Maybe he’s been more on my mind these days because his son, Andre Young. Jr., was found dead on Aug. 23 at the age of 20. Or maybe because Detox, his supposed final album’s release date is looming extra large.

Dr. Dre: Multi-Grammy winner. Founding member of N.W.A. and the gangster rap explosion with 1988’s Straight Outta Compton and “Fuck tha Police.” Pioneer of G-Funk. Creator of one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, The Chronic (1992). Discoverer of icons Snoop Dogg and Eminem.

In Dr. Dre: The Biography, award-winning author Ronin Ro peels back the layers of the broad beatmaker: the story behind the breakup of N.W.A., his relationship with Ice Cube and Snoop, behind-the-scenes of his label Aftermath, working with the legendary Rakim, the drama on Death Row and more.

This book tells a whole lot about a man who doesn’t say much.

Grade: A

Dr. Dre: The Biography is currently available.