On this date in 1993, Dr. Dre launched the second single from his landmark debut solo album The Continual — the explosive diss observe “Dre Day.” Formally titled “Fuck wit Dre Day (And Everyone’s Celebratin’),” the music marked a pivotal second in early ’90s West Coast rap. Produced by Dre and that includes a younger Snoop Dogg, “Dre Day” didn’t simply function a radio smash — it was a lyrical missile aimed toward former allies and rivals alike.
Dre directed photographs at former N.W.A. accomplice Eazy-E, South Florida provocateur Uncle Luke, and Bronx rapper Tim Canine. Tensions between Dre and Eazy have been already boiling after N.W.A.’s breakup, fueled by accusations that Eazy and supervisor Jerry Heller had mismanaged and profited off group members. The observe additionally included sly digs at Ice Dice — a fellow N.W.A. alum who had departed earlier after his personal dispute with Heller and the group.
Although Dre and Dice had lengthy been perceived as being on opposing sides, “Dre Day” consists of coded references to Dice — Dre mentions creeping via South Central (Dice’s neighborhood) on a “Avenue Information mission,” a nod to Dice’s file label, Avenue Information Productions. Dre additionally raps about recognizing somebody carrying a White Sox hat, one other staple of Dice’s picture on the time. A couple of bars later, Dre flips the title of Dice’s then-current single, “Verify Yo Self,” rapping, “You tryin’ to verify my homey, you greatest verify yo self.”
Curiously, Dice wasn’t mocked within the now-infamous “Dre Day” music video, which took purpose primarily at Eazy-E and Luke. As a substitute, Dice appeared months later in Dre’s “Let Me Experience” video, signaling that the 2 West Coast legends had quietly buried the hatchet.
“Dre Day” set off a series response of diss data. Eazy-E clapped again with the scathing “Actual Muthaphuckkin G’s,” whereas Tim Canine launched a complete EP titled Bitch With a Perm, and Luke responded with “Cowards in Compton,” full with a video spoofing Dre’s World Class Wreckin’ Cru roots and mocking the visuals from “Nuthin’ however a ‘G’ Thang.”
Greater than only a diss observe, “Dre Day” turned a defining second within the post-N.W.A. period — a mix of private vendettas, regional delight, and uncooked inventive vitality that helped cement The Continual as a West Coast traditional and reshaped the course of Hip Hop beefs for years to come back.