I Need a Doctor - wikipedia I Need a Doctor `` I Need a Doctor '' Single by Dr. Dre featuring Eminem and Skylar Grey from the album Detox Released February 1, 2011 ( 2011 - 02 - 01 ) Format CD single digital download Recorded Genre Hip hop Length 4 : 43 Label Aftermath Interscope Songwriter ( s ) Andre Young Marshall Mathers Holly Hafermann Alex Grant Producer ( s ) Alex da Kid Dr. Dre singles chronology `` Kush '' ( 2010 ) `` I Need a Doctor '' ( 2011 ) `` The Recipe '' ( 2012 ) `` Kush '' ( 2010 ) `` I Need a Doctor '' ( 2011 ) `` The Recipe '' ( 2012 ) Eminem singles chronology `` No Love '' ( 2011 ) No Love 2011 `` I Need a Doctor '' ( 2011 ) I Need a Doctor2011 `` Writer 's Block '' ( 2011 ) Writer 's Block 2011 Skylar Grey singles chronology `` Coming Home '' ( 2010 ) Coming Home 2010 `` I Need a Doctor '' ( 2011 ) I Need a Doctor2011 `` Words I Never Said '' ( 2011 ) Words I Never Said 2011 `` I Need a Doctor '' is a single by American rappers Dr. Dre and Eminem and recording artist Skylar Grey. The song is produced by British record producer Alex da Kid, mixed by Dr. Dre, and was released for digital download through the American iTunes Store on February 1, 2011. Musically, `` I Need a Doctor '' is predominantly a rap song, backed by a `` spacey '', drum - heavy production, with extra piano keys featured in the introduction and the chorus. Lyrically, the song is largely about Dr. Dre and Eminem 's close friendship, and how they have often needed and inspired each other in the past. Even though the song was leaked onto the Internet several months in advance of its release, it became a significant commercial success on its official release, particularly in the United States, where it peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Dr. Dre 's second highest peaking song on the chart ever. It also peaked in the upper regions of many other national charts. As of October 2011, it had sold over 2,206,000 digital copies in the United States alone. Contents 1 Background 2 Music video 3 Live performances 4 Critical reception 5 Chart performance 6 Awards 7 Track listing 8 Charts and certifications 8.1 Weekly charts 8.2 Year - end charts 8.3 Certifications 9 Release history 10 References 11 External links Background The official version premiered through Dr. Dre 's official website. The artists co-wrote the song with its producer, English producer Alex da Kid, who marks his second songwriting collaboration with Eminem and Grey ; Eminem 's hit single `` Love the Way You Lie '' was written by the three. In an interview with MTV News, Kid simply described his experience of working with Dr. Dre as `` amazing '' : `` He 's one of my favorite producers of all time. Everybody knows how much of a perfectionist he is : He 's been working on his album for 11 years. For him to bring me in, trust me, not micro-manage me, and let me bring what I do to the table, I ca n't even describe how that makes me feel. '' In an interview with WiLD 94.9, Skylar Grey revealed that the genesis of the song 's recording was when Eminem invited her and Alex da Kid to Detroit to work on his upcoming studio album with him and Dr. Dre. She said that she and da Kid came to the studio with the hook and `` the track '' prepared ; ( Dre and Eminem ) loved it. Eminem had then gone into the back room, and came out two hours later, and said that he was done writing his verses. Grey also said that she was in tears when she heard Eminem 's verses for the first time and that da Kid initially proposed featuring Lady Gaga on the hook, but Eminem insisted on having Grey 's vocals, and said that they were not taking her voice off the track. In the song Eminem raps two verses about his mentor, thanking Dre for believing in him in his early days and returning the favor, before Dre delivers the song 's final verse. Music video The video for `` I Need A Doctor '' was shot with Allen Hughes, the director of Menace II Society, From Hell and The Book of Eli. The video premiered on February 24, 2011. The video begins with an introduction of Dr. Dre 's music career, such as when he and fellow N.W.A member DJ Yella were in the 1980s funk group World Class Wreckin ' Cru. There are also scenes of Dr. Dre and his family, such as him hugging his daughter and son and getting married. There are also snippets from past music videos. It includes many rappers such as Eazy - E, 2Pac, The D.O.C, Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Eminem, Xzibit and