Dr. Dre is still in the game

You may wonder, What does a 50-year-old millionaire have to write and rap about? On his first album in 16 years, Compton, Dr. Dre realizes youth is behind him and doesn’t try to portray himself as a gun-slinging thug in Compton. With a net worth of over $600 million in 2014, nobody would believe it anyway.

Compton presents a variety of guest appearances by old-schoolers and new-schoolers, ranging from Ice Cube to Kendrick Lamar, and contains an abundance of hooks and lines that grasps the listener's interest, keeping the material from going stale. Spitting lyrics of realization — “The world ain’t enough, I want it all. Goddamnit, I’m too old, I forgot I got it all” — Dre doesn’t sugarcoat his situation on “Talk About It,” he makes it known that he is the most successful rapper in history.

The collection keeps the head bobbing under the influence of N.W.A.’s landmark debut Straight out of Compton. Although the rawness can’t be replicated, “For the Love of Money” hits hard with lyrical grit courtesy of Jon Connor, recalling the past with a modern twist. “Satisfaction” has a similar feel with Snoop Dogg adding his signature delivery over funky bass lines. Lyrically, “Satisfaction” opens a can of worms on the rapper stereotype, claiming that all the cars, women, and mansions are just part of a fallacy. “It’s All on Me” delivers a Nate Dogg-esque chorus from BJ the Chicago Kid joined by Dre’s nostalgic flow on past rivalries and friendships.

Time can be a rapper’s worst enemy — 16 years between albums and 30 years in the business, you would expect an album of boredom and self-indulgence. Yet, on Compton, Dr. Dre stamps the fact that he is still in the game.

Album: Compton
Artist: Dr. Dre
Label: Aftermath, Interscope
Songs: (1) Intro (2) Talk About It, feat. King Mez & Justus (3) Genocide, feat. Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius & Candice Pillay (4) It’s All On Me, feat. Justus & BJ the Chicago Kid (5) All in a Day’s Work, feat. Anderson .Paak & Marsha Ambrosius (6) Darkside/Gone, feat. King Mez, Marsha Ambrosius, Kendrick Lamar (7) Loose Cannons, feat. Xzibit, Cold 187um (8) Issues, feat. Ice Cube, Anderson .Paak (9) Deep Water, feat. Kendrick Lamar, Justus (10) One Shot One Kill Jon Connor, feat. Snoop Dogg (11) Just Another Day the Game, feat. Asia Bryant (12) For The Love Of Money, feat. Jill Scott, Jon Connor (13) Satisfiction, feat. Snoop Dogg, Marsha Ambrosius, King Mez (14) Animals, feat. Anderson .Paak (15) Medicine Man, feat. Eminem, Candice Pillay, Anderson .Paak (16) Talking to My Diary