Kush (Dr. Dre song)
Encyclopedia
"Kush" is a single by Dr. Dre
. The song features Snoop Dogg
and Akon
. It was released on iTunes
November 18, 2010. The song is produced by DJ Khalil
and mixed by Dr. Dre with additional keys by Daniel "Danny Keyz" Tannenbaum. The song has additional vocals by Sly "Pyper" Jordan, Kobe Honeycutt and Blackthoven.
On the same day, Dr. Dre spoke on Radio Big Boy regarding the status of his album and the leaked song:
Later that same day, a mastered version of "Kush" was released along with the creation of a new website.
The song was featured in episode fourteen of season eleven of CSI.
The song was originally going to be the only one from the album that had a smoker type of subject matter, but on September 21, 2011, Dre tweeted that both "I Need a Doctor" and "Kush" would not make the final cut of the album.
that he began with the sample of Honeycutt saying "Hold up, wait a minute, let me put some kush up in it", which he looped in Reason, and the drums, which he tried to make sound "pulsating and clubby". Keyboard player Danny Keyz then added a synth which Khalil then filtered and washed out with a reverb. To this basic track they started adding hook parts and different vocals with the aim of giving the song a constantly evolving sound, but at the same time Khalil was mindful to keep the production as open and spare as possible.
directed the music video for the song. The music video was shot November 18, 2010 in Downtown LA. 50 Cent
, E-40
, Roccett, The Menace and Glasses Malone
were present for the shooting of the video, but do not make cameo appearances. DJ Khalil, producer of the song, makes a cameo appearance throwing a Beats By Dr. Dre
headphone towards the camera in a freeze frame shot. December 10, 2010 marked the video's release on Vevo
.
The video, directed by Joseph Kahn, begins as Dre is seated in a sleek, black Lamborghini, attempting to flick a Zippo
. Once Dr. Dre ignites it, the beat drops, and he exits the car.
Dre approaches the club in a setting similar to "The Next Episode
", one of his past hits. But the festivities around him are ice cold; the club patrons are statue-like, frozen in the parking lot and inside, in mid groove.
Snoop Dogg kicks things off on the second verse, and he is surrounded by a bevy of beautiful, frozen women. They're smiling, drinks are pouring, but they're also statues compared to the rapper.
As Dre makes his way into the club and to the bar, however, the party livens up.
Dre pulls out his lighter, engraved with the song's title, and holds it to the sprinklers overhead, setting them off. As water rains down on the partygoers, they come back to life, gyrating to the thumping track's production. Later, Dre and Snoop leave the club, and Dre drives off into the night on an empty highway, surrounded by the streaking lights of cars that are no longer there.
Akon makes appearances periodically while singing the hook. He appears to be in a private jet with money frozen in mid-air, as well as women seemingly dancing, though they too are statuesque.
& Akon
. There are two remixes, both containing different verses from Game . Jay Rock
has released a freestyle to the track. Gilbere Forte
also released a Freestyle Version of this song. Slim da Mobster
has freestyled over the beat.
and Snoop Dogg
performed this song at the Grammy Interscope Party along with his classics The Next Episode
, Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang, Gin and Juice
& Still D.R.E.
.
Physical single
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
. The song features Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
and Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
. It was released on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
November 18, 2010. The song is produced by DJ Khalil
DJ Khalil
Khalil Abdul-Rahman, better known by his stage name DJ Khalil, is a Los Angeles based American hip hop/soul record producer, and is the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Self Scientific, together with rapper Chace Infinite...
and mixed by Dr. Dre with additional keys by Daniel "Danny Keyz" Tannenbaum. The song has additional vocals by Sly "Pyper" Jordan, Kobe Honeycutt and Blackthoven.
Background
On November 16, 2010 an unfinished version of the song leaked onto the Internet.On the same day, Dr. Dre spoke on Radio Big Boy regarding the status of his album and the leaked song:
Later that same day, a mastered version of "Kush" was released along with the creation of a new website.
The song was featured in episode fourteen of season eleven of CSI.
The song was originally going to be the only one from the album that had a smoker type of subject matter, but on September 21, 2011, Dre tweeted that both "I Need a Doctor" and "Kush" would not make the final cut of the album.
Composition
"Kush" took three to four months to complete due to the numerous production stages that it eventually went through. The genesis of song came when Dr. Dre's request for a single prompted producer DJ Khalil to pick out an archived vocal sample he had previously made of songwriter collaborator Kobe Honeycutt that he felt would be perfect to build a new Dre track around. Khalil told HitQuartersHitQuarters
HitQuarters is an international music industry publication and contact database founded in 1999. It is noted for in-depth interviews with industry figures, with past subjects including Simon Cowell, Martin Kierszenbaum, Jason Flom, Diane Warren, Peter Edge, Ron Fair and RedOne, as well as its A&R...
that he began with the sample of Honeycutt saying "Hold up, wait a minute, let me put some kush up in it", which he looped in Reason, and the drums, which he tried to make sound "pulsating and clubby". Keyboard player Danny Keyz then added a synth which Khalil then filtered and washed out with a reverb. To this basic track they started adding hook parts and different vocals with the aim of giving the song a constantly evolving sound, but at the same time Khalil was mindful to keep the production as open and spare as possible.
Music video
Joseph KahnJoseph Kahn
Joseph Kahn is an American music video, advertising, and feature film director.-Early life:Kahn was born in Jersey Village, Texas, a suburb of Houston. He is of Korean ancestry. He spent part of his childhood growing up in Livorno, Italy until his family moved to Texas...
directed the music video for the song. The music video was shot November 18, 2010 in Downtown LA. 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
, E-40
E-40
Earl Stevens , better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and investor from Vallejo, California. He is also part of the rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. His solo debut album, Federal, was released in November 1992, after The Click's debut...
, Roccett, The Menace and Glasses Malone
Glasses Malone
Charles Phillipivory Penniman , better known by his stage name Glasses Malone, is an American rapper from Los Angeles, California.-Early life:Glasses Malone grew up in the Watts and Compton neighborhoods in Los Angeles County...
were present for the shooting of the video, but do not make cameo appearances. DJ Khalil, producer of the song, makes a cameo appearance throwing a Beats By Dr. Dre
Beats By Dr. Dre
Beats By Dr. Dre is a brand of headphones and loudspeakers marketed by hip-hop/rap musician Dr. Dre and Interscope-Geffen-A&M Records chairman Jimmy Iovine under Beats Electronics LLC. There are six versions of the headphones and six versions of the earphones, which are manufactured and...
headphone towards the camera in a freeze frame shot. December 10, 2010 marked the video's release on Vevo
Vevo
Vevo is a music video website. It is a joint venture among Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Abu Dhabi Media with EMI licensing its content to the group without taking an ownership stake. The service was launched officially on December 8, 2009...
.
The video, directed by Joseph Kahn, begins as Dre is seated in a sleek, black Lamborghini, attempting to flick a Zippo
Zippo
A Zippo lighter is a refillable, metal lighter manufactured by Zippo Manufacturing Company of Bradford, Pennsylvania, U.S. Thousands of different styles and designs have been made in the seven decades since their introduction including military ones for specific regiments.-Establishment:George G...
. Once Dr. Dre ignites it, the beat drops, and he exits the car.
Dre approaches the club in a setting similar to "The Next Episode
The Next Episode
"The Next Episode" is a single by Dr. Dre released in 2000 from his album 2001, which was released in 1999. It features Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, & Kurupt . It was the third single from 2001 and peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. It sold 146,570 copies between 2001 and 2002 in the UK...
", one of his past hits. But the festivities around him are ice cold; the club patrons are statue-like, frozen in the parking lot and inside, in mid groove.
Snoop Dogg kicks things off on the second verse, and he is surrounded by a bevy of beautiful, frozen women. They're smiling, drinks are pouring, but they're also statues compared to the rapper.
As Dre makes his way into the club and to the bar, however, the party livens up.
Dre pulls out his lighter, engraved with the song's title, and holds it to the sprinklers overhead, setting them off. As water rains down on the partygoers, they come back to life, gyrating to the thumping track's production. Later, Dre and Snoop leave the club, and Dre drives off into the night on an empty highway, surrounded by the streaking lights of cars that are no longer there.
Akon makes appearances periodically while singing the hook. He appears to be in a private jet with money frozen in mid-air, as well as women seemingly dancing, though they too are statuesque.
Remixes
On December 2, 2010, the official remix of the song was released featuring Game, Snoop DoggSnoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
& Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
. There are two remixes, both containing different verses from Game . Jay Rock
Jay Rock
Johnny Reed McKinzie Jr. , better known by his stage name Jay Rock, is an American rapper. He was named one of the top 13 most street artists by XXL. His voice has been called a cross between Immortal Technique and Rick Ross. He is a part of the rap group Black Hippy which also features Kendrick...
has released a freestyle to the track. Gilbere Forte
Gilbere Forte
Gilbere Forte is an American rapper/producer born in Flint, Michigan on July 14, 1987. Following his parents separation at an early age, Gilbere headed to Chicago with his mother for several years before making Philadelphia his home in 1999.-Biography:...
also released a Freestyle Version of this song. Slim da Mobster
Slim da Mobster
Anthony Johnson better known by his stage name Slim The Mobster is a Los Angeles-based rapper currently signed to Gang Module Records and Aftermath Entertainment. He is currently working on Dr. Dre's third studio album Detox. Slim The Mobster is known as Dr. Dre's new protegé. He is currently also...
has freestyled over the beat.
Live performances
Dr. Dre, along with AkonAkon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
and Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
performed this song at the Grammy Interscope Party along with his classics The Next Episode
The Next Episode
"The Next Episode" is a single by Dr. Dre released in 2000 from his album 2001, which was released in 1999. It features Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, & Kurupt . It was the third single from 2001 and peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. It sold 146,570 copies between 2001 and 2002 in the UK...
, Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang, Gin and Juice
Gin and Juice
"Gin and Juice" is the second single by rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg from his debut album Doggystyle. A top 10 hit single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, peaking at number eight, "Gin and Juice" was nominated for the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance...
& Still D.R.E.
Still D.R.E.
"Still D.R.E." is the title of a song recorded by American artist Dr. Dre. It was released in November 1999 as the lead single from his multi-platinum second album 2001. This song features Snoop Dogg on the intro, chorus and outro.- Music video :...
.
Track listing
Digital singlePhysical single
Charts
| Chart (2010–2011) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
33 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
34 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
43 |
| U.S. Billboard Rap Songs | 11 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
112 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
November 18, 2010 | Digital download |
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
November 21, 2010 | |
| United States Rhythm Radio | November 23, 2010 | Radio play |
| United States Urban Radio | December 7, 2010 |