Dr. Dre - I Need A Doctor | Valley Cat Press

Dr. Dre - I Need A Doctor (Feat. Eminem and Skylar Grey)

Thursday 28 April 11 • Categorized as Feature, Random Track Reviews

Normally I only review relatively unknown bands and artists. However, on the advice of a good friend I have decided to review some more established acts as well, and this is the first of them.

This many seem, to those who know me, an odd choice as I have never professed to be a fan of hip hop or rap, although I have, for the most part, enjoyed the Dr.Dre and Eminem songs I have heard in the past. So when I saw the link to this video on YouTube I clicked it.

And I can honestly say that in all my years of computer usage, this would most probably be in my top 20 all time best mouse clicks, if I was sad enough to keep such a list, which I ain’t.

The video starts out a little slowly with an intro that shows Dr. Dre standing at the top of a cliff, pensively looking over the ocean while flashbacks of his life and career pass across the screen. The music that plays during this intro bit is cool, although it is only in the video and does not feature in the rest of the song. After looking at the waves for a while he jumps in his car, speeds off and promptly crashes.

Ten years after this near death experience Dre is still in a coma and on life support in a hospital. Well, I say “hospital”, it looks more like a set from one of the Saw movies.

Eminem comes to visit him and fervently delivers the first two verses, rapping about how Dr. Dre saved his life, believed in him and helped him when no one else would.

Skylar Grey sings the chorus, but does not feature in the video, being portrayed by an actress as a floating hologram with crazy make up.

After Eminem’s visit Dr. Dre wakes up just in time to deliver the third and final verse in his usual aggressive, critical, fuck-anyone-who-has-a-problem-with-me style, all while doing his rehab workout. Impressive.

The video ends with Dre visiting the grave of Eric Wright, better known as the rapper Eazy-E of N.W.A, who passed away in 1995.

To sum up: fantastic song and video, definitely worth a watch and a listen, but I wonder if it would have sounded better through some of Dr. Dre’s Beats Studio headphones, unfortunately at 280 quid a pair I’ll be waiting a while before I find out.