West Coast legend Xzibit is revealing the secrets of working with Dr. Dre. In a recent interview, Xzibit detailed the intense recording process for the iconic “What’s The Difference” featuring Eminem, revealing Dre’s secret weapon for extracting fire verses: information lockdown.
Talking on the 935 KDAY radio, Xzibit corrected a host who believed that he had heard other verses on the track before going into the boot. That is not Dre’s studio tactics, Xzibit explained:
He don’t let you hear it. You just do your part. And then you hear it when it comes out. I didn’t hear anything. All I heard was beat. That’s it. He don’t do that. He don’t want us to point guns at each other.
Xzibit went on to explain the reasoning behind Dre’s strategy:
You do your part, everybody does their part, and then if you get shit on, you get shit on. That’s how it is. That’s why you gotta come with your A-game every time.
Dre’s method creates a pressure cooker environment, forcing rappers to focus solely on crafting their best verse without distraction from what others are doing. This ensures each artist brings their absolute best to the table, resulting in the high-calibre collaborations Dre is known for.
Imagine stepping into the booth after Eminem, not knowing what lyrical fire he just dropped. No wonder “What’s The Difference” became a certified banger.
So next time you hear a Dre-produced track where every verse goes in, remember the secret ingredient: a healthy dose of competitive spirit fueled by information blackout.
Listen to Dr. Dre — “What’s The Difference” feat. Eminem & Xzibit below:
