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10 Essential Hip-Hop Albums

By Henry Adaso, About.com

4 of 10

#7. Dr. Dre - The Chronic

Album cover: © Death Row

Dre's funky bass lines and heavy synths, coupled with the lyrical showcase from the likes of Snoop and RBX, changed the sound of hip-hop and made The Chronic a household name in the genre. But most importantly, The Chronic was instrumental in the commercialization of gangsta rap by introducing the G-Funk style of hip-hop to the mainstream. Dr. Dre's groundbreaking solo debut also served as a podium for bourgeoning west coast rappers including Lady of Rage, Kurupt, Daz, and Snoop Dogg. From the abrasive Eazy-E dis, "Dre Day", to the headphone favorite, "Nuthin' But A G Thang", Dre's chemistry with Snoop was as captivating as it was refreshing.

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  • Nuthin' But A G Thang
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