What's the Difference explained

What's the Difference
Type:song
Artist:Dr. Dre featuring Eminem and Xzibit
Album:2001
Released:November 16, 1999
Recorded:1999
Studio:Larrabee (Hollywood)
Genre:Hip hop
Length:4:04

"What's the Difference" is a song by American rapper Dr. Dre from his second studio album 2001 (1999). It features American rappers Eminem and Xzibit, and was produced by Dre and Mel-Man.

Composition

The song contains a horn section in the instrumental,[1] as well as a sample of "Parce Que Tu Crois" by Charles Aznavour. Lyrically, the rappers talk about the differences between themselves and other rappers. Dr. Dre reflects on three of his friends, Ice Cube, The D.O.C., and Eazy-E in his verse.[2] Eminem's verse sees him considering the hypothetical situation of killing his girlfriend Kim, rapping that he would put sunglasses on her corpse and drive around with her in the front seat.[3] He also defends Dre's legacy, threatening those who doubt him.[4]

Critical reception

Roger Morton of NME praised Eminem's feature, describing him as "cutting through particularly effectively" on the track. Frank Williams of The Source called the song the highlight of 2001. Jackson Howard of The Ringer also praised Eminem's verse, which he described as "mesmerizing, equal parts performance art, battle rap, storytelling, and raw charisma".

Live performances

Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Xzibit performed the song live on March 16, 2000 at MTV Spring Break.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Juon . Steve . Dr. Dre :: Chronic 2001 . RapReviews . November 27, 1999.
  2. Williams. Frank. Dr. Dre: Dr. Dre 2001. The Source. 124. New York. January 2000. July 12, 2009. 185–6. https://archive.today/20130104041833/http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Dr.+Dre+2001+The+Source&m=text. January 4, 2013. live.
  3. Morton. Roger. Dr. Dre – 2001. NME. London. November 18, 1999. March 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20000122225046/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19991118154846.html. January 22, 2000. dead.
  4. Web site: Howard . Jackson . How Dre Forgot About Dre: The Story of '2001' . . November 15, 2019.