"The Watcher" is a song by American rapper-producerDr. Dre from his second studio album2001. The song was released as the fourth and final single from the album inFrance on February 27, 2001, and features vocals from rappersEminem andKnoc-turn'al.
RapperJay-Z released a sequel titled "The Watcher 2" on his 2002 albumThe Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse. Jay-Z's version was produced by Dr. Dre and featured vocals from Dr. Dre, Jay-Z andAftermath associatesRakim andTruth Hurts. A remix replacing Jay-Z's verse with a verse sung bySnoop Dogg would later be released, titled "The Watcher Pt. 3".
One of Dr. Dre's lines was later interpolated as the chorus for the song "Hello", a song by him and former N.W.A membersIce Cube andMC Ren.
The song's instrumental was used in theJ. Cole song "Adonis Interlude (The Montage)". The song was produced by Dre and appeared on thesoundtrack to the 2023 filmCreed III.
A sequel to the song was made by American rapperJay-Z and released on the 12th of November, 2002 for his seventh studio albumThe Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse, where it was titled "The Watcher 2". The song is performed by Jay-Z, alongside Dr. Dre,Rakim andR&B singerTruth Hurts. The song was featured as the third track toThe Blueprint 2 and its reissue,Blueprint 2.1. Jay-Z performs the first verse. During it he shouts out fellowRoc-A-Fella associatesDamon Dash andKareem Burke, mentionsRobb Report and references theEric B. & Rakim song "Eric B. Is President". This is then followed on by Truth Hurts' bridge and the hook, with the same lyrics as the original hook sung byEminem. This then bring Dre's verse, which begins with a similar pattern to Dre's song "Still D.R.E.". The third verse is performed by Rakim. He references his opening line on "Lyrics of Fury", from the Eric B. & Rakim albumFollow the Leader. Rakim toldWho that the song was originally intended to be a Dr. Dre project: "That was a Dre project, man. A joint that I did for Dre. Jay-Z heard it and the rest is history, man.".[5]
