Dr. Dre | Biography, Albums, Songs, & Facts

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data-student-article="false"> <script class="page-description-json" type="application/json"> { "url": "/biography/Dr-Dre", "shareUrl": "https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dr-Dre", "browserTitle": "Dr. Dre | Biography, Albums, Songs, & Facts", "firstTopicPage": true, "topicId":1353482 } </script> <div class="reading-channel"> <div class="topic-header"> <div class="d-flex align-items-top justify-content-between"> <div class="d-flex flex-column"> <div> <div> <h1>Dr. Dre</h1></div> </div> <div class="topic-identifier font-16 font-md-20">American rapper, hip-hop producer, and entrepreneur</div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-flex flex-row"> <div class="mr-10 mb-15"> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-block md-topic-tools qa-action-buttons mb-15" data-topic-id="1353482"> <button class="js-tooltip btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border pr-10 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-17T00:00:00CST" >Nov 17, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dr-Dre/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none 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class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Born: </dt> <dd>February 18, 1965, <a href="/place/Los-Angeles-California">Los Angeles</a>, <a href="/place/California-state">California</a>, U.S. (age 59)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also Known As: </dt> <dd>André Romelle Young</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Founder: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/Death-Row-Records">Death Row Records</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/NWA">N.W.A</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Awards And Honors: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Fame-and-Museum">Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (2016)</a></dd> <dd><a href="/art/Grammy-Award">Grammy Award (2009)</a></dd> <dd><a href="/art/Grammy-Award">Grammy Award (2009)</a></dd> <dd><a href="/art/Grammy-Award">Grammy Award (2000)</a></dd> <dd><a href="/art/Grammy-Award">Grammy Award (2000)</a></dd> <dd><a href="/art/Grammy-Award">Grammy Award (2000)</a></dd> <dd><a href="/art/Grammy-Award">Grammy Award (1993)</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Notable Works: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/Straight-Outta-Compton-album">“Straight Outta Compton”</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/The-Chronic">“The Chronic”</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Dr-Dre"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>Who is Dr. Dre?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Born Andr\u00E9 Romelle Young, Dr. Dre is an American rapper, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/art\/hip-hop\">hip-hop<\/a> producer, and entrepreneur who helped popularize <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/art\/gangsta-rap\">gangsta rap<\/a>. In 1986 he founded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/NWA\">N.W.A<\/a> (Niggaz Wit Attitudes) with fellow rappers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Eazy-E\">Eazy-E<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Ice-Cube\">Ice Cube<\/a>. While Dre featured as a rapper in N.W.A, his most lauded role was as a producer." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>What was Dr. Dre\u2019s first song?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "After leaving rap group <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/NWA\">N.W.A<\/a> in 1992, Dr. Dre\u2019s first solo song release was \u201CDeep Cover.\u201D \u201CDeep Cover\u201D was also the first collaboration between Dr. Dre and fellow West Coast rapper <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Snoop-Dogg\">Snoop Dogg<\/a>\u2014a creative partnership that continued through both of their careers." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>Where did Dr. Dre grow up?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Dr. Dre grew up in the city of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Compton-California\">Compton<\/a> in California." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>What artists has Dr. Dre produced for?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Dr. Dre has produced music for artists such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Eminem\">Eminem<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Tupac-Shakur\">2Pac<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Snoop-Dogg\">Snoop Dogg<\/a>, T.I., 50 Cent, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Mary-J-Blige\">Mary J. Blige<\/a>. He is credited in particular with launching the career of Eminem by signing the young rapper to his label Aftermath Records in 1998. Three of Dr. Dre\u2019s six <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/art\/Grammy-Award\">Grammy Awards<\/a> were for his collaborations with Eminem." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>What was Dr. Dre\u2019s role in creating the subgenre of G-Funk?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Dr. Dre\u2019s solo debut album, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/The-Chronic\">The Chronic<\/a><\/em>, introduced the \u201CG-Funk\u201D production style in 1992. It was characterized by plodding tempos, synthesizer washes, and copious musical sampling of 1970s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/art\/funk\">funk<\/a> records, especially those by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Parliament-Funkadelic\">Parliament-Funkadelic<\/a>. G-Funk was arguably a \u201Csub-subgenre\u201D of rap, since it was derived from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/art\/gangsta-rap\">gangsta rap<\/a> subgenre N.W.A. had previously contributed to. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/what-was-dr-dres-role-in-creating-the-subgenre-of-g-funk\">Learn more.<\/a> " } } ] } </script> <div class="top-questions qa-accordion d-flex flex-column module-spacing"><div class="font-weight-bold font-14 mb-5"> Top Questions </div><div id="intent-accordion" class="md-intent-accordion"><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="1"> <h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>Who is Dr. Dre?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3> <div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>Born André Romelle Young, Dr. Dre is an American rapper, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/hip-hop" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hip-hop</a> producer, and entrepreneur who helped popularize <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/gangsta-rap" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">gangsta rap</a>. In 1986 he founded <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/NWA" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">N.W.A</a> (Niggaz Wit Attitudes) with fellow rappers <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eazy-E" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Eazy-E</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ice-Cube" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ice Cube</a>. While Dre featured as a rapper in N.W.A, his most lauded role was as a producer.</p></div></div> </div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="2"> <h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What was Dr. Dre’s first song?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3> <div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>After leaving rap group <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/NWA" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">N.W.A</a> in 1992, Dr. Dre’s first solo song release was “Deep Cover.” “Deep Cover” was also the first collaboration between Dr. Dre and fellow West Coast rapper <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Snoop-Dogg" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Snoop Dogg</a>—a creative partnership that continued through both of their careers.</p></div></div> </div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="3"> <h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>Where did Dr. Dre grow up?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3> <div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>Dr. Dre grew up in the city of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Compton-California" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Compton</a> in California.</p></div></div> </div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="4"> <h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What artists has Dr. Dre produced for?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3> <div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>Dr. Dre has produced music for artists such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eminem" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Eminem</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tupac-Shakur" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">2Pac</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Snoop-Dogg" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Snoop Dogg</a>, T.I., 50 Cent, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-J-Blige" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mary J. Blige</a>. He is credited in particular with launching the career of Eminem by signing the young rapper to his label Aftermath Records in 1998. Three of Dr. Dre’s six <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/Grammy-Award" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Grammy Awards</a> were for his collaborations with Eminem.</p></div></div> </div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="5"> <h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What was Dr. Dre’s role in creating the subgenre of G-Funk?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3> <div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>Dr. Dre’s solo debut album, <em><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Chronic" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">The Chronic</a></em>, introduced the “G-Funk” production style in 1992. It was characterized by plodding tempos, synthesizer washes, and copious musical sampling of 1970s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/funk" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">funk</a> records, especially those by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Parliament-Funkadelic" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Parliament-Funkadelic</a>. G-Funk was arguably a “sub-subgenre” of rap, since it was derived from the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/gangsta-rap" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">gangsta rap</a> subgenre N.W.A. had previously contributed to. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/story/what-was-dr-dres-role-in-creating-the-subgenre-of-g-funk" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Learn more.</a> </p></div></div> </div><button class="show-more-button js-toggle-top-questions btn btn-unstyled font-14 d-flex pr-10 rounded-sm"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></button></div></div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/snoop-dogg-dr-dre-jhene-gorgeous-rb-hip-hop-airplay-chart-1235828307/" rel="nofollow">Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre Return to R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart for First Time in 13 Years</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 14, 2024, 3:21 AM ET (Billboard) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3285703/who-nicole-young-ex-wife-dr-dre-whos-being-sued-his-divorce-therapist-mother-rapper-and-producers" rel="nofollow">Dr Dre’s ex-wife won her legal battle against the rapper, who’s now being sued</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 8, 2024, 3:58 AM ET (South China Morning Post) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref987398"></span>Dr. Dre</strong> (born February 18, 1965, Los Angeles, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/California-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">California</a>, U.S.) is an American <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/rap" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">rapper</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/hip-hop" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hip-hop</a> producer, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/entrepreneurship" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">entrepreneur</a> who helped popularize the gangsta rap subgenre.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Born to teenaged parents who aspired to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/singing" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">singing</a> careers, André Young took the stage name Dr. Dre in the early 1980s. He performed as a hip-hop deejay and as part of the group World Class Wreckin’ Cru at clubs and parties in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Los-Angeles-California" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Los Angeles</a>’ south-central district. In 1986 he founded <span id="ref1266744"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/NWA" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">N.W.A</a> (Niggaz Wit Attitudes) with fellow rappers <span id="ref1245771"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eazy-E" class="md-crosslink ">Eazy-E</a> and <span id="ref1245773"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ice-Cube" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ice Cube</a>. The group’s second album, <em><span id="ref1245774"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Straight-Outta-Compton-album" class="md-crosslink ">Straight Outta Compton</a></em> (1988), was a breakthrough for the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="nascent" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nascent" data-type="MW">nascent</a> <span id="ref1266743"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/gangsta-rap" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">gangsta rap</a> movement, featuring explicit descriptions (and often glorifications) of street violence and drug dealing. While Dre appeared prominently as a rapper in N.W.A, his most-lauded role was as a producer, crafting ambitiously noisy, multilayered sonic collages to back the group’s inflammatory lyrics.