Dr. Dre is looking to take a temporary break from music and channel his creativity into a different pursuit.
During the premiere episode of Ice Cube and Mike Epps’ Listen & Laugh podcast, Dre opened up about his plans to “take a break” once he completes two ongoing projects. One of them is a collaboration with Houston artist Marqus Clae. The legendary producer explained that after spending an incredible 41 years making music, he feels it’s time to step away for a while.
“For the first time in my adult career, I’m going to take a break from that,” he said around the 20-minute mark. “I’m going to go away, and I’m going to get off the grid for a year or two.”
Dre explained that he has spent every year since starting his music career in the studio, adding that, in many ways, he never truly steps away from making music. Even when he’s not physically recording, everyday things like storefronts and bumper stickers can spark creative ideas.
“You never leave it. Even when you’re not there,” he explained.
“For the first time in my life, it won’t be there,” Dre continued. “It’s taking up space for something else. What if there’s something else waiting for me that could give me the same exact feeling when I discovered music?”
Given his remarkable achievements in the music industry, Dre has certainly earned the opportunity to take some time off. Throughout his four-decade career, he has collected seven Grammy Awards and played a major role in shaping hip-hop, from his influential work with N.W.A. to his groundbreaking solo debut, The Chronic. He has also produced numerous hits for Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, and Kendrick Lamar, cementing a legacy that continues to influence generations.
In 2016, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of N.W.A.
During another part of the podcast, Dre described Larry Smith as the “fucking best hip-hop producer ever” and revealed that he is “extremely excited” about the growing role of artificial intelligence in music.
