Dr. Dre Secretly Working on Scripted Apple Music Show ‘Vital Signs’
Dr. Dre will reportedly help Apple Music expand into the world of original video programming with a new series titled Vital Signs, with the Compton rapper serving as executive producer and star of the six-episode series. According to The Hollywood Reporter, each episode of the dark, semi-autobiographical Vital Signs delves into one of the rapper’s emotions.
Filming on Vital Signs reportedly occurred Monday and Tuesday with an explicit orgy scene at a Los Angeles mansion. Actors Sam Rockwell and Mo McCrae are among those starring alongside Dre in the cast.
Music video vet Paul Hunter is directing the scripted series, with each episode lasting 30 minutes. Like Netflix’s dispersal of original programming, it is expected that all of Vital Signs‘ episodes will arrive simultaneously, though no premiere date has been set. It’s also unclear whether Vital Signs is Apple Music exclusive or if it will be available on other Apple properties, like Apple TV and iTunes.
Vital Signs would be Apple Music’s first foray into original video programming; the streaming service previously premiered Taylor Swift’s 1989 concert film, and a visual component was added to DJ Khaled’s new Beats 1 radio show. The Hollywood Reporter adds that it was Dre who pitched his TV series to his Beats co-founder Jimmy Iovine; the two sold their Beats Electronics to Apple in 2014 for $3 billion.
In addition to Vital Signs, Dre is also host of his The Pharmacy Beats 1 show.