In a recent interview, DJ Pooh commented on Dr. Dre's involvement and introduction to the world of Grand Theft Auto 5, stating that the legendary rapper and producer was blown away by the game. The former NWA member and hip-hop icon was featured in the recent GTA Online expansion The Contract alongside Jimmy Iovine - an in-game event that captured the attention of many gamers and even led to the recent release of exclusive GTA 5 music from Dr. Dre.
GTA Online players were graced with the arrival of The Contract last year, an addition that added loads of new content to the massively popular online game. Aside from bolstering GTA Online with some strong narrative missions and new activities, The Contract delivered some fan service by bringing back Franklin Clinton, one of the protagonists of the Grand Theft Auto 5 story. While this was a welcome inclusion for many players, the most discussed aspect of this content drop was the fact that Dr. Dre himself would be lending his voice and likeness to the game, allowing players to interact with this music icon in a virtual space. This special cameo induced so much hype that even other GTA cast members were unaware of Dr. Dre's role until the last minute.
While Dr. Dre's appearance in GTA Online is certainly significant in the world of gaming, it may not have happened without the help of fellow hip-hop legend DJ Pooh. In an interview with BET, DJ Pooh commented that Dr. Dre was mostly unaware of GTA and gaming in general until DJ Pooh, a fan of the franchise, showed him the game. In DJ Pooh's own words, Dre was "blown away" by the amount of content and freedom offered in the game. It seems that Dre was also drawn to the versatility and diversity of GTA V's gameplay, as DJ Pooh noted that he was impressed by features like vehicle customization and gunplay.
Dr. Dre may have been unfamiliar with Grand Theft Auto prior to his cameo, but he is certainly connected to the series. Aside from cool pieces of trivia like GTA 5 actor Shawn Fonteno knowing Dr. Dre, Dre and his contemporaries had a major impact on not only GTA V, but GTA San Andreas as well. The older San Andreas owes quite a bit to Dr. Dre, in fact, as its original, iconic score is clearly influenced by NWA and other 1990s west-coast hip-hop.
All of this is to say that Dr. Dre being reportedly "blown away" by GTA 5 is rather wholesome and heartwarming, as it signifies a meeting of the minds. It's unclear what the future has in store for the GTA series following Grand Theft Auto 5, but perhaps Dr. Dre will be part of it. At the very least, he might be inspired to play the next installment in the franchise.
Source: BET