#62 The Chronic by Dr. Dre

The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

2025 Album Rank

62

2011 Album Rank

153

Total Points

987

Year Released

1992

Billboard 200 Chart Peak

3

Weeks at #1

N/A

RIAA Sales Certification

3,000,000 (Multi Platinum)

Buy Album

Apple Music Amazon

The Chronic Album Details

The Chronic is Dr. Dre's debut solo album and a cornerstone of West Coast hip-hop, introducing the world to G-funk and redefining rap production in the early 1990s. Released on December 15, 1992, the album fused smooth, Parliament-Funkadelic inspired grooves with hard-hitting beats and street-level narratives. Coming on the heels of Dre's departure from N.W.A., it served as both a statement of independence and a showcase for his new creative vision, establishing Death Row Records as a powerhouse label.

The album not only launched Dre's solo career but also introduced Snoop Doggy Dogg to a national audience, with his laid-back flow becoming a perfect complement to Dre's polished production. Tracks like Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang, Let Me Ride, and Dre Day became instant classics, combining melodic synth lines, deep bass, and precise drum programming into a sound that would dominate West Coast rap for years. The Chronic remains one of the most influential rap albums ever made, both for its sonic innovations and its cultural impact.

Interesting Facts About The Chronic

• The title The Chronic is slang for high-grade marijuana, a recurring theme in the album's lyrics and imagery.
• Much of the album was recorded at The Solar Studios in Los Angeles, where Dre and his team would work marathon sessions, often fine-tuning beats for hours to achieve perfection.
• The single Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the defining tracks of 1990s hip-hop.
• Let Me Ride won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1994, and its video paid homage to classic lowrider car culture in Los Angeles.
• Many tracks feature uncredited contributions from future West Coast stars, including Nate Dogg, Warren G, Kurupt, and The Lady of Rage.
• The album was a key part of the highly publicized feud between Death Row Records and Eazy-E's Ruthless Records, with songs like Dre Day openly dissing Eazy-E and other rivals.
• Dre's production heavily sampled funk legends like George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and Leon Haywood, crafting a lush, laid-back sound that contrasted with the harder, minimalist beats of East Coast rap.
• The cover art, designed by D.Z. Washington, was inspired by the Zig-Zag rolling papers logo, reinforcing the album's marijuana theme.
• The Chronic was instrumental in bringing G-funk to the mainstream, influencing artists from 2Pac to Kendrick Lamar and shaping the sound of West Coast rap for decades.
• The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018 for its cultural and historical significance.

The Chronic Tracklist

1. The Chronic (Intro)
2. Fuck wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin') - Reached #8 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
3. Let Me Ride - Reached #34 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
4. The Day the Niggaz Took Over"
5. Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang - Reached #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
6. Deeez Nuuuts
7. Lil' Ghetto Boy"
8. A Nigga Witta Gun
9. Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat
10. The $20 Sack Pyramid (skit)
11. Lyrical Gangbang
12. High Powered
13. The Doctor's Office (skit)
14. Stranded on Death Row
15. The Roach (The Chronic Outro)
16. Bitches Ain't Shit

Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang Music Video

• Next Album: #61. Hunky Dory by David Bowie
• Previous Album: #63. Ramones by the Ramones