By Odeisel
Before the world stopped believing in Detox like believing in pro wrestling, the good Dr. Dre was doing Dr. Pepper commercials and a beat supposedly from the album was played on the interlude of a party scene. A few months to a year later, the song “Popped Off” was leaked as a T.I. Reference track for Detox. Never let it be said Hip-Hop doesn’t go green as the former Detox. Song has been repurposed with some screaming from DJ Drama, a verse from Dre still intact and a crisp T.I. who has apparently taken ownership of the track.
The music is well-made. One of the underated facets of Dre’s musicianship is his impeccable R&B arrangement. This ais a celebratory song, complete with singing and every spot is exactly where it should be. You almost wish Drama wasn’t on the intro as he talks all over the smooth segue. The lounge-flavored horns do a great job of pacing while the drums are fresh and hard but non-menacing. The departure from retread G-Funk was definitely a step in the right direction.
Dre’s cadence and rhyme scheme smacks of Eminem from that era and actually detracts from Dre’s usual heavy delivery and voice. He’s actually doing too much on this because he’s not really an emcee and he can’t handle the direction changes and cadence shifts as well as a real rapper can. The verse is from T.I. Period where he distanced himself from his Southern drawl. He’s sharp on the rhymes and the song is well written for essentially a party song and Tip nails it. It’s nice hearing him without boring snares drums and trap rpoduction beneath him.
I don’t know why this song wasn’t released. It had all the elements of a strong song and the commensurate star power to blow, especially in the Ciroc era where everyone is celebrating something and trying to get drunk. Whp knows, shit might have “Popped Off.” Keep checking for that Detox though.
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