CALIFORNIA LOVE: An Orchestral Celebration of Dr. Dre

A Tribute to Dre / A Love Letter to LA

One only had to step inside California Plaza to feel the sheer breadth of Dr. Dre’s influence. Thousands of Angelenos—multigenerational, multicultural—came together in joyful unity, vibing to his music. Even the most diehard fans of The Chronic couldn’t have imagined this kind of mass appeal back in ’92.

Boleros With Attitude set the tone with Latin folk reinterpretations of Dre-adjacent West Coast rap. Zeus’s guitar work brought romance and a hint of the blues to tracks like Regulators and To Live & Die in L.A.

Later, the 30-piece California Love Orchestra—led by Sly5thAve in striking white uniforms—was a sight to behold. The crowd roared for hits like Xxplosive, Forgot About Dre, and Nuthin’ But a G Thang, but was equally locked in for deeper cuts like Been There Done That and Deep Cover.

With clever arrangements, expert musicianship, and playful deconstruction of Dre’s original samples, the night ventured into thrilling, uncharted sonic territory.

This wasn’t just a tribute show—it was a spiritual experience for fans of L.A. rap. Pics, courtesy of Farah Sosa, are now up on our FB page, and you can rewatch the incredible performances on our YouTube channel.