all the rest of the members from N.W.A. The video then features Dr. Dre driving down Pacific Coast Highway in a Ferrari 360, with flashbacks of his life, crashing his car and the last thing heard was his daughter say `` Good night Daddy. '' Then he is transported to a medical facility. The date at the beginning of the video is February 18, 2001 ( his 36th birthday ). They fast - forward to present day ten years later, where he has been hospitalized and is on life support. The Marin County Civic Center stands in for the medical facility. Eminem raps next to him as he is floating in an isolation tank, during which the figure of the Pythia ( played by Canadian actress Estella Warren ) is singing as a hologram behind and over Dre, mouthing the words to Skylar Grey 's vocal part in the song. Skylar Grey herself appears as one of the doctors in the video, but never actually appears singing her part. Dre eventually wakes up and goes through rehab, and the video ends with him standing next to the grave of Eazy - E, a rapper who had launched Dre 's music career by founding N.W.A and was also a member along with Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella. A ticking clock is heard midway through the video. The music video received complaints of being an `` act of advertising '' for a variety of product placements, such as Ferrari, G - Shock, HP, Gatorade, and Dr. Dre 's signature headphones, Beats by Dr. Dre. On August 17, 2012 the music video was VEVOCertified after receiving more than 100,000,000 views on YouTube. Live performances Dr. Dre, Eminem and Skylar Grey performed the song at the 2011 Grammy Awards as part of a medley with `` Love the Way You Lie ( Part II ) '' performed by Rihanna, Adam Levine and Eminem. Eminem performed the first verse at the 2012 Coachella festival. Critical reception Nick Levine of Digital Spy gave the song a very positive review - rating the song five stars out of five ; `` Why is ' I Need a Doctor ' such a brilliant single ? Well, first of all there 's the production from British knob - twiddling whizz Alex da Kid, which has a similar gravitas and bone - rattling bombast to his work on ' Love the Way You Lie ' and ' Airplanes '. Then there 's the haunting chorus, delivered by Diddy 's ' Coming Home ' bud Skylar Grey, which inhabits you from first listen. However, what elevates ' I Need A Doctor ' from `` very good '' to `` a little bit special '' are the performances of Dre and Em. (... ) That single manly tear dribbling down your cheek ? Entirely, entirely justified. '' Chart performance The track first appeared on the UK Singles Chart, at number 21 on February 6, 2011 -- being Dr. Dre 's sixth highest - charting single in the UK and his ninth Top 40 single. It has since peaked at # 8 as of March 27, 2011. It debuted at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 with sales of 226,000, becoming his first top - ten single as lead artist on the chart in 16 years, since `` Keep Their Heads Ringin '' reached # 10 in 1995, also that amount of sales were enough to earn a # 1 in the chart Hot Digital Songs in February, 19. It is also his second highest peak on the chart ever as lead artist, behind only `` Nuthin ' but a ' G ' Thang '' which peaked at # 2 in 1993. It has since peaked at # 4 after selling 283,000 in its third week on the charts, the resurgence in sales seemingly due to its performance at the 2011 Grammy Awards. Awards On November 30, 2011, `` I Need a Doctor '' was nominated for the Grammy Awards for Best Rap / Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song, both of which Kanye West won for his single `` All of the Lights '' from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy ( 2010 ). Track listing German CD single No. Title Length 1. `` I Need a Doctor '' ( Explicit Version ) 4 : 44 2. `` I Need a Doctor '' ( Edited Version ) 4 : 45 Total length : 9 : 29 Charts and certifications Weekly charts Chart ( 2011 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) 12 Australia Urban ( ARIA ) 7 Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 38 Belgium ( Ultratip Flanders ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Wallonia ) 47 Brazilian Singles Chart ( ABPD ) 52 Canada ( Canadian Hot 100 ) 8 Czech Republic ( Rádio Top 100 ) 38 Denmark ( Tracklisten ) 30 France ( SNEP ) 29 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 25 Ireland ( IRMA ) 11 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 55 New Zealand ( RIANZ ) 23 Poland ( Polish Airplay New ) Romania ( Romanian Top 100 ) 47 Slovakia ( Rádio Top 100 ) 47 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) 56 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 33 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 8 UK R&B ( Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 US Pop Songs ( Billboard ) 19 US Bubbling Under R&B / Hip - Hop Singles ( Billboard ) 24 US Rap Songs ( Billboard ) 16 Year - end charts Chart ( 2011 ) Position Australia ( ARIA ) 63 Canadian Hot 100 51 US Billboard Hot 100 51 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Australia ( ARIA ) 2 × Platinum 140,000 United States ( RIAA ) 2 × Platinum 2,206,000 shipments figures based on certification alone Release history Country Date Format Label United Kingdom January 30, 2011 Digital download Aftermath Interscope United States February 1, 2011 Germany March 25, 2011 CD Interscope ( Universal ) References Jump up ^ Dinh, James ( 2010 - 11 - 23 ). `` Dr. Dre Is ' Constantly Working, ' Producer Alex Da Kid Says - Music, Celebrity, Artist News ''. MTV. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 06. Jump up ^ `` ' I Need a Doctor ' feat. Eminem and Skylar Grey ''. Dr. Dre. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Nessa Interviews Skylar Grey PART 1 WILD94. 9 KYLD SF June 22, 2011 ''. YouTube. Retrieved August 6, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Nessa Interviews Skylar Grey PART 2 WILD94. 9 KYLD SF June 22, 2011 ''. YouTube. Retrieved August 6, 2011. Jump up ^ `` I Need a Doctor by Dr. Dre Songfacts ''. Songfacts.com. 2001 - 02 - 18. Retrieved August 6, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Marin Civic Center makes appearance in hit rap video - Marin Independent Journal ''. Marinij.com. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 06. Jump up ^ Aoyagi, Daisuke ; Ichinose, W.E. ; Harkema, S.J. ; Reinkensmeyer, D.J. ; Bobrow, J.E. ( August 29, 2005 ). `` An assistive robotic device that can synchronize to the pelvic motion during human gait training ''. Rehabilitation Robotics, 2005. ICORR 2005. 9th International Conference on : 565. doi : 10.1109 / ICORR. 2005.1502026. Jump up ^ Aoyagi, Daisuke ; Ichinose, W.E. ; Harkema, S.J. ; Reinkensmeyer, D.J. ; Bobrow, J.E. ( September 2007 ). `` A Robot and Control Algorithm That Can Synchronously Assist in Naturalistic Motion During Body - Weight - Supported Gait Training Following Neurologic Injury ''. Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, IEEE Transactions on. 15 ( 3 ) : 387. doi : 10.1109 / TNSRE. 2007.903922. Jump up ^ `` Dr. Dre 's `` I Need A Doctor '' Filled With Product Placement ( PHOTOS ) - Entertainment & Stars ``. Ibtimes.com. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 06. Jump up ^ `` I Need A Doctor - Dr. Dre & Eminem EMINEM News MTV European ''. Mtv.tv. 2011 - 02 - 25. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 06. Jump up ^ Lanier, Xavier ( 2011 - 02 - 27 ). `` I Need a Doctor : HP TouchPad, Pre3, Beats Envy Notebook in Dr. Dre / Eminem Music Video ''. Gottabemobile.com. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 06. Jump up ^ Nicholas Deleon ( 2011 - 02 - 28 ). `` HP Tablet Saves Dr. Dre 's Life In ' I Need A Doctor ' Music Video TechCrunch ''. Crunchgear.com. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 06. Jump up ^ Vasquez, Andres ( 2011 - 02 - 10 ). `` Dr. Dre Will Join Eminem For Grammy Awards Performance Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales ''. HipHop DX. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 06. Jump up ^ Dr Dre ft. Eminem, Skylar Grey : ' I Need a Doctor ' Review by Nick Levine of Digital Spy. 2011 - 02 - 06 Jump up ^ `` Week Ending Feb. 6, 2011 : Albums : Minaj Feels Like A Million - Chart Watch ''. New.music.yahoo.com. 2011 - 02 - 09. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Latest Music News, Band, Artist, Musician & Music Video News ''. Billboard.com. 2011 - 05 - 29. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on December 1, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2012. Jump up ^ http://www.discogs.com/Dr-Dre-featuring-Eminem-Skylar-Grey-I-Need-A-Doctor/release/2871974 Jump up ^ `` ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart : 11 / 04 / 2011 ''. