Still D.R.E.: A Timeless Hip-Hop Anthem
Released on October 13, 1999, Still D.R.E. marked Dr. Dre’s grand return to the rap scene as the lead single from his album 2001. Featuring Snoop Dogg, the song initially peaked at #93 on the Billboard Hot 100 but surged in popularity over the years, re-entering the charts in 2022 and reaching #23. In the UK, it climbed to #6.
The track became a staple in Dre and Snoop’s live performances, from the Up in Smoke Tour in 2000 to the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show in 2022, where they were joined by Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, and Anderson .Paak. Most recently, Dre, .Paak, and Sheila E. performed Still D.R.E. at FireAid 2025 to support wildfire relief efforts in Southern California.
Background & Creation
Following the success of The Chronic (1992), Dr. Dre took a seven-year break from solo projects, producing for Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Tupac while crafting his comeback. For Still D.R.E., he enlisted Jay-Z to ghostwrite the lyrics. Initially, Jay-Z's draft focused on luxury themes, but Dre requested a grittier, West Coast narrative. In just 20 minutes, Jay-Z delivered the now-iconic lyrics.
Music Video & Legacy
Directed by Hype Williams, the video features Dre, Snoop, and others cruising in lowriders, with cameos from Eminem, Xzibit, Funkmaster Flex, and Warren G. A nod to Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang, the video remains a cultural staple, officially uploaded to Dre's YouTube channel in 2011. By February 2022, it surpassed one billion views, cementing its status as a hip-hop classic.