After contributing to changing the sound of hip-hop for over forty years and being behind the music of some of hip-hop’s greatest hits, Dr. Dre has cemented himself as a pioneer in the music industry. While reflecting on his career and life, Dr. Dre revealed how his health regime has changed since suffering a brain aneurysm just a couple of years prior.
In an interview on SiriusXM’s This Life of Mine with James Corden, the now 61-year-old music hip-hop mogul recalled having “three strokes” while in the hospital for his brain aneurysm in 2021.
When reflecting on the frightening ordeal, Dre further revealed to Corden, “It’s just something that you can’t control that just happens and during those two weeks, I had three strokes.”
When detailing what led to the trip to the hospital initially, Dre recalled waking up with a feeling behind his right ear that turned into “the worst pain.”
“I got up and I went on about my day, and I thought that I could just lay down and take a nap. My son had a female friend that was there and was like, ‘No, we need to take you to the hospital,'” he said. “So they took me to urgent care.” He was soon told it was “serious.”
After asking the doctors what he could’ve done to prevent the aneurysm, Dre said, “Nobody could give me an answer. I had no idea that I had high blood pressure or anything like that because I’m on my health s***. I’m lifting weights, I’m running, I’m doing everything I can to keep myself healthy.”
Black Americans have a higher prevalence of stroke and higher death rate from stroke than any other racial group. Stroke is a “brain attack” that most often occurs when blood that brings oxygen to your brain stops flowing and brain cells die. Black stroke survivors are significantly less likely to be treated for many complications, including fatigue, spasticity and depression, compared with white stroke survivors.
Not all the reasons are clear why Black people have an increased risk of stroke. We do know that there is a higher number of risk factors and societal challenges that may underlie new cases of stroke in Black Americans.
The experience of racism results in chronic discrimination, stress, and depression that adversely impacts Black Americans. Excessive stress can lead to long-lasting and cumulative damage to the body and brain, resulting in deteriorating health in early adulthood among Black populations.
• High blood pressure — Over half of Black adults have high blood pressure. It develops earlier in Black people and is often more difficult to manage. • Overweight and obesity — Almost 70% of black men and over 80% of black women are overweight or obese. • Diabetes — African Americans are more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites. • Sickle cell anemia — This common genetic disorder in African Americans is a risk factor for stroke. • High cholesterol — Nearly 25% of Black people have high levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol. • Smoking — Over 14% of black adults smoke, increasing their risk of stroke two- to fourfold. • Not exercising regularly — On average, fewer than half of Black adults meet the weekly goal of at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity (or a combination of both), which increases their stroke risk. • Stress — African American adults face daily stressors that may increase risk for stroke.
Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, was an original member of N.W.A. and is a music producer and entrepreneur. He produced some of the biggest names in hip hop, including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, The Game and Kendrick Lamar.
Before pioneering the G-funk sound and co-founding the legendary rap group N.W.A alongside Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella, Dr. Dre started out as a DJ in the early ’80s. Dre launched his solo career and dropped The Chronic in 1992, where his production technique and laid-back G-funk style made Dre highly influential. Here are just a few of the hits Dre created along his storied career.
The piano chords heard on Dr. Dre’s 1999 single “Still D.R.E.” make the track one of the best in Dre’s production legacy. Granted, the piano melody is thanks to Scott Storch, and the lyrics are penned by Jay-Z, but the song in its entirety has made it a favorite West Coast anthem. Dre uses the track to call out any haters and let them know he’s still one of the best, even though he takes long hiatuses between albums.
One of the interesting aspects of Eminem’s 2000 single “The Real Slim Shady” is how much the production sounds like something that could’ve been used in a cartoon. On the track, Eminem reflects on being the only Slim Shady, and anyone else trying to be like him is simply a phony.
Since Mary J. Blige is often regarded as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, it’s no wonder she teamed with Dr. Dre on her 2001 single “Family Affair.” On the track, Blige wants people to forget about any worries or drama and focus on dancing and having a good time.
