S. Samuel
West Coast producer Dr. Dre's long-awaited Detox is still reportedly taking shape as new reports claim Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce Knowles-Carter have landed spots on the solo project.
While a confirmation from either camp has not yet been provided, details of the speculated collaboration have developed.
An unknown source told British newspaper The Sun that Jay-Z and Dr. Dre recorded verses for an unnamed track for Dre’s upcoming final album Detox, and that there was space left in the track for Beyonce to deliver a chorus. This comes as big news as the megastar power couple has not recorded jointly since 2007 on Jay’s American Gangster album on the song “Pray.” The full quote from the source read: “Jay and Dre have recorded their verses with the chorus left open for Beyoncé to sing. The producer has worked on Detox for over a decade. He wanted the couple together.” Jay and Beyonce have paired up on hits songs many times such as the Grammy winning “Crazy In Love” and the sweeping “Bonnie & Clyde” tracks. (RapFix)
Last June, Jay and Dre’s “Under Pressure” Detox collaboration leaked online.
The leak, whose rough-take vibe I cannot stress enough, is not an immediate stunner. Dr. Dre takes the first verse, spitting some decently clever bars (presumably penned with help from Jay) over clubby bleeps and bloops. “Maybe I don’t want to stop, maybe I don’t want to quit,” he muses. “Maybe I’m crazy/Maybe I’m strapped right now, just bait me.” Dre raises his voice for some rousing words in Creole. Then, after a blank space where a hook might fit, it’s time for Jay-Z’s superior verse. Hov gets some snappy lines in, as when he informs us that life’s stresses have him “bringing guns to work, Gilbert Arenas.” And: “I’m in this party, I’m up to no good/And I should be ducking these clubs, Tiger Woods.” Given the timing of the two sports scandals he references, I wonder if Jay-Z recorded his verse any later than January. Anyway, that’s it. Two verses, no hooks, and this version of “Under Pressure,” at least, is out. (Entertainment Weekly)
Dre later addressed the leak and said “Under Pressure” was incomplete.
An unfinished version of “Under Pressure,” Dre’s collaboration with Jay-Z, made its way online Tuesday, June 16. Dre released a short statement on his official website in response to the song’s early appearance. “I want to set the record straight for everybody who’s been waiting to hear my music,” wrote the super-producer. “The song that’s on the Internet is an incomplete song that I’m still working on. When it’s ready, you’ll be hearing it from me.” (Rap-Up)
Last month, Dre’s official BeatsByDre.com website posted an April 2011 release date for Detox.
Dr. Dre’s eagerly anticipated album “Detox” has been given yet another release date, however the date happens to be 1st April… Now, on the official website of the producer/rapper, there is an image of the single artwork which has been redesigned along with the text “Album Available 4.1.2011.” Of course this is April’s Fools Day so it could well be a joke but for now it seems that April is the month that “Detox” will finally be made available. (M Is For Music)
Check out “Under Pressure” down below:
