Beyond perhaps 50 Cent, no single music mogul has acquired and slept on so much potential talent as Dr. Dre. Busta Rhymes recently explained to Zane Lowe on Beats 1 that his album — which has been delayed for nine years — had taken so long due to Dre’s abrasive destroy and rebuild strategy, forcing him into square one.
It’s a bold and exciting strategy. However, when combined with a never-ending quest for unspoken perfection — and the pesky fact that only so many hours exist in a day — the results mean that some albums never see the light of day, or even get started.
That was the case with the laundry list of artists that have come and gone through the storied label like ideas scribbled in a forgotten notebook. Here at HipHopDX, we’re running down 10 of the biggest missed opportunities.
Hittman’s Debut Album
Lucky for Hittman, he signed to Aftermath when Dr. Dre was in album mode, and consequently appeared on nine tracks off of the 1999 mega album, 2001. However, like many Dre protégés, he never managed to squeeze more than his single “Last Dayz” out of the label.
He left in 2000 and finally dropped a solo effort in 2005, though to a flatlined buzz.
Bishop Lamont’s The Reformation
Seemingly poised for greatness, Bishop Lamont released a lot of material, and should have (allegedly) been to the mythical Detox album was Hittman was to 2001. Unfortunately, well … you know. After five years of waiting for his turn on the court, he finally walked away in 2010 with just over 700 songs in the stash with The Reformation LP dropping a year later.
Hopefully we’ll get all the tracks in his stash (one day).
Slim the Mobster’s S.O.O.N. (Something Out of Nothing)
Slim was another artist whose breakout would have been tied to Detox, with his debut LP set to drop shortly after. Having racked up some writing credits with the song “Kush,” collaborated with a long list of A-list artists for his debut LP, an inked a three-way deal with Shady/Aftermath/G-Unit Records, everything seemed to fall in place.
So naturally, he split ties with Aftermath by fall of 2012, quietly releasing his debut S.O.O.N. (Something Out of Nothing) that same year.
Jon Conner’s Vehicle City
https://youtu.be/3h1sWbFhPAI
Michigan stalwart Jon Conner was — and still is — beaming with potential. With 11 mixtapes and an LP under his belt — on top of high profile appearances on Dre’s Compton album and Game’s Documentary 2 (among others) — the stage is more than set for his debut. We got a glimmer of hope this past January with his “I’m Back” single, but to date, there is no sign of Vehicle City.
We remain optimistic!
Dawn Robinson’s Dawn
https://youtu.be/ncKDpk9_GOY
Unlike some of Dre’s shelved protégés, Dawn Robinson, formerly of En Vogue and Lucy Pearl, didn’t exactly have her career in The Good Doctor’s hands. In fact, with all her endeavors combined she’s sold over 11 million records. Her tenure with the label came as she was eyeing a solo career. She signed the dotted line, but left just a year later, releasing her lukewarm solo project Dawn on Q Records in 2002.
But, imagine Dawn on a fully Dre produced affair? Or anybody on this list for that matter.
Joell Ortiz’s The Brick: Bodega Chronicles
Joell’s experience wasn’t unlike the others. Dre did allow the fierce lyricist to release his debut (street) album The Brick: Bodega Chronicles via Koch while still signed to Aftermath but the former Slaughterhouse member grew weary of the wait and parted ways in 2008.
At least Shady put out his Slaughterhouse stuff. [*insert shrug emoji*]
Stat Quo’s Statlanta
Like many of the artists in this list, Stat Quo put some in some serious work on Detox, as well as appeared on various projects that passed through the Shady/Aftermath umbrella. Unfortunately, his debut — Statlanta — was pushed from major label territory after he pissed Eminem off.
It was all love though, apparently, he left with a massive stash of Dre beats and, he’s also now managing controversial star rapper Lil Xan (no big deal).
Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II
https://youtu.be/6fGLsSSzgo8
The Chef was originally slated to drop his highly anticipated Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II (originally planned to be executively produced by Busta Rhymes) in a joint venture with Aftermath and Wu-Tang Records. But — as is the consistent storyline — Dre was putting all his resources into Detox, leaving the album in limbo.
It was eventually released three years later via Rae’s Ice H2O imprint to much fanfare.
Eve Of Destruction’s Debut Album
Before her career as we know it, 18-year-old Eve (then known as Eve Of Destruction) was signed to Aftermath. As the “Blow Your Mind” rapper told MTV back in 2012, they didn’t see “eye to eye” and the label dropped her, much to her devastation.
After returning to Philly, though, she became the Ruff Rydin’ Eve we know today, so all’s well that ends well.
Rakim’s Aftermath Debut Oh My God!
This had the potential to be legendary, but alas — as Rakim explains — it was like trying to fit a rectangular peg through a circular opening as Dre attempted to have the eighteenth letter create an album to fit the gangsta rap formula that he’d perfected. Rakim wasn’t with it, and the two agreed to disagree, leaving Hip Hop with yet another “what if” to chew on.
Dr. Dre’s Detox
Where the hell is Detox? So many artists have appeared to either bank their careers on it, and/or dedicate a great deal of their time to help craft it. Hopefully one day we’ll get finally hear all the blood sweat and tears.
+King Tee, Thy Kingdom Come* (*****5 Stars)
Knoc-turn’al, bilal, truth hurts etc just to name a few more.
Knoc and Bilal were never signed to Dre. Truth released her album through Aftermath.
The Knoc deal was similar to xzibit. He was supposed to produce his album. He couldn’t sign him cause of his contract.
Busta Rhymes
The Big Bang
At least rae got to use some of them dre beats on ob4cl2. Also, off topic but didnt dipset record a bunch of songs with dre?
I was looking forward to a Hittman/Aftermath project the most. Shame that it didn’t happen.
Great article (I wish you could have included the Last Emperor’s album)… But could’ve been edited better though.
Just cuz the studio took Magnificent Ambersons out of your hands for the final edit doesn’t mean you need to be a straight biiiiiiitch
Are you stupid? I’m talking about typos and grammatical errors. And how am I being a “biiiiitch” when I called the article “great”?
Dre said years ago he’s never dropping Detox. How do you call yourself a hiphop site and still anticipate a canceled album??
Slim da Mobster was not on G-Unit or Shady. Where did you get that from? I don’t think I ever even heard his music, but I remember the story about how he said something about 50 Cent not being relevant anymore so 50 threw a fit and got him booted from the label.
Dre has been a detriment to Hip-Hop for longer than he’s been an asset.
Shut up
I love Dr Dre, but your right. DRE has held back far more A+ hiphop artists than he put on. His Compton album was average at best, which in Dr Dre terms to me is a failure. Not a single person WHO ISN’T a hardcore Dr Dre fan knew that the album even existed. Chronic 1 and 2 are instant classics, and his work on Eminem, doggystyle, Get rich or die Tryin, The documentary…. Will NEVER be forgotten. However, I can’t tell you the last time Dr Dre dropped some SERIOUS HEAT. Closest thing to thay was “talking to my diary”, and that song felt like it should have been 8 minutes long, not 3. Sick neat though, and reminded me of back when Dre was amazing.
TRUTH!!!
Dre has said many times that Detox is dead, why is anyone still hoping for an album he’s disbanded. And you forgot what could have been the biggest album, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube’s Helter Skelter album. 50 Cent’s success pushed that one out of the picture. Also, Dre’s desire for music simmered after Beats took off, I can’t blame him but damn sometimes it feels like he didn’t reach his music potential. Can you imagine what’s in that vault?
Didn’t reach his full potential? Is this a joke? What’s better than The Chronic 1 and 2, Get Rich or Die Trying, the documentary, and California Love
Helter Skelter is def an album I’d kill to hear but what you said is wrong. It was supposed to drop on Death Row around 1994. So neither had 50 Cent something to do with its push back nor was it going to be an Aftermath debut.
@bitch killa is on the $ with that comment. And to piggy back off of that his so called reunion with snoop had to be one of the biggest teases in rap history. Coulda/shoulda been more than what it was….
I would still like to hear all of them ! Eve can still make that move with Dr.Dre all of these artists can will all them be on Detox ? I love to hear Mase & Eve link back up on her next album .
Anderson pakk is dropping this friday. Gone with that nonsense.
Is verbs on here’s new album ??? fuck interscope
Breezy’s*
.Paak is shit and the Dre beat on the album was also shit…
M.O.P WAS SIGNED TO HIM AS WELL IMAGINE THEY PUT OUT ALBUM WITH DRE BEATS ??????
No they weren’t. They signed to Gunit
He’s gonna put out Detox in 100 years, after they open the time capsule that he’s gonna bury before he passes on.
Forgot Last Empreror’s album too…he was signed to Aftermath as well.
Dr Dre and Ice Cube’s “Helter Skelter” should have been #2 most anticipated album, especially after the “Natural Born Killaz” single and video. Also Dr Dre and Timbaland we’re gonna put out a co-produced album I believe called “Chairmen of the Board” if I’m not mistaken. The production on that album would have been bananas with these 2 legends trying one up each other.
Correct. And there was an artist names Hayes (RIP) who was supposedly signed to Aftermath and was being coproduced by Dre and Timbaland
I’m going to put out an album called Detox as Dr. J.
Anderson paak is droppoing in two days. A single produced by Dr. Dre has been out for days now. No mention here.
And now this talk of never releasing anything, 2 days before dropping an album. You’re talking as if the album didn’t exist at all, while not mentioning it here, which is such a low way to disinform, and an implicit way of boycotting.
Something is definitely up with your blog and the people behind it.
Bro..
Be honest. That’s song produced by Dre sucks. Anderson pakk should stick to singing, not rapping.
I wish we heard Kendrick in his prime on some nice Dre beats, but Kendrick already went all pop radio on us.
But yeah. Sling by Pakk and Dre sucked dude. Go look it up everyone. Maybe some in the new generation will like it, but old-school Dre/west coast fans won’t like it. Not a very cool beat either.
Wait…… Kendrick went pop radio? WTF are you talking about?
Wait. Where is this “Sling” song you talk of lol?
Well Anderson .Paak is shit so… Does it really count?
I GUESS WE FORGOT ABOUT RELAPSE 2 FROM EM….. SMH…
WHAT ABOUT THE LAST EMPEROR’S ALBUM HOW YOU FORGET THAT????
OR KING TEE?
Bishop Lamont would have been the perfect artist between 50 and Kendrick. He truly held the baton for Aftermath. All of his street albums were actually FREE albums that were and still are better than tons of albums that actually dropped. After Bishop left Aftermath, he released The Reformation which proves Dre was an idiot for letting him go.
dope tracks. that Rae and Busta
Stat got off the label looong before Compton was released to my recolection….
It was always a shame we had to miss out on a Rakim album.
They b.s with Jon Conner I knew he would never drop, Man Bishop Lamont was so dope, when he left and didn’t drop anything on aftermath I knew then that signing to aftermath just not a good Idea, They go through like 8 or 9 dope artist/rappers before one even puts out a project. As good as a producer dre is if I was on the come up, up and coming rapper I would never sign to Aftermath
Bishop Lamont put out the best westcoast album since Good Kid Mad City, and I’m surprised y’all all still sleeping. Even though Dre wasn’t on the album, you still have DJ Khalil, Focus, Bink, Warren G, Willie B, and other dope producers which creates an incredible listening journey. All bangers, no fillers. This message will probably get deleted again.
Dre lost his competitive edge when he left Ruthless. Eazy pushed him to his best. His music no longer dope. People not waiting around to hear what he has to say or what grimy beatz he has in the chambers. He has a producers block, His sound not relevant to todays music. He should just chill and let younger hungry producers take over.
Only Eminem can make a quick mill for him, why fuck around with the rest???
They won’t sell!
Dr dre signed Justus and Jon Connor when the Compton album dropped. Lets see if Jon Connor or Justus gets a release soon.