Image by Kevin C. Cox // Credit: Getty Images

Dr. Dre X Prince would have been crazy.

In a candid conversation on Kevin Hart’s talk show, Hart to Heart, Dr. Dre shared that he had turned down opportunities to work with musical legends Prince, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder. The producer explained that he made this unexpected choice out of a deep reverence for these artists and a fear that collaborating with them would alter his perception of them.

During the interview, Dre confessed to declining the chance to collaborate with his “heroes” due to concerns about how it might impact his admiration for them. Despite Hart’s disbelief, Dre respectfully “bowed out” of working with these iconic figures in the music industry. He expressed his dilemma, stating:

“They just asked me to work with them and I just was like, ‘What the fuck am I going to do with them?’” he said. “Those are my fucking heroes.”

“You’re Dr. Dre,” Hart responded.

Dr. Dre further explained his apprehension, emphasising his admiration for artists like Stevie Wonder, Prince, Michael Jackson, and Bruce Springsteen. “The way I feel about Stevie, Prince, Michael, Bruce Springsteen, and all of these amazing artists… could change by working with them,” Dre revealed. He cherished the idea of these artists as the legends he grew up listening to and wanted to preserve that image intact. He stated, “I like the idea of what I grew up listening to, and I want to keep it like that. And I don’t want to fuck up that idea and that look.”

Elaborating on his decision, Dr. Dre expressed a preference for working with newer artists, a practice that has defined his career. He described the experience of collaborating with emerging talents as akin to moulding a “ball of clay.” In contrast, established artists often have a preconceived direction for their music, leaving less room for creative exploration. Dre explained, “There’s a set plan as to how the shit should sound…” He finds joy in discovering and shaping fresh voices in the industry, which aligns with his artistic vision.

We can only imagine that there’s someone tinkering away with some AI making all these collabs happen as we speak… Stay tuned?