Why The Chronic is the Greatest Album in Rap History  If you try
to remember the late fall of 1992, all you see is smoke. Smoke
smoldering from the rubble of post-riot L.A. Smoke sepulchral
from the barrels of freshly fired AKs. Smoke swirling from the
Zig-Zags of anyone able to purchase the bomb, the real sticky-
icky, the chronic.  All you hear is The ChronicDr. Dre's
perfectly rolled joint, which soon celebrates the 20th
anniversary of its December 15, 1992 release.  You might not
agree that it is the greatest rap album of all time, but it's
difficult to argue against its selection. Biggie or Nas' debuts
may be more lyrical. A Tribe Called Quest's Low End Theory is
looser. Wu-Tang and OutKast were more otherworldly and Public
Enemy more incisively political. But no album before or since
has blended those qualities like the rat-tat-tat murderer's row
of Dre, Snoop Dogg, Daz, Jewell, Kurupt, The D.O.C., RBX, Nate
Dogg and the Lady of Rage.  Hip-hop is omnivorous by design. It
recycles old sounds and ideas and