'Detox': Akon reveals Dr Dre's perfectionist attitude left the world without 'bangers' from shelved album
Akon revealed on Wednesday, August 26 as to why Dr Dre's scrapped album 'Detox' never saw the light of day. After Dr Dre had become a titan name in the world of hip-hop in the early 2000s, fans were in high anticipation for his third studio album (formerly known as 'Detox') With work for the album dating back to 2001, producer Scott Storch called 'Detox' "the most advanced rap album ever." Later that same year, Dre stopped working on the LP to focus his efforts on producing for other artists, but then changed his mind and set the release for fall of 2005.
According to a report by Rolling Stone in June 2008, Snoop Dogg claimed that Dre's album was finished. Additionally, producers who were confirmed to have worked on the record include Jay-Z, RZA, DJ Khalil, Nottz, Bernard 'Focus' Edwards Jr, Hi-Tek, J.R. Rotem, Warren G, and Boi-1da. It was then reported that 'Detox' was delayed again so that Dre could produce other artistes' music and scheduled for a 2010 release. Fast-forward to 2015, fans were still left empty-handed and Dr. Dre officially announced its cancelation. According to Consequence of Sound, the producer explained, "I didn’t like it. It wasn’t good. The record, it just wasn’t good … I worked my a** off on it, and I don’t think I did a good enough job."
Now, in a new interview with Vlad TV, Akon discussed his contributions to the LP and what it was like working with Dre on the album. Discussing his disappointment that the world never got to hear some of the LP's "bangers," the multi-platinum selling singer cited Dre's perfectionism as one of the reasons. “Honestly, if he does [music], it should just be as a hobby for the passion, for the love,” Akon said of Dr. Dre. “But Dre is a perfectionist in everything he does," he explained, adding, "And I think he always was afraid to somehow feel like he wouldn’t accomplish what he thinks he should or what the world anticipates.
Fans, however, did get a taste of such bangers with what was rumored to be the first single from the album in 2010. The Dre track was called 'Kush' and featured a collaboration with Akon and Snoop Dogg. The track was leaked during recording sessions of 'Detox' and Dre revealed that he is releasing it as a standalone single because it was well-received by the public.
In the Vlad TV interview, Akon continued to share that he made some great music with Dre that are left gathering dust in the vaults. For the sounds that he heard coming out of the 'Detox' sessions, Akon also noted how impressed he was. “I don’t think [Dre] understands his power sometimes,” he noted. “I think he’s gonna win no matter what because he’s Dre! Just drop that b***h!" Akon continued, "Like he got bangers though. I know for a fact I did a couple of bangers that the world probably will never hear. But man, from what I did hear when we were working together and I was submitting records for ’em, man, they got so much heat. But he’s just a perfectionist — too perfect.”
Akon also said that Dre should’ve released 'Detox' after 'Compton: A Soundtrack By Dr. Dre'. The LP became Dre's new third studio album and was released in 2015. Speaking of 'Compton', Akon said, “I think that was a test to see how the world was gonna perceive him, but I think honestly if had he followed up with Detox — to me, that was the perfect marketing tool for Detox. I honestly believe had he followed up with Detox on that one, he would’ve killed ’em.”