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For rap aficionados, ‘The Chronic’ is a sacred text. The 1992 debut by Dr Dre launched the former N.W.A. rapper as a solo artist as well as giving Snoop Dogg his first major features. And yet, due to an exclusivity deal signed in 2015, ‘The Chronic’ has never been available to stream through most of the major music platforms – until now.
That changes this April 20 (that’s right: 4/20), when you’ll finally be able to stream the album in full on your favourite streaming service.
What’s been the hold-up? Well, back in 2011, Dre won a legal case against his former label Death Row Records, giving him control over future releases of ‘The Chronic’. In 2015, the album became available via Apple Music, which had bought Dre’s company Beats Electronics – but stayed off iTunes, Spotify, Tidal and all the other big streaming services. Now the eOne distribution company has brokered a deal to make the album available all over, at long last.
‘The Chronic’, which features the massive bangers ‘Nuthin’ but a “G” Thang’ and ‘Bitches Ain’t Shit’, was selected by the US Library of Congress earlier this year as one of a handful of records ‘worthy of preservation because of their cultural, historical and aesthetic importance’, along with the singles ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston and ‘Y.M.C.A.’ by the Village People. So that’s testament to the album’s serious cultural clout. Enjoy it responsibly this 4/20.
Stream ‘The Chronic’ on Spotify from Monday April 20.
Also coming up: these incredible live-streaming concerts by major artists.