REVISITING REVIEW '25
The highs here are higher than Snoop's past two albums featuring some of Snoop's best since 'Doggystyle', so I can see why I wrote what I did in my original review. Songs like 'Bitch Please', 'Don't Tell' and 'Party With a D.P.G.' in particular are great. There are a lot of lackluster songs though. I would say more than his previous two albums. 'In Love with a Thug', 'Down 4 My N's', 'Betta Days', 'Somethin Bout Yo Bidness' and 'Ghetto Symphony' are all average moments. So in ranking Snoop's albums, it depends what you value. Do you put more weight on a consistent listen or standout songs? Judging by what I normally see, with people ranking this album quite highly in Snoop's disography, it must be the latter. As I wrote in my review of 'Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told', it's like splitting hairs trying to rank these Snoop albums. The beats are maybe a little better here, but the hooks are less enjoyable. There isn't much in it.
Beats: ★★★☆
Rapping/Bars: ★★★
Hooks: ★★★
Best Tracks: My Heat Goes Boom, Bitch Please, Party With a D.P.G., Don't Tell
1. Dolomite Intro
2. Buck 'Em
This is decent, but it's an underwhelming start to the album, especially given it's the return of Dre with Snoop. This sounds like a song that should be in the middle of an album, not trying to kick it off.
3. