Studio Album · No. 1
The Chronic Songwriting Credits by Dr. Dre
Produced by Dr. Dre · Engineered by Chris "The Glove" Taylor, Greg "Gregski" Royal, Bernie Grundman
Death Row / Interscope / Priority
G-FunkGangsta RapWest Coast Hip-Hop
100%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 16 of 16 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 16 / 16 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 16 tracks with documented writers, by whether Dr. Dre carries a lyricist or composer credit.
16 trackswritten by Dr. Dre
0 tracksoutside writers
Dr. Dre's roles on this album
Share of the 16 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
16
Tracks
32
Lyricists
1
Producers
5.7 million
US Copies Sold
1992
Released
Awards & Recognition 1
Best Rap Solo Performance ("Let Me Ride") (1994)
Data Insight
Dr. Dre served as the sole producer and chief architect of The Chronic, defining the G-funk sound built on live instrumentation, Parliament-Funkadelic samples, and Colin Wolfe's basslines. Much of the lyrical content came from Death Row collaborators rather than Dre himself, with a then-unknown Snoop Doggy Dogg co-writing and rapping across most of the record. The D.O.C. and RBX also contributed heavily to the writing, with The D.O.C. ghostwriting verses for Dre. Dre's role was as the producer and bandleader shaping the album's sound, while the writing was a collective effort among the early Death Row roster.
Dr. Dre's debut solo album, released December 15, 1992 on Death Row Records. Produced entirely by Dr. Dre, The Chronic is credited with inventing the G-funk subgenre, built on slow-rolling tempos, laid-back synthesizer leads, deep bass lines, and extensive Parliament-Funkadelic samples. The album sold over three million copies and spent eight months on the Billboard 200. It introduced Snoop Dogg (then Snoop Doggy Dogg), who appears on nearly every track, and featured contributions from Nate Dogg, Warren G, Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, Lady of Rage, and The D.O.C. 'Nuthin' but a G Thang', 'Let Me Ride', and 'Fuck wit Dre Day' became defining singles of early 1990s hip-hop.
Track Listing & Credits 16 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Chronic (Intro)
|
Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Colin Wolfe | Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Colin Wolfe | Dr. Dre | Snoop Dogg |
| 2 |
Fuck wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')
#8
|
Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Colin WolfeDavid SpradleyGarry ShiderGeorge Clinton | Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Colin WolfeDavid SpradleyGarry ShiderGeorge Clinton | Dr. Dre | Snoop DoggRBXJewell |
| 3 |
Let Me Ride
#34
|
Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.George ClintonBernie WorrellEric CollinsWilliam Earl Collins | Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.George ClintonBernie WorrellEric CollinsWilliam Earl Collins | Dr. Dre | Snoop DoggJewellRuben |
| 4 |
The Day the Niggaz Took Over
|
Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Eric CollinsDelmar Drew Arnaud Jr.Lawrence ParkerToni Colandreo | Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Eric CollinsDelmar Drew Arnaud Jr.Lawrence ParkerToni Colandreo | Dr. Dre | Snoop DoggRBXDaz Dillinger |
| 5 |
Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang
#2
|
Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Frederick KnightLeon HaywoodTracy Lynn Curry | Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Frederick KnightLeon HaywoodTracy Lynn Curry | Dr. Dre | Snoop Dogg |
| 6 |
Deeez Nuuuts
|
Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Delmar Drew Arnaud Jr.Colin WolfeNathaniel Dwayne Hale | Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Delmar Drew Arnaud Jr.Colin WolfeNathaniel Dwayne Hale | Dr. Dre | Warren GSnoop DoggDaz DillingerNate Dogg |
| 7 |
Lil' Ghetto Boy
|
Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Tracy Lynn Curry | Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Tracy Lynn Curry | Dr. Dre | Snoop DoggDaz DillingerNate Dogg |
| 8 |
A Nigga Witta Gun
|
Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Tracy Lynn CurryCallie CheekDennis WhiteJohnny SmithKevin BellKevin LassiterMichael CheekPeter DuarteRay WrightRonald Nathan BellWilson Beckett | Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Tracy Lynn CurryCallie CheekDennis WhiteJohnny SmithKevin BellKevin LassiterMichael CheekPeter DuarteRay WrightRonald Nathan BellWilson Beckett | Dr. Dre | Dr. Dre (Rap)Snoop Dogg (Rap)The D.O.C. (Rap) |
| 9 |
Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat
|
Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. | Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. | Dr. Dre | RBXSnoop DoggBJ |
| 10 |
The $20 Sack Pyramid
|
Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Tracy Lynn Curry | Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Tracy Lynn Curry | Dr. Dre | Snoop DoggThe D.O.C. |
| 11 |
Lyrical Gangbang
|
Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Tracy Lynn CurryDelmar Drew Arnaud Jr.Eric CollinsYvette AllenDonny Edward HathawayRicardo Brown | Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Tracy Lynn CurryDelmar Drew Arnaud Jr.Eric CollinsYvette AllenDonny Edward HathawayRicardo Brown | Dr. Dre | Lady of RageKuruptRBX |
| 12 |
High Powered
|
Andre Romelle YoungColin WolfeEric Collins | Andre Romelle YoungColin WolfeEric Collins | Dr. Dre | Lady of RageRBXDaz Dillinger |
| 13 |
The Doctor's Office
|
Andre Romelle YoungYvette AllenJewell PeytonKevin Lewis | Andre Romelle YoungYvette AllenJewell PeytonKevin Lewis | Dr. Dre | JewellLady of Rage |
| 14 |
Stranded on Death Row
|
Andre Romelle YoungRicardo BrownEric CollinsCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Yvette AllenIsaac Lee Hayes Jr. | Andre Romelle YoungRicardo BrownEric CollinsCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Yvette AllenIsaac Lee Hayes Jr. | Dr. Dre | Bushwick BillKuruptRBXLady of RageSnoop Dogg |
| 15 |
The Roach (The Chronic Outro)
|
Andre Romelle YoungDelmar Drew Arnaud Jr.Eric CollinsYvette AllenWilliam Earl CollinsBernie WorrellGeorge Clinton | Andre Romelle YoungDelmar Drew Arnaud Jr.Eric CollinsYvette AllenWilliam Earl CollinsBernie WorrellGeorge Clinton | Dr. Dre | RBXEmmageRubenDaz DillingerLady of RageJewell |
| 16 |
Bitches Ain't Shit
|
Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Colin WolfeDelmar Drew Arnaud Jr.Ricardo BrownTracy Lynn Curry | Andre Romelle YoungCalvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.Colin WolfeDelmar Drew Arnaud Jr.Ricardo BrownTracy Lynn Curry | Dr. Dre | Snoop DoggDaz DillingerKuruptJewell |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 46 contributors
AR
Andre Romelle Young
Writer
CC
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.
Writer
EC
Eric Collins
Writer
TL
Tracy Lynn Curry
Writer
CW
Colin Wolfe
Writer
DD
Delmar Drew Arnaud Jr.
Writer
YA
Yvette Allen
Writer
GC
George Clinton
Writer
RB
Ricardo Brown
Writer
BW
Bernie Worrell
Writer
WE
William Earl Collins
Writer
CC
Callie Cheek
Writer
More from Dr. Dre
Frequently Asked Questions The Chronic
Did Dr. Dre write The Chronic himself?
No, Dr. Dre did not write most of The Chronic himself. He produced the entire album and shaped its sound, but the lyrics were largely written by Death Row collaborators including Snoop Doggy Dogg, The D.O.C., and RBX. The D.O.C. is widely credited with ghostwriting verses for Dre on the record.
Who wrote Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang by Dr. Dre?
Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang was written by Snoop Doggy Dogg, who also performs much of the song. Dr. Dre produced the track and built it around a sample of Leon Haywood's I Want'a Do Something Freaky to You. It became the album's biggest single, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Who wrote Let Me Ride by Dr. Dre?
Let Me Ride was co-written by Snoop Doggy Dogg, who also provided uncredited vocals on the track, along with Dr. Dre. The song interpolates Parliament's Mothership Connection. It won Dr. Dre the Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards in 1994.
Who produced The Chronic by Dr. Dre?
Dr. Dre produced The Chronic in its entirety, making it his debut as a solo producer and artist after leaving N.W.A. He pioneered the G-funk style on the album using live instrumentation and funk samples. Collaborators such as Colin Wolfe and Chris "The Glove" Taylor assisted with instrumentation and mixing.
What genre is The Chronic by Dr. Dre?
The Chronic is a G-funk album, a subgenre of West Coast hip-hop and gangsta rap that Dr. Dre helped define. It draws heavily on funk samples from artists like Parliament-Funkadelic and live instrumentation. The album is considered one of the defining works of 1990s West Coast rap.
How well did The Chronic sell?
The Chronic sold around 5.7 million copies in the United States as of 2015 and was certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA. It peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200. The album launched Death Row Records and Snoop Doggy Dogg's career.
Did Snoop Dogg work on The Chronic?
Yes, Snoop Doggy Dogg was heavily involved in The Chronic before his own debut. He co-wrote and rapped on most of the album's tracks, including Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang and Let Me Ride. His prominent role on the record set up his solo debut Doggystyle the following year.
Data note: Wikipedia's article lists no per-track songwriter credits for this album.