From how it all started, to what it’s like for artists to work with the legend, even Cube and Dre reminiscing on the first time they were booed at the Apollo Theater.
During the premiere episode of Ice Cube and Mike Epps’ new podcast Listen & Laugh, Dr. Dre sat down to reflect on the humble, unexpected origins of his legendary hip-hop career and his early bond with Ice Cube. Dre shared that they go way back—dating back to when Ice Cube was still in high school. At the time, Dre’s mother strongly disagreed with his chosen career path, which led him to move out and stay at his aunt’s house.
As it happened, his aunt’s house was located just two or three doors down from Ice Cube’s family. That close proximity brought the two young creatives together in a garage, where they started cutting basic demos that would ultimately serve as the foundational ground level for N.W.A. and West Coast rap. Dre noted that before fully committing to hip-hop production, he originally aspired to be an engineer and studied the path for two years. However, his deep dive into DJing, drum machines, and keyboards quickly pivoted his trajectory toward beats and production.
Reflecting on that journey alongside Epps’ trademark off-the-cuff humor, Dre emphasized that his success came from trusting his own internal convictions rather than caving to outside doubt—even when it came from his own family. He encouraged listeners to follow what they feel in their soul, pointing back to those simple garage sessions with Cube as the spark that ignited decades of music history.