At this year's Grammy Awards, the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award was given to the Aftermath mogul, but Dee Barnes wasn't applauding the honor. Dre's award was a part of The Recording Academy's Black Music Collective, and while fans believe he deserved the tribute, Barnes recalled her experience with the Rap giant back in 1991. It was then that the music journalist was in the thick of her career, often interviewing some of Rap's most influential voices. At 19, she hosted the Hip Hop show Pump It Up! On the show, she highlighted the then-tension between N.W.A. and Ice Cube.
Barnes alleged that Dre confronted her about a segment on her show. She previously detailed the ordeal, stating, "He picked me up by my hair and my ear and smashed my face and body into the wall… Next thing I know, I'm down on the ground, and he's kicking me in the ribs and stomping on my fingers." More recently, Barnes spoke with Rolling Stone about the incident and seeing Dre receive an award holding his name.
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"Everybody wants to separate the art from the artist, and sometimes that’s just not possible," said Barnes. "Most people without a knowledge of [Dr. Dre’s] history are going to say, 'Oh, he must deserve that. He must be such a great person for them to put an award in his name.' But they named this award after an abuser. It wasn’t just a one or two-time thing; these are choices."
Barnes recognizes that Dre may not be the same person she interacted with. "I don’t know. I’m not around him anymore. I haven’t talked to him. But to name an award after someone with that type of history in the music industry, you might as well call it the 'Ike Turner Award.' She also mourned watching the Grammys Hop Hip tribute. Barnes mentioned that she and Dre can't be in the same space. "I was thinking, 'I would’ve been there. I would’ve been there on the red carpet." She believed she "would’ve been interviewing some of those artists.' In fact, I’ve interviewed most of them before.
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She also addressed the blacklisting she received after reporting the incident to the police. Further, Barnes is working on a documentary about her experiences in the industry. However, several artists have shunned speaking with her. "The blacklisting I’ve faced still feels active, and it took me a long time to accept that," she also revealed. "For the longest time, I was like, 'That’s not what’s happening. It’s not that.' But it’s definitely that. I see it. I’ve had plenty of people who will support me privately, but they don’t want it to be publicly known because of their business associations, dealings, or whatever."
"I’m not the bad guy, but I am made into the villain," Barnes added. "Very much like how they did Megan Thee Stallion during the trial against her attacker, Tory Lanez. I watched what happened to my little sister Megan, and it just was heartbreaking to me because we have not changed in all these years."