2Pac teamed up with Dr. Dre on his 1995 single “California Love.” While the West Coast anthem is about telling people how “California knows how to party,” the production would sound like a scary movie soundtrack if it were slowed down.
In 2003, 50 Cent released one of the most recognizable party anthems with his hit single “In Da Club.” The song embodies a number of elements that exude in the party scene, including money, drugs, sex, and nightclubs.
Dr. Dre may have taken a seven-year hiatus until dropping his sophomore album, 2001, but he came out the gate swinging with each single. He teamed up with Snoop Dogg and co-producer Mel-Man on the album’s third single, “The Next Episode.” Since its release, it has become one of Dre’s best singles and is easily known as a West Coast favorite.
Dr. Dre and Scott Storch teamed up to produce Eve’s 2001 single “Let Me Blow Ya Mind.” The sounds are pretty similar to a track that Dre would make for himself, but giving it to Eve helped land her Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
Dr. Dre got to show his production skills to the world as a member of the hip-hop group N.W.A. The group’s debut album, Straight Outta Compton, showcased the hip-hop sound of the late ’80s and early ’90s and how West Coast rap was on the rise.
In 1999, Eminem released his critically acclaimed album, The Slim Shady LP. He teamed up with Dr. Dre on the album’s second single, “My Name Is.” On the track, Eminem is ensuring audiences know precisely who he is early in his career.
While Dr. Dre is known to produce mostly for hip-hop and R&B artists, he also dabbled with pop artists. He produced Gwen Stefani’s 2004 single “Rich Girl” featuring rapper Eve. On the track, Stefani details how lavish her life would be if she had more wealth.
In 2004, The Game released his debut album, The Documentary. He worked with Dr. Dre and Mike Elizondo on the album’s second single, “How We Do.” Not only did the song become one of the year’s most successful tracks, but it became the ultimate party anthem.
“Gin and Juice” is the second single from Snoop Dogg’s debut album, Dogġystyle. Not only did the single showcase Snoop as one of the next big stars coming out of the West Coast, but it also helped introduce the world to the G-funk sound. The production of “Gin and Juice” is all thanks to Dr. Dre and Emanuel Dean.
While Dr. Dre took seven to years to release his sophomore solo album, 2001, many people criticized him for thinking his production fell off. On his 1999 track “Forgot About Dre,” he teams up with Eminem to respond to his critics.
In 2006, Jay-Z released his ninth studio album, Kingdom Come. He worked with producers Dr. Dre and Mark Batson on the album’s second single, “Lost One.” Using a sample of Mel and Tim’s “Keep the Faith,” Jay reflects on different situations he’s lost throughout his life. Although people go through various losses, people are still able to progress and prevail.
Snoop Dogg was introduced to the world with his 1993 debut single “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” Of course, the G-funk sound samples soul legends like George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog” and Parliament’s “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker).” While it was an introduction to Snoop, the lyrics were a great way not to forget his name.
In 1989, N.W.A. member The D.O.C. released his debut album, No One Can Do It Better. Dr. Dre’s signature sound was heard across the album, including the lead hit single “It’s Funky Enough.” The track was a No.1 smash hit on Billboard’s Top Rap Songs chart.
The artist was also told he had high blood pressure, which he said came as a surprise because he maintained a healthy lifestyle.
“I’m lifting weights, I’m running, I’m doing everything I can to keep myself healthy. I said, ‘Would that have prevented it if I had worked out a little bit harder or ate different or something like that?’ It’s like, no. That’s hereditary,” he said.
“When you go through that situation, it’s crazy especially when I was on my way home from the hospital because possibly, that couldn’t have happened,” the artist said. “I don’t know. It’s crazy, so now knowing that I had no control over that. It’s just something that could happen out of the blue.”
Dre was hospitalized for a brain aneurysm at a Los Angeles area hospital in 2021, his lawyer told NBC News at the time.
“Thanks to my family, friends and fans for their interest and well wishes,” Dre wrote in a post to his Instagram on Jan. 5, 2021. “I’m doing great and getting excellent care from my medical team. I will be out of the hospital and back home soon. Shout out to all the great medical professionals at Cedars.”
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