Upon it's release, The Chronic received generally positive reviews from music critics and earned considerable commercial success. Although a solo album, it features many appearances by Snoop Dogg, who used the album as a launch pad for his own solo career. On The Chronic, he included both subtle and direct insults at Ruthless and it's owner, former N.W.Amember EazyE. Dre's first solo album after he had departed from hip hop group N.W.A and it's label Ruthless Records over a financial dispute.
The album is named after a slang term for highgrade marijuana, and it's cover is a homage to ZigZag rolling papers.
Recording sessions for the album took place in June 1992 at Death Row Studios in Los Angeles and at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood.
It was released on December 15, 1992, by his own record label Death Row Records and distributed by Priority Records. The Chronic is the debut studio album by American hip hop recording artist Dr.