Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Andre Romelle Young Jr. |
| Known as | Andre Young Jr. |
| Birth year | 1988 (commonly reported; some sources list 1987–1988) |
| Date of death | August 23, 2008 |
| Age at death | 20 |
| Place of death | Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California |
| Residence at time of death | Mother’s home in Woodland Hills |
| Cause of death | Accidental overdose of heroin and morphine |
| Father | Andre Romelle “Dr. Dre” Young Sr. |
| Mother | Jenita (Janetta) Porter |
| Notable for | Son of Dr. Dre; his death and its impact on a prominent music family |
| Public career | None documented in mainstream records |
Early Life and Family Background
Andre Romelle Young Jr. grew up in the long shadow of a towering cultural figure. His father, Dr. Dre, shaped the sound of late-20th-century hip-hop; Andre Jr., by contrast, largely lived outside the public eye. Born around 1988, he was raised primarily by his mother, Jenita Porter, who had a documented relationship and later legal disputes with Dr. Dre in the early 1990s centered on child support. As with many children tethered to fame by blood rather than by choice, Andre Jr. carried a famous surname but not a celebrity’s lifestyle.
The public record offers few details about his schools, hobbies, or ambitions. What remains is a pared-down portrait: a young man connected to one of music’s most powerful dynasties, a private life not chronicled by cameras, and a tragedy that punctured the mythos of celebrity invincibility.
August 23, 2008: The Day and Its Aftermath
On August 23, 2008, Andre Jr. was found unresponsive at his mother’s home in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. Initial reports noted that no foul play was suspected, pending toxicology results. In early 2009, the coroner determined the cause of death to be an accidental overdose involving heroin and morphine. It was a verdict that echoed far beyond one household—resonating across fans, peers, and a music industry grappling with familiar demons of substance misuse.
Dr. Dre, typically reserved, issued brief condolences and retreated from public commentary, allowing the family to mourn without spectacle. Memorial posts and quiet tributes appeared over the years, the kind that surface annually and remind observers that grief travels in circles, not lines.
A Family Tapestry: Parents, Siblings, and Connections
Dr. Dre’s family is often described as expansive, complex, and occasionally contradictory in the public record. Andre Jr. was one of several children connected to Dre across different chapters of the producer’s life. The following snapshot offers a high-level view. Counts sometimes vary by outlet; names listed below recur most consistently in mainstream reporting.
- Father: Dr. Dre (Andre Romelle Young Sr.)
- Mother: Jenita (Janetta) Porter
- Siblings and half-siblings commonly cited:
- Curtis Young (rapper known as “Hood Surgeon”)
- LaTanya Danielle Young
- LaToya Young
- Ashley Young
- Tyra Young
- Marcel Young (with Michel’le)
- Truice Young (with Nicole Young)
- Truly Young (with Nicole Young)
- Tyler (Nicole Young’s son from a prior relationship; often included in family overviews)
Some summaries list nine children, others ten. For those surveying the arc of Dre’s life, the mosaic matters more than any single tile. Andre Jr.’s place within that mosaic is clear: a loved son, a brother among many, and a reminder that fame neither shields from nor predicts private outcomes.
Family at a Glance
| Relation | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Father | Dr. Dre (Andre Romelle Young Sr.) | Producer/rapper; central figure in West Coast hip-hop |
| Mother | Jenita (Janetta) Porter | Lived in Woodland Hills; found Andre Jr. unresponsive in 2008 |
| Half-brother | Curtis Young | Also a rapper (“Hood Surgeon”) |
| Half-sister | LaTanya Danielle Young | Frequently listed in family profiles |
| Half-sister | LaToya Young | Frequently listed in family profiles |
| Half-sister | Ashley Young | Frequently listed in family profiles |
| Half-sister | Tyra Young | Frequently listed in family profiles |
| Half-brother | Marcel Young | Son with singer Michel’le |
| Half-brother | Truice Young | Son with Nicole Young; into music production |
| Half-sister | Truly Young | Daughter with Nicole Young; arts/music interests |
| Family connection | Tyler | Nicole Young’s son from a prior relationship; often included in overviews |
Public Profile and Career
Andre Jr. never pursued a public-facing career in entertainment or business, at least not one documented in reputable databases or major media. If anything, his legacy stands in relief against the intensity of his father’s achievements. He is the quiet figure in the family photo—a person, not a persona.
Key Dates and Milestones
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| c. 1988 | Birth of Andre Romelle Young Jr. |
| Early 1990s | Public child-support proceedings involving his mother and Dr. Dre |
| August 23, 2008 | Andre Jr. found unresponsive in Woodland Hills; he dies at 20 |
| Late 2008 | Media coverage notes pending toxicology; no immediate signs of foul play |
| Early 2009 | Coroner rules an accidental overdose of heroin and morphine |
The Media Lens: What Was Reported, What Wasn’t
The coverage at the time was concise: a young man’s death, a famous father, and an investigation awaiting results. Most outlets kept tightly to the facts. Few strayed into speculation about Andre Jr.’s private life, friendships, or habits. That restraint, rare even then, is telling. When details are scarce and a family’s grief is real, sometimes the most respectful reporting is the least adorned.
As years passed, Andre Jr. remained a poignant reference point in profiles of Dr. Dre’s family—those articles that catalog children, trace careers, and mark the ebb and flow of relationships. He appears there as a fixed, solemn marker: 20 years old, gone too soon.
Substance, Stigma, and the Human Cost
Accidental overdoses are not just statistics; they’re absences that echo. In another life, Andre Jr. might have been a producer, an engineer, a teacher, or simply a private citizen living far from the spotlight. His story is a familiar modern elegy—a reminder that addiction is not confined by postcode or pedigree. Families of every shape and status face the same cliff’s edge.
What We Don’t Know (And Why That Matters)
- Exact birthdate: Most public records cite only the year or a range.
- Schooling and early milestones: Not covered in mainstream profiles.
- Personal pursuits: No established career footprint or verified projects.
These gaps don’t diminish his life; they emphasize it. Not every biography needs an archive. Sometimes the absence of detail protects a person’s humanity better than an abundance of conjecture.
FAQ
Who was Andre Young Jr.?
He was the son of music producer and rapper Dr. Dre and Jenita (Janetta) Porter.
When did Andre Young Jr. die?
He died on August 23, 2008, at age 20.
How did he die?
The coroner ruled an accidental overdose involving heroin and morphine.
Where did he die?
He was found at his mother’s home in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.
Did he have a public career?
No, there is no documented public career in mainstream media or databases.
Who are his parents?
His father is Dr. Dre (Andre Romelle Young Sr.) and his mother is Jenita (Janetta) Porter.
Did he have siblings?
Yes, he had multiple half-siblings, including Curtis, LaTanya, LaToya, Ashley, Tyra, Marcel, Truice, and Truly; some overviews also include Tyler.
Was foul play suspected?
No; reports at the time noted no signs of foul play pending toxicology, which later confirmed an accidental overdose.
What is known about his birthdate?
Most public reporting lists 1988 as the birth year, with occasional references to a 1987–1988 range.
How is he remembered today?
He’s frequently included in family retrospectives on Dr. Dre and is honored in periodic memorial posts by fans and acquaintances.
