Few can dispute Dr. Dre's status as one of, if not the, greatest producers of all time. Yet one of Dre's most valuable assets is also one of his most undersung. The man is a phenomenal sound engineer. One listen to 2001 is all the proof you need; though the album came out in 1999, the sonic work stands alongside any album mixed today. In truth, only those interested in the art of making music will likely appreciate Dre's groundwork behind the boards. Yet the fact that he took an active role in mixing Anderson .Paak's upcoming Oxnard means the project will be governed by Dre's capable hand. And that is, for all the fellow Dre fans out there, an exciting prospect.
Anderson recently sat down for the second episode of his Beats 1 series .Paak House Radio, alongside legendary producers DJ Premier and Pete Rock. The trio went on to receive a call from Dre, who spoke a little bit about his involvement in the upcoming Aftermath record. I started out as an engineer, right from DJing, I went in and started engineering. So, my first love was the mixing board before I even thought about being a producer," explains Dre. "I didn't even know I was going to be a music producer or whatever. I thought I was going to be an engineer. So I spent a tremendous amount of time behind the mixing board just practicing and honing in that skill. So, that's why I think I'm at the place I am with these mixes now."
"I usually try to go out and listen to mixes on a stock system in a car," he continues. "'Cause I feel like I'm making music for people in their cars. That's where you spend most of your time listening to music. How often are you out in the club? Once or twice a week? But you're in your car every day. So that's where I'm trying to make my music for."
Interesting food for thought from one of the greatest to ever do it. On a more lighthearted note, Andy actually prank calls Wale. Upon requesting $1500 for an emergency Roscoe's order, Wale comes through like the homie you wish you had. "I got you," says Wale, coming through in the clutch. "You about to have one of the album of the year, bro." Once the beans are spilled, Wale's reaction says it all. Peep the hilarious prank call, along with Dre's insight below.