The Chronic is the debut
studio album by American
hip hop recording artist
Dr. Dre. It was released on December 15, 1992, by his own record label
Death Row Records and distributed by
Priority Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in June 1992 at Death Row Studios in
Los Angeles and at
Bernie Grundman Mastering in
Hollywood. The album is named after a slang term for high-grade
cannabis, and its cover is a homage to
Zig-Zag rolling papers. It was Dr. Dre's first solo album after he had departed from hip hop group
N.W.A and its label
Ruthless Records over a financial dispute. On
The Chronic, he included both subtle and direct insults at Ruthless and its owner, former N.W.A member
Eazy-E. Although a solo album, it features many appearances by
Snoop Dogg, who used the album as a launch pad for his own solo career.