The Defiant Ones - Daily Doc

The Defiant Ones is a hip-hop fairy tale on steroids, chronicling how Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine built an empire on beats and chutzpah.

It’s a whirlwind tour through decades of musical revolution, from Compton garage parties to Apple boardrooms, with more cameos than a Marvel movie.

At its core, it’s the story of two outsiders who became the ultimate insiders, changing the game while somehow keeping their edge – and their headphones – firmly in place.

Thanks to Patrick O’Shaughnessy and David Senra for moving this up in my queue.

I love this doc!

Trailer for “The Defiant Ones”

Watch “The Defiant Ones”

You can watch “The Defiant Ones” on:

You can also but it at Amazon, Fandango.

All of these streaming options are at https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-defiant-ones

Ratings:

My Rating: 98/100
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 90/100 (Users); 100/100 (Critics)

Release Date: July 9, 2017

Review of “The Defiant Ones”

The Defiant Ones” is a four-part docuseries on the intertwined lives of Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine.

It’s about two rebels-turned-titans and how they changed the game of music.

Directed by Allen Hughes, the series kicks off with a bang, throwing us into the chaos of the 1990s with Dr. Dre and Iovine at the pinnacle of their careers.

Hughes deftly uses archival footage and intimate interviews, making you feel like you’re right there in the studio with them.

Dre’s journey from to global superstardom is nothing short of cinematic. The doc traces Dre’s rise from Compton, California, showing his role in founding N.W.A. and his subsequent career as a producer.

It highlights how he helped launch the careers of artists like Eazy-E, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem.

Dre’s candid discussion of controversial moments, such as his assault on journalist Dee Barnes, where he admits,

“I was outta my fuckin’ mind at the time,”

This adds a layer of raw honesty to his story.

On the other side of the narrative is Jimmy Iovine.

This Brooklyn native’s career began as a studio engineer.

His rise to prominence is marked by his work with iconic artists like John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen on “Born to Run.”

The series details Iovine’s evolution from a music producer to a record label executive and his role in founding Interscope Records.

Iovine’s unique approach to artist management, as highlighted by Steve Berman of Interscope, preferred “strange” and creative artists over conventional ones. That set the stage for groundbreaking collaborations.

The heart of “The Defiant Ones” lies in the unlikely partnership between Dre and Iovine.

Their paths cross in the early ’90s, leading to a collaboration that would redefine the music industry.

Hughes captures their dynamic, showing how Iovine’s business acumen complemented Dre’s creative genius.

Their joint venture, Interscope Records, becomes a powerhouse.

They sign acts like Tupac and Lady Gaga.

Does it get any bigger than that?

Discovering Eminem and 50 Cent

One of the documentary’s standout moments is the scene depicting Dr. Dre’s discovery of Eminem.

The series shows actual footage of their first meeting and collaboration.

I love this sh!t!

We’re witnessing history.

And the doc later shows how Eminem parlayed that into signing 50 Cent to Shady Records (an imprint of Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records) in 2002 .

Controversies

Interscope Records’ controversies are covered too.

The doc gets into the gangsta rap era, with Iovine reflecting on his conflicted feelings about the label’s role in the rap feuds of the 1990s

Those feuds led to the death of Tupac Shakur.

Beats

The doc also explores the creation and eventual sale of Beats by Dre.

This is where we see the duo’s synergy at its peak.

Their venture into the headphone market isn’t just a side hustle; it’s a cultural phenomenon.

The sale of Beats to Apple for a staggering $3 billion is a testament to their innovative spirit and business savvy.

Hughes uses this chapter to highlight their defiance against the odds, showing how they turned a simple idea into a billion-dollar empire.

“The Defiant Ones” is peppered with star-studded cameos and interviews, featuring the likes of Bono, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Trent Reznor, Patti Smith, Ice Cube, Gwen Stefani, and Eminem.

I”m at a loss to think of any music doc that has this high a level of music celebrities in one place.

Each testimony adds depth, painting a vivid picture of Dre and Iovine’s impact on the music world.

Bruce Springsteen recalls Iovine’s intense work ethic during the recording of “Born to Run.”

Bono jokingly refers to Iovine as “a virus that enters the system uninvited.”

The cinematography is slick, the editing is sharp, and the soundtrack is a nostalgic trip through some of the most influential music of the past few decades.

In the end, “The Defiant Ones” is a celebration of two visionary minds that reshaped the music industry.

Allen Hughes crafts a narrative that’s both inspirational and cautionary, offering an unflinching look at the highs and lows of their careers.

Whether you’re a music aficionado or just someone who loves a good story of resilience and innovation, this series is an awesome watch.

Thanks for reading!

Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc