Like most of Snoop Dogg's albums this is a mixed bag, not only regarding the song quality but also the types of songs he has created. There are your standard hip hop tracks, trap, new jack swing, hyphy, latin influenced songs, pop-rap, doo-wop. It makes it a lot to digest over the first couple of listens. I think all of the spoken intros to a number of songs, particularly at the beginning of the album, slow it down. Who wants to listen to them as they replay the tracks? Put them as separate interludes, Snoop.
My picks are the Slick Rick collaboration, 'So Misinformed', sampling the lyrics of 'Get Up, Stand Up'. It's been good to see Slick Rick have a bit of a comeback of late. 'One Blood, One Cuzz' continues the conscious trend of the opening songs and features likeable production, rapping and a catchy hook. As I earlier alluded to though, it has one minute of talking before the song kicks off... 'New Booty' is funky and changes up throughout the song never allowing itself to get uninteresting. 'First Place' is brag rap over a relaxing soulful beat and hook. 'Wintertime in June' is hard not to enjoy due to it featuring some fresh Nate Dogg vocals. Finally, 'I've Been Looking for You' samples Roy Ayers Ubiquity's 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine' and features a lot of similar features to 'First Place'. Just a nice smooth track.
The low points largely begin from 'Turn Me On'. It's an upbeat pop-rap track that sounds a lot like so much of what we've heard before. 'Blue Face Hunnids' is a lot less poppy but is a bore. One look at Wiz on the tracklist tells you there will be a weed song and 'Take Me Away' is it. The production tries to give it this dreamy vibe but it just bores me. I don't like Russ on the hook either. 'Rise to the Top' features Swizz on the hook that is usually a recipe for disaster. It's another lacklustre moment. I like new jack swing but 'Do You Like I Do' doesn't quite work. The lyrics that Snoop has been running with since his come up of bitches not being shit but hoes and tricks has run its course. 'Little Square UBitchU' features some Latin flavour and doesn't work. 'Ventalation' features some younger rappers. The hook is annoying and the beat average.
Snoop deserves to big himself up after everything he has done since the early '90s. Few have had his longevity. The album has grown on me since my early listens and I've found a few favourites but there's nothing brilliant and there are too many unlikeable moments. 2.5-3 / 5
Best Tracks: So Misinformed, One Blood, One Cuzz, New Booty, First Place, Wintertime in June, I've Been Looking for You
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