Released on , 's debut album The Documentary is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in West Coast hip-hop. It successfully revitalized the California rap scene by blending gritty Compton storytelling with polished, high-budget production from the genre's elite. Production and Atmosphere

The album was a high-stakes collaboration between Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and 50 Cent’s G-Unit Records. While it was originally titled Nigga Witta Attitude Vol. 1 , it was eventually released as The Documentary after several delays to avoid competing with Eminem's Production & Collaborations