First listen: Dr. Dre's 'Mr. Prescription,' another possible 'Detox' leak, hits the net

At this rate, "Detoxology" will be offered as a course of study at pharmacology schools before Dr. Dre's long-awaited third album hits stores.

Of course, making cracks about "Detox's" dilatory nature is a cliche in itself. During his set at the Nah Right/Smoking Section showcase last week at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, Kendrick Lamar mentioned that he'd been working hard on the album and guaranteed it would be out this year. And if that weren't a promise that every Dre protege has made for most of the last decade, it would be believable. 

After all, the middling Akon and Snoop Dogg-aided confection "Kush" has been burning up local radio for the last several months (it's currently ranked No. 6 in Power 106's 7@7). Ostensibly, Dre would want to capitalize on the heat behind his last salvo and release something in the remotely near future. But for the noted perfectionist, conventional logic has little meaning. 

Talking to the people who have worked on the project (everyone from Bishop Lamont, Game, Snoop, Ludacris and production protege Dawaun Parker), you'd think you were talking about the holy grail, or at least a lesser book of the Bible. By now, no one's really expecting the record to touch "The Chronic" or "The Chronic 2001." The general media consensus seems to be that anything above mediocrity will be considered a victory.

But "Mr. Prescription," the latest possible leak from "Detox," is not the kind of thing any right-minded medical professional could sign off on -- and is obviously unfinished. Aided by Aftermath-signed Slim Da Mobster and hook woman Nikki Grier, Dre's latest offering reveals few, if any, new ideas. Whereas "Kush" melded sinister Scott Storch-like keyboards and digital thump with Auto-Tune flourishes, this sounds more like a Black Eyed Peas record.

Admittedly, the odds of this making the final tracklisting are slim, and it very well could have been recorded years ago. The recent addition of Lamar would seemingly make it unlikely that the album would take such a saccharine slant. But for anyone who came of age inhaling "The Chronic," this will make you want to shake your head and head to your nearest pharmacy for a stronger substance.

Stream: Dr. Dre featuring Slim Da Mobster & Nikki Grier -- "Mr. Prescription"

Photo: Dr. Dre; Credit: DrDre.com

-- Jeff Weiss 

Comments

[jimster120]

There is no leak of "Mr Prescription". What the heck is LA Times talking about?

[WestcoastMan]

Actually the song is called "My Prescription" there's no mention of "Mr."
The song was leaked onto YouTube for about a day but than got removed for copyright reasons which means it must be official if interscope took it down.
It was a pretty high quality leak unlike when Kush and I Need A Doctor were leaked.

Overall the song is garbage and reminds me off "Like a G6" it has a very club vibe to it.

[Johnny]

the song has been leaked everywhere for like 3 days... you guys obviously aren't looking too hard.

[NickS]

I don't think "ostensibly" means what you think it does.