Doctor Dre and Ed Lover made television history with Yo! MTV Raps from the late ’80s to mid-90s. The colorful duo helped expose Hip Hop to a whole new audience while introducing the genre into living rooms across the United States.
But now, Doctor Dre needs Hip Hop’s help. The legendary media personality has suffered from Type II diabetes for decades and is mostly blind due to complications stemming from his condition. Things went from bad to worse in June when his right leg was amputated up to his knee following an accident.
Earlier this month, Doctor Dre’s team launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with post-operation care with a goal of $500,000. But evidently, he’s struggling to get even close to that number.
“Dre has been struggling with the effects of advanced Type II diabetes for a long time,” the GoFundMe description reads. “Dre’s announcement that the illness had robbed him of his eyesight was one of the ways he’s gone on to ‘wag[e] a public battle with diabetes’ — as a story in the New York Times described his efforts in 2016.
“Now, sadly, Dre’s condition has taken a turn for the worse. On Memorial Day of this year, he slipped and fell down a flight of stairs at his home and badly damaged his right ankle. The diabetes had already caused a serious decline in the function of that ankle, but this new injury required hospitalization and surgery. On June 17, his foot was amputated. On June 24, his right leg was amputated up to the knee. He has since been fitted with a prosthetic, and is now learning how to walk with it. If the good Doctor remains true to his unsinkable form, he may someday be running marathons using that prosthetic.”
The description continues, “In the meanwhile, Dre needs to continue recovering. He left the hospital on July 1 and has been living at a rehab center since then. Just where he and his wife end up afterwards is still being decided. Their current house doesn’t accommodate someone with Dre’s health issues. They plan to buy a new house that works for Dre today, one with all the facilities on one floor, no stairs, ramps for a wheelchair, and wide-access doors.”
Elsewhere in the description, Team Dre talks about all of Doctor Dre’s contributions to Hip Hop culture.
“All of us who lived through the Nineties and care about music know and love love Andre ‘Doctor Dre’ Brown. He has made his mark on radio and television, in the movies and in print, working successively as a recording artist (as a founding member of Def Jam’s Original Concept), hip-hop DJ (he was the Beastie Boys’s DJ during the Raising Hell Tour in 1986) , composer, talent scout, on-air personality, actor, author, and critic.
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“He’s undoubtedly best-known as the co-host with Ed Lover of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ (1989-1995), the tv show that did more than any other to make rap music and hip-hop culture global phenomena. After ‘Yo!,’ Dre and Ed duo funneled their chemistry into major market radio. They held down the morning show on New York’s Hot 97 (1993-1998), then on L.A.’s The Beat (2000-2001), and finally on New York’s Power 105 (2003-2006).”
To donate to Doctor Dre’s GoFundMe, head here.
how old is he.
He’s Fifty ate
Ah man I empathize with him. Life can be hard sometimes. I hope things are going better in the near future.
Didn’t they used to be on Hot 97 too. Surprised they haven’t mentioned it since they’re still around.
Cause they dont give a fuk where is his partner ed lover he is in atl chiln
Man I feel for him but being overweight for decades…like I said: Next up…Killer Mike. Do you expect me to take care of you cause you abused your body. It’s Type 2 diabetes’s not 1 so it is very likely self inflicted.
Get well soo, Dre !!!
I really hope mike takes better care of himself. Being overweight ain’t a game. We lost Pun over it.
That’s really Cruel To say to someone who has lost a foot and a Leg because of an inherited disease. Anybody who has a parent mother or father that had diabetes, the children that they have automatically have the gene. Just because you have the gene does not mean that you have to get diabetes however we all like to eat and some people are just more susceptible to weight gain especially if they’re not the working out Type.
Show some compassion and don’t be so judge mental because I’m sure this something about you that you could change which you don’t for whatever your reasons.Sometimes life happens.
By not working out type. Do you mean lazy?? Because every human who ant born with a disability has the ability to eat healthy and move there body. Stop making fat people some victim who can’t help themselves.
Fuck yo leg, nigga! Fuck it up yo ass!
I’ll never understand how someone can just eat themselves to death like this. You lost your vision and a leg and still can’t put down that fork? Such a bummer so many good people addicted to FOOD.
Well maybe you’re addicted to something too and can’t resist the temptation neither. Everybody is addicted to something: food, sex, drugs, alcohol, etc. Instead of pointing your figure at someone’s addiction and putting the blame on him for that, just show a little sympathy. Plus you don’t know what mental issues that person might go through so he/she feels to compensate with some addiction. Just don’t be a bitch and act like Mr. Perfect behind your keyboard.
Oh you BIG BOY HURT. You doing a whooole lot of assuming on your end. Dude is 100% to blame for his bad eating habits. Did he not eat himself out of sight and a leg? No one said anything offensive so chill the fuck out bitch.
You could not sound dumber if you tried.
Why? Nobody wished death or bad things on this man. No one is saying that he wasn’t great or influential. Didn’t say it was funny. In fact it’s tragic. All that was said is that he has a problem and it’s a bummer. And you fat babies want to cry and act like someone said he was a fat talentless fuck who deserves what he got. Bunch of victims filled with feeling and excuses.
I’m addicted to working out.
I hope lighting or COVID strike some of you muthaphukas dead! Yall making fun of this poor mans health……I’ve been a die hard Yo MTV Raps listener from jump and Dr. Dre made a big contribution to Hip-Hop of these fuckin’ kids have no clue about……and fuck Ed Lover for not even checking on him…..he made fat jokes about him on the show which I thought was fucked up but both of you made history, the least you can do is check on him….the fuck is wrong with you Ed?
That’s a fact Dre and ed lover are pioneers I love them god bless doctor Dre I will always have you in my prayers my childhood wasn’t the best but watching there movie always gave me a moment of laughter witch weren’t many as I was growing up . thank you Dre for bringing laughter into my life. You made me forget about the sad moments in my life
Wow whats wrong with people. This is just the beginning of the next chapter of Doctor Dre life.
“People love to HATE…..& hate to LOVE”.
I dont see any of you Ignorant dumb MF*****’s doing what he does.
Doing what? Eating myself into an early grave? Why is wanting someone to take care of themselves hate?
This ain’t funny he’s one of the good guys! What was that LL Cool J hiphop pension plan, can’t that help him? But yes, hiphop needs to step up for this man God Bless
Wow! Truly one of Hiphops greats, before the gram,FB any social media it was Yo MTV raps.. what’s sad is we don’t hear about any mega millionaires rappers aiming to help him out.. that new Bentley can wait pay it forward.. with out Yo MTV you wasn’t selling any records!