MOLI VIEW™

Obviously, I'm biased, but my sense is that this is the interview Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine don't want you to read.

"The public thinks Dre's a real gangsta and does gangsta things," says Bruce Williams, Andre Young's former top lieutenant and my co-author on the brand-new book Rollin' with Dre. "And they think our crew does gangsta things, when it's totally the opposite. It's funny."

This is not to say that our book isn't compelling. Williams went from military life to the heart of Hollywood life in the wake of The Chronic. More than a tell-all, the words are — like our book's 16 pages of rare, candid photos — the story of what it takes to make great records.

To me, the most shocking anecdote is how Dre would repair to Reno to make his most anticipated releases. As someone who's spent 15 years or so in and out of studios with hip-hop artists who would be happy to reach a tenth of Dre's audience, I know that the standard M.O. is to get as deep into the 'hood as possible in order to access a mythic "authenticity." Who knew you might wanna go away from the ghetto to depict its tough streets with funk and clarity?

Williams addresses all of the dirt folks want to talk about: Dee Barnes, Suge Knight, and the "Dre is gay" talk. More importantly, my co-author reveals small moments like off-the books freestyle sessions with Eminem and Kid Rock and big deals such Al Sharpton's shady role in "squashing" the beef between 50 Cent and the Game. I'm also high on Williams's explanation of the delays behind the long-awaited final album, Detox, which The Onion correctly characterized as the hip-hop version of Guns & Rose's Chinese Democracy.

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