Dr Dre has apologised for physically abusing three ex-girlfriends.

The 50-year-old rapper, who was accused of glossing over his dark past in the new biopic 'Straight Outta Compton,' which he co-produced about his former hip-hop group NWA, says he "deeply regrets" what he did to the women in the late '80s and early '90s.

In a statement to the New York Times, the Grammy winner, who has been happily married to Nicole Young since 1996, said: "Twenty-five years ago I was a young man drinking too much and in over my head with no real structure in my life. However, none of this is an excuse for what I did. I've been married for 19 years, and every day I'm working to be a better man for my family, seeking guidance along the way. I'm doing everything I can so I never resemble that man again. I apologise to the women I've hurt. I deeply regret what I did and know that it has forever impacted all of our lives."

The star's apology comes just days hip-hop journalist Dee Barnes penned an essay for Gawker accusing him of omitting his violent behaviour towards her, as well as other ex-girlfriends Michel'le Toussaint and Tairrie B, from the new film, which chronicles his rise to fame alongside Ice Cube and Easy-E.

Dre - whose real name is Andre Young - previously claimed some of the allegations against him were false.

He told Rolling Stone magazine: "I made some horrible mistakes in my life. I was young, stupid. I would say all the allegations aren't true - some of them are. Those are some of the things that I would like to take back. It was really messed up. But I paid for those mistakes, and there's no way in hell that I will ever make another mistake like that again."