Dr. Dre Talks N.W.A Tour With Eminem, Says Suge Knight ‘Was Looking For Trouble’

UPDATE: A rep tells Rolling Stone that despite earlier reports, Dre and Eminem have no plans to tour together.

In a new interview with the Hollywood Reporter, hip-hop pioneers Dr. Dre and Ice Cube are speaking for the first time about Suge Knight’s fatal hit-and-run in Compton, California, earlier this year that left one man dead, another injured, and Suge sitting in jail facing murder and attempted murder charges.

“I was there. But I was just leaving, so I didn’t know what happened until I was halfway home,” Dre told the Hollywood Reporter. “I heard about it over the phone. Everybody was supportive everywhere we went, and we didn’t have one issue throughout the entire filming of the movie. It’s crazy that this happened during the f—ing filming of the commercial.”

Dr. Dre is being sued by the family of Terry Carter, the 55-year-old man who died on January 29 after Knight ran him over with his truck. Additionally, Ice Cube, Universal Pictures, and Cle “Bone” Sloan, the other man Suge ran over and injured, have also been served with the wrongful death lawsuit. Carter’s family allege that the set of Straight Outta Compton took place in a dangerous gang area which created an unsafe environment that led to Carter’s death, according to PEOPLE.

“It’s just a really unfortunate incident,” said Dre. “Maybe [Knight] was looking for trouble. I don’t know.”

Ice Cube also commented on the incident, saying, “It’s the dangerous part of living in South Central.”

“Some people don’t care if you’re making a movie or not. It’s unfortunate because the movie is so good, so creative, so many talented people involved,” he added.

Knight claims he was attacked by two crew members near the set where a commercial was shooting for Straight Outta Compton. In an effort to flee the scene for safety, Knight claims he accidentally hit the men with his truck, although the LAPD told the Los Angeles Times that moments after an argument with the men, Knight followed them down the street and ran them over. Suge, who has a long rap sheet, is currently being held on $10 million bail while awaiting trail. A previous Inquisitr article mentions how the legacy of the Notorious B.I.G remains tainted by Suge, who has long been suspected of orchestrating the deaths of both Biggie and Tupac.

Meanwhile, Dr. Dre revealed to THR the arduous 13 years it took to take Straight Outta Compton from script to screen.

“It’s crazy how we were getting criticized for this years ago,” says Dre of N.W.A’s provocative songs about inner-city life. “And now, it’s just like, ‘OK, we understand.’ This movie will keep shining a light on the problem, especially because of all the situations that are happening in Ferguson and here in Los Angeles. It’s definitely going to keep this situation in people’s minds and make sure that everyone out there knows that this is a problem that keeps happening still today.”

Dre and Cube also discussed how attitudes toward hip-hop have changed since N.W.A dropped their controversial “F**k tha Police.”

“It was always about free speech, being able to express yourself, whether people like it or not,” Ice Cube said. “That’s the great thing about being in this country, is to be able to speak your mind and not be censored.”

N.W.A staged a reunion of sorts in June at the BET Experience in Los Angeles; however, Dre didn’t appear with Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella. Both Dr. Dre and Ice Cube were reportedly in talks with Eazy-E before he passed about reuniting N.W.A.

“Eazy is the reason why this thing really worked,” Dr. Dre told HipHopDX, with Cube adding, “Eazy was a genius when it comes to entertainment and promoting and understanding what people want.”

In an effort to promote the film, Universal chairwoman Donna Langley is plotting an N.W.A reunion for a European tour, with Eminem (who performs on the film’s soundtrack) as an honorary member.

“We don’t have anything settled yet with everyone’s schedules,” she said. “But we think it can create a lot of buzz.”

“It had a great potential of being done wrong and f—ing up our legacy,” said Dr. Dre to the Hollywood Reporter. “Our legacy is something that’s very important to me.”

Directed by F. Gary Gray, Straight Outta Compton follows the early lives and careers of N.W.A, and Dr. Dre has said that the film accurately portrays Eazy-E. The film hits theaters August 14.

[Image courtesy of Time via PPCORN]