's Work,” “Issues,” “Animals,” and “Medicine Man”
This L.A. artist's raspy vocals and pimp talk are perfect for a Dre project. After listening to his Venice album from 2014, it's no surprise that Anderson is featured on four tracks with one of those seemingly being a solo effort. This is his big break, and hopefully he takes advantage of this opportunity.
Kendrick Lamar
Featured on: “Genocide,” “Darkside/Gone,” and “Deep Water”
What would a 2015 Dre album be without King Kendrick? He has been anointed as the next Compton great and is living up to it. He got the doctor to rap again on "Recipe," and Dre has had him under his wing since Lamar signed with Interscope/Aftermath. Kendrick is on three tracks, including one with Dre's new rapper, Justus.
Xzibit
Featured on: “Loose Cannons”
Regardless of how you feel about Xzibit's TV personality, you can at least respect his skill behind the mic. He turned in impressive performances on Dre's last album, 2001, and his first couple albums were solid. His claim to rap fame, though, is the video to “What U See Is What U Get,” which is one of the most creative videos of all time. He's on a track with COLD 187um. Can't wait.
COLD 187um
Featured on: “Loose Cannons”
This man is a goddamn legend. Above the Law is one of the most slept on groups in rap, and yet their fingerprints are all over gangsta rap. COLD 187um a.k.a. Big Hutch has been fucking with Dre since the Ruthless Records days. This is a great sign. A Dre album ain't a Dre album without some gangsta shit. Check out "Murder Rap" to see what I mean.
Ice Cube
Featured on: “Issues”
It's good to see Cube and Dre making music again even if it's tied to the promotion of a movie. They've been best friends, they've been enemies, but through it all they've always remained legendary. They did right by N.W.A with the movie, so hopefully they'll do right with this album. Dre can finally ride off into the sunset and enjoy his fortune if this Compton soundtrack turns out to be good.
Snoop Dogg
Featured on: “One Shot One Kill” and “Satisfaction”
Come on, this was a no-brainer. Do I really have to break this guest feature down? Snoop and Dre are forever connected, and we're grateful for it. These two make beautiful music together.
Jon Connor
Featured on: “One Shot One Kill” and “For the Love of Money”
Jon hasn't really popped yet, but he's pretty nice. This placement should increase his visibility. Dre signed him in 2013 after the release of his debut album, Unconscious State. It also helps that he's from Michigan and has a tape where he's rapping entirely over Eminem instrumentals.
The Game
Featured on: “Just Another Day”
Another Dre understudy, Game's first album, The Documentary, is a favorite for many because of Dre's (and 50's) magic touch. His career hasn't really been the same since he left G-Unit and Interscope, so we're happy to see these two get back in the studio together. Hopefully this means Dre is really involved in Game's next album, The Documentary 2.
Asia Bryant
Featured on: “Just Another Day”
Asia has been making a name for herself for a hot minute. She wrote JLo's “Booty,” “A.K.A.,” and “Girls,” Miley Cyrus' “Bangerz,” and has worked with the likes of Quincy Jones, Killer Mike, and Ludacris, among others. The Atlanta-based singer-songwriter can now add Dre to that illustrious list. The tracks on her SoundCloud show a singer with extraordinary potential. Seems as if Dre is looking to launch a bunch of careers with this album.
Jill Scott
Featured on: “For the Love of Money "
Jill Scott made noise this year for all the wrong reasons due to her backing of Bill Cosby, which she eventually apologized for. However, that shouldn't take away from the fact Ms. Scott has one of the best voices of this generation. A throwback to '60's soul, Jill makes any song better. This is the first time she and Dr. Dre are working together, and she's on a track with Jon Connor. Should be fire.
Eminem
Featured on: “Medicine Man”
After Snoop, there was Em. Dre and Marshall's history together goes without saying. He has the help of two great vocalists (Candice Pillay and Anderson Paak) on the song he's featured on. Hopefully we can get a little taste of the old Slim Shady. He can still spit when he feels like it, as he's proven with his last couple freestyles.