On Tuesday evening, The Knockturnal was on the scene for the New York premiere of HBO’s four-part docu-series “The Defiant Ones,” which chronicles the legendary relationship between iconic producer Dr. Dre and music executive Jimmy Iovine.
Part one was screened for guests and it follows Dr. Dre and Iovine’s first forays into music. Yes, some of Dre’s journey was seen in F. Gary Gray’s Straight Outta Compton and there is even a scene where director Allen Hughes films Dre watch Corey Hawkins play him, but this series has much more detail about how he got his start. It is fascinating and compelling. While many know Iovine to be the founder and CEO of Interscope Records, most probably don’t know how much he struggled in school and how he was fired from multiple jobs before he landed at The Record Plant in New York City. The series is truly inspirational and is must-see TV.
Bono, David Geffen, Eminem, Nas, Stevie Nicks, Ice Cube, Gwen Stefani, Jon Landau, Tom Petty, Trent Reznor, Snoop Dogg, Bruce Springsteen, Diddy and will.i.am are some of the notables who are interviewed for the series and it also features never-before-seen footage from a recording and writing sessions with Eazy-E, JJ Fad, Stevie Nicks, N.W.A., Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and U2, among others.
Notables who attended the NY Premiere included Priyanka Chopra, Gayle King, Gbenga Akinnagbe, LL Cool J, Q-Tip, DJ Premier, Valeri Simpson, Ben Shenkman, Sarita Choudhury, Geoffrey Fletcher, Jeremy Carver, Jaime Cepero, Nanette Lepore, Timo Weiland and Donna D’Cruz.
“Dre is a friend of mine. He’s made a huge contribution to music and I just wanted to come support. I’ve known Dre a thousand years. I mean, we went on tour together when he was still in N.W.A., you know what I’m saying? We’ve known each other many years. Long time. Since the beginning. Since KDay, you know what I mean? Long time,” LL Cool J told The Knockturnal.
In his introductory remarks, HBO CEO Richard Plepler said, “We are incredibly proud of this documentary series. Anybody who knows me and has been around me for the last year has heard me talk over and over again about it and let me tell you why because The Defiant Ones is the story of HBO at its best … the story of artists and their voices, artists and their boldness, artists and their innovation set free and what HBO tries to do at its best is exactly that.” Plepler shared that he has known Iovine for 30 years and when he was trying to figure out his path, Jimmy advised him to get into TV. The rest is history as they say.
Tell me a little bit about collaborating with Allen on this and why he was the right person to tell your story.
Jimmy Iovine: Allen had the right history, you know? He did a video for us and I watched him on American Pimp. Dre knows him. Dre felt comfortable and this is more about Dre wanting to come out and say something, you know what I mean? Dre was ready to talk so I just kind of said, “Okay. Let’s go.”
Can you reflect on you and Dre? It’s been an iconic relationship.
Jimmy Iovine: Well, we’ve never had a fight. We’ve had a bunch of arguments, but we kind of produced each other, you know? He knows what I do best. I know what he does best and we know when to back off.
All of the many artists that you have worked with in your career came and spoke on the documentary. Can you speak about that?
Jimmy Iovine: Of course it means a lot to you. It would mean a lot to anybody. Everybody’s been so great, you know? I try to keep relationships for a long time. It takes 30 years to have a 30 year relationship. I don’t know how many of those I have in front of me starting now.
What are you looking forward to this year?
Jimmy Iovine: Well, I’m looking forward to Apple Music and launching a few new features on it and that’s really exciting.
How was working with Dr. Dre and Jimmy?
Allen Hughes: It was difficult and fun at the same time because I’ve known them for over 25 years. So they’re friends but we all wanted honesty and so we had to keep pushing each other and sometimes it gets tough, but it’s always fun.
This is a big undertaking. There were so many artists that you had to interview. Can you speak about wrangling everything together? What was the creative process?
Allen Hughes: The creative process was none, it just was all over the place. There was no structure, there was no script, there was no schedule, and I didn’t know that. So we got people when we could get ’em. Jimmy and Dre luckily are so beloved by all the artists they’ve worked with, it wasn’t hard to get anyone to sit down. So I got lucky in that respect, you know.
Eminem rarely does interviews. Can you speak about that?
Allen Hughes: You know what, that directly has to do with his love for Dr. Dre. They really truly have a bond that it’s like brothers. He sat down for hours and you can feel the love. Then Part Four, that’s what you want to wait for is Eminem, he’s in Part Four.
What was the highlight of this experience for you?
Allen Hughes: All the lessons I’ve learned from this over three year journey. I’m a different person now and I can’t wait to start my life afterwards, I swear to God because it was like I went to Harvard for the arts, business, technology, sociology. I learned everything. These guys taught me so much, just by watching them.
A fabulous and intimate dinner followed at Porter House, which boasted stunning views of Columbus Circle and Central Park. The series will air July 9 to July 12 and in a first for HBO, all four episodes are now available early for streaming exclusively on HBO NOW, HBO GO and affiliate portals as well as on HBO On Demand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT5FeylUWO0&feature=youtu.be