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on February 8, 2010. Retrieved 2011 - 04 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Top 40 Urban Albums & Top 40 Urban Singles ''. ARIA Charts. ( Australian Recording Industry Association ). February 28, 2011. Archived from the original on February 16, 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Dr. Dre feat. Eminem & Skylar Grey -- I Need a Doctor '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2011 - 03 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Dr. Dre feat. Eminem & Skylar Grey -- I Need a Doctor '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratip. Retrieved 2011 - 03 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Dr. Dre feat. Eminem & Skylar Grey -- I Need a Doctor '' ( in French ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2011 - 04 - 15. Jump up ^ `` Brazil '' ( PDF ). ABPD. October 6, 2001. Retrieved April 1, 2014. Jump up ^ `` ČNS IFPI '' ( in Czech ). Hitparáda -- Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note : insert 201119 into search. Retrieved 2011 - 05 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Danishcharts.com -- Dr. Dre feat. Eminem & Skylar Grey -- I Need a Doctor ''. Tracklisten. Retrieved 2011 - 03 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- Dr. Dre feat. Eminem & Skylar Grey -- I Need a Doctor '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Retrieved 2011 - 03 - 21. Jump up ^ `` Musicline.de -- Dr. Dre feat. Eminem & Skylar Grey Single - Chartverfolgung '' ( in German ). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 2011 - 04 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Chart Track : Week 12, 2011 ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 24, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Dr. Dre feat. Eminem & Skylar Grey -- I Need a Doctor '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2011 - 03 - 04. Jump up ^ `` Chart # 1766 -- Monday 28 March 2011 : Top 40 Singles Chart ''. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. 2011 - 03 - 28. Retrieved 2011 - 03 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia : : Związek Producentów Audio - Video ''. Polish Airplay New. Retrieved 30 March 2017. Jump up ^ `` Romanian Top 100 ''. Romanian Top 100. 2011 - 04 - 11. Archived from the original on 2010 - 11 - 29. Retrieved 2011 - 04 - 11. Jump up ^ `` SNS IFPI '' ( in Slovak ). Hitparáda -- Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note : insert 201116 into search. Retrieved 2011 - 04 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- Dr. Dre feat. Eminem & Skylar Grey -- I Need a Doctor ''. Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2011 - 04 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Dr. Dre feat. Eminem & Skylar Grey -- I Need a Doctor ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2011 - 03 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` I Need a Doctor ( Edited Version ) - Dr. Dre ''. Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Pop Songs ''. Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Bubbling Under R&B / Hip - Hop Singles - Issue Date : 2011 - 03 - 05 ''. Billboard.biz. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011. Jump up ^ `` Rap Songs ''. Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 06. Jump up ^ `` ARIA Top 100 Singles 2011 ''. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2015 - 01 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Best of 2011 : Canadian Hot 100 ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved 2011 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Best of 2011 : Hot 100 Songs ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved 2011 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` ARIA Charts -- Accreditations -- 2011 Singles ''. Australian Recording Industry Association. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- Dr. Dre feat. Eminem and Skylar Grey -- I Need A Doctor ''. Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH Jump up ^ Released in Germany on Amazon.de External links `` I Need A Doctor ( Explicit Version ) '' Official music video on YouTube Eminem 's watch in I need a doctor - www.marshallmathers.com Dr. Dre songs Discography Production discography The Chronic `` Fuck wit Dre Day '' `` Let Me Ride '' `` Nuthin ' but a ' G ' Thang '' `` Bitches Ai n't Shit '' `` The Watcher '' `` Still D.R.E. '' `` Xxplosive '' `` Forgot About Dre '' `` The Next Episode '' Compton `` Talk About It '' `` Medicine Man '' `` Talking to My Diary '' Collaborations `` We Want Eazy '' `` U Better Recognize '' `` California Love '' `` No Diggity '' `` Ghetto Fabulous '' `` Guilty Conscience '' `` Hello '' `` Just Be a Man About It '' `` The Knoc '' `` Symphony in X Major '' `` Encore '' `` Crack a Bottle '' `` Old Time 's Sake '' `` Hell Breaks Loose '' `` The Recipe '' `` New Day '' `` Stronger '' Other singles `` We 're All in the Same Gang '' `` Deep Cover '' `` Natural Born Killaz '' `` Keep Their Heads Ringin ' '' `` Been There, Done That '' `` Zoom '' `` Bad Intentions '' `` The Wash '' `` Kush '' `` I Need a Doctor '' Other songs `` Put It on Me '' `` Just Dippin ' '' `` Imagine '' `` Under Pressure '' `` 3 Kings '' Eminem songs Discography Production discography Awards and nominations D12 singles discography Bad Meets Evil discography Slim Shady EP `` Just Do n't Give a Fuck '' The Slim Shady LP `` My Name Is '' `` Role Model '' `` Guilty Conscience '' The Marshall Mathers LP `` The Real Slim Shady '' `` The Way I Am '' `` Stan '' The Eminem Show `` Without Me '' `` Cleanin ' Out My Closet '' `` Superman '' `` Sing for the Moment '' `` Business '' 8 Mile soundtrack `` Lose Yourself '' Encore `` Just Lose It '' `` Mosh '' `` Encore '' `` Like Toy Soldiers '' `` Mockingbird '' `` Ass Like That '' Curtain Call : The Hits `` When I 'm Gone '' `` Shake That '' Eminem Presents : The Re-Up `` You Do n't Know '' `` Jimmy Crack Corn '' Relapse `` Crack a Bottle '' `` We Made You '' `` 3 a.m. '' `` Old Time 's Sake '' `` Beautiful '' Refill `` Forever '' `` Hell Breaks Loose '' `` Elevator '' `` Music Box '' Recovery `` Not Afraid '' `` Love the Way You Lie '' `` No Love '' `` Space Bound '' The Marshall Mathers LP 2 `` Berzerk '' `` Survival '' `` Rap God '' `` The Monster '' `` Headlights '' SHADYXV `` Guts Over Fear '' `` Detroit vs. Everybody '' Southpaw soundtrack `` Phenomenal '' `` Kings Never Die '' Collaborations `` Dead Wrong '' `` Forgot About Dre '' `` The Watcher '' `` Renegade '' `` Rock City '' `` Hellbound '' `` Rap Name '' `` Shit Hits the Fan '' `` One Day at a Time '' `` Welcome 2 Detroit '' `` Smack That '' `` Touchdown `` Drop the World '' `` Roman 's Revenge '' `` Love the Way You Lie ( Part II ) '' `` That 's All She Wrote '' `` I Need a Doctor '' `` Writer 's Block '' `` Throw That '' `` My Life '' `` C'mon Let Me Ride '' `` Numb '' `` Calm Down '' `` Best Friend '' `` The Hills '' ( Remix ) `` No Favors '' `` Revenge '' Other songs `` ' 97 Bonnie & Clyde '' `` Kim '' `` Bitch Please II '' `` White America '' `` ' Till I Collapse '' `` The Warning '' `` Wo n't Back Down '' `` Bad Guy '' `` Rhyme or Reason '' `` Legacy '' `` So Far... '' `` Campaign Speech '' Skylar Grey Discography Studio albums Like Blood Like Honey ( 2006 ) Do n't Look Down ( 2013 ) Natural Causes ( 2016 ) Singles `` Invisible '' `` C'mon Let Me Ride '' `` Final Warning '' `` I Know You '' `` Cannonball '' Featured singles `` Where 'd You Go '' `` Coming Home '' `` I Need a Doctor '' `` Words I Never Said '' `` Shot Me Down '' `` New National Anthem '' `` Bed of Lies '' `` Beneath with Me '' `` Glorious '' Related articles KidinaKorner Machine Shop Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Need_a_Doctor&oldid=803185041 '' Categories : 2011 singles Dr. Dre songs Eminem songs Song recordings produced by Alex da Kid Songs written by Dr. Dre Songs written by Eminem 2011 songs Aftermath Entertainment singles Interscope Records singles Songs written by Skylar Grey Songs written by Alex da Kid Skylar Grey songs Hidden categories : Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Tip Singlechart usages for Wallonia Singlechart usages for Czech Republic Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Denmark Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Germany Singlechart usages for Ireland Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for Slovakia Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for UKrandb Certification Table Entry usages for Australia Certification Table Entry usages for United States All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February 2011 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Dansk Deutsch فارسی Français Italiano Nederlands Polski Português Русский Türkçe Tiếng Việt Edit links This page was last edited on 1 October 2017, at 00 : 53. 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Question: what is the meaning behind i need a doctor song
Answer: about Dr. Dre and Eminem's close friendship, and how they have often needed and inspired each other in the past