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Dre left N.W.A in 1992 and cofounded <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/Death-Row-Records-and-Interscope-Records-1688340" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Death Row Records</a> with Marion (“Suge”) Knight. That year his solo debut, <em><span id="ref1248256"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Chronic" class="md-crosslink ">The Chronic</a></em>, introduced the “<span id="ref1266745"></span>G-funk” production style, characterized by plodding tempos, synthesizer washes, and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="copious" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copious" data-type="MW">copious</a> musical sampling of 1970s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/funk" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">funk</a> records, especially those by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Parliament-Funkadelic" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Parliament-Funkadelic</a>. The album also produced Dr. Dre’s first <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/Grammy-Award" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Grammy Award</a>, for “Let Me Ride,” which was released as a single after the album’s release and took home best <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/rap" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">rap</a> solo performance at the 1994 ceremony. <em>The Chronic</em>’s multiplatinum success helped make this sound dominant in mainstream hip-hop in the mid-1990s. In 1996 Dre left Death Row to form Aftermath Records. Three years later he released a second hit solo album, <em>2001</em> (1999), which produced the Grammy-winning single “Forgot About Dre,” among other hits.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/pop-culture-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/65/129465-131-8F637272/USA-Annual-Academy-Awards-Closeup-entrance-statue-2009.jpg" alt="USA 2006 - 78th Annual Academy Awards. Closeup of giant Oscar statue at the entrance of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Hompepage blog 2009, arts and entertainment, film movie hollywood" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Pop Culture Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">By then his work as a producer for other artists—including rappers <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Snoop-Dogg" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Snoop Dogg</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eminem" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Eminem</a>, whose careers he was <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="credited" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/credited" data-type="EB">credited</a> with having launched—had also earned him considerable respect. In fact, he took home the Grammy for producer of the year in 2000, largely because of his work on Eminem’s Grammy-winning album <em><span id="ref1248257"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Marshall-Mathers-LP" class="md-crosslink ">The Marshall Mathers LP</a></em>. Dr. Dre would capture two more Grammys, both in 2009, for his later work with Eminem.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In the early years of the 21st century, Dr. Dre began working on a follow-up to <em>2001</em>. After a lengthy gestation, however, the album (which was to have been titled <em>Detox</em>) was scrapped. Meanwhile, his production career continued to flourish through collaborations with performers such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-J-Blige" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mary J. Blige</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jay-Z" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Jay-Z</a>, and 50 Cent. The wait for a third Dr. Dre album finally came to an end in 2015 with the release of <em>Compton</em>; the album was reportedly inspired by the film <em>Straight Outta Compton</em> (2015), which told the story of N.W.A. In 2016 Dr. Dre was inducted into the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Fame-and-Museum" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Rock and Roll Hall of Fame</a> as a member of N.W.A. He later appeared with other hip-hop stars—including Snoop, Eminem, Blige, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kendrick-Lamar" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Kendrick Lamar</a>—at the <span id="ref1300857"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/sports/Super-Bowl" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Super Bowl</a> halftime show in 2022.</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Outside the recording studio, Dr. Dre found success as a businessman. In 2008 he and <span id="ref1245775"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jimmy-Iovine" class="md-crosslink ">Jimmy Iovine</a>, a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/music" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">music</a> executive, formally established Beats Electronics, which sold headphones, earphones, and speakers, among other items. Six years later they launched Beats Music, a music-streaming service. The two companies were purchased by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/Apple-Inc" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Apple</a> for $3 billion in 2014.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Together, the pair also ventured into philanthropy. In 2013 Dr. Dre and Iovine gave $70 million to the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/University-of-Southern-California" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">University of Southern California</a> for the creation of the Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="Innovation" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Innovation" data-type="MW">Innovation</a>. The undergraduate program—seeking to foster skills in art and design, engineering and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/computer-science" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">computer science</a>, and business and venture management—began in 2014, and the academy’s first graduate program launched in August 2017.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; 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Dr. Dre | Biography, Albums, Songs, & Facts | Britannica