B-side "Still D.R.E" Format CD Length 3:42 | Released January 29, 2000 Recorded 1999 | |
Genre Hardcore hip hop · gangsta rap | ||
"Forgot About Dre" is a Grammy Award-winning single from rapper Dr. Dre's 2001, featuring vocals from rapper Eminem. The track reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 14 on the U.S. R&B chart, No. 32 on the U.S. Pop chart, and No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart. Released as the album's second single on January 29, 2000, like "Still D.R.E.", the song addresses Dre's critics in a defiant manner, as Dre announces his return to the hip-hop scene and reminds listeners of his significant influence on the genre. "Forgot About Dre" won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 2001 Grammy Awards.
Contents
Background
The song is considered to be a response to disses made by Death Row artists on Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000, a compilation released by Suge Knight which takes its title from Dre's 1992 album The Chronic. The line "Who you think brought you the oldies, Eazy-E's, Ice Cube's, and D.O.C.'s, the Snoop D.O. Double G's, and the group that said 'Motherfuck the police'?" outlines Dre's importance in the rap world, the theme of the song. Eminem's verse features the bizarre violence and aggression typical of his "Slim Shady" alter ego.
Music video
In the music video, a few explicit lines in Eminem's verse are replaced with a skit in which Eminem is answering reporter Jane Yamamoto's questions about a fire he and Dre had started. It also features Hittman, who was not in the official song. This video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video in 2000.
Critical reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of All Music marked it as a stand-out track praising Eminem's unpredictability. NME described this song: "In case folks been smoking too much heavy 'chronic' lately, West Coast rap founder and scary legend Andre Young, aka Dr Dre, jogs their memories on 'Forgot About Dre'. "Who you think brought you the OGs, Eazy Es, Ice Cubes and DOCs, the Snoop- D-O-G-Gs and the group that said motherfuck the police?" yammers the one-time NWA lynchpin, ex Death Row playa, inventor of - G-Funk and occasional breaker of rival producers' jaws. Yo, indeed, big bad Dre's back and, despite a four-year gap since his last hardcore missive, the Doc's recent collaboration with Eminem on 'The Slim Shady LP' has kept his legend simmering." Chris Massey of PopMatters praised: "[...] it’s the frantic rap of Eminem that truly stands out, perhaps only because he’s the freshest voice on board." Greg Tate of SPIN magazine noted that Dr. Dre uses this song to make sure all recognize his "majesty" with Eminem standing by him like a cartoon pitbull.
Track listing
- "Forgot About Dre" (Video Version) - 3:42
- "Still D.R.E." (featuring Snoop Dogg) - 4:34
- "Forgot About Dre" (Instrumental) - 3:42
- "Forgot About Dre" (Explicit Music Video) - 3:45
- "Forgot About Dre" (Clean Version) - 3:42
- "Still D.R.E." (Clean Version) (featuring Snoop Dogg) - 4:34
- "Forgot About Dre" (Instrumental) - 3:42
- "Forgot About Dre" (Clean Music Video) - 3:45
- "Forgot About Dre" (Director's Cut Video Version) - 4:28
- "Forgot About Dre" (A cappella version) - 3:36
- "Forgot About Dre" (Instrumental) - 3:42
- "The Next Episode" (Instrumental) - 2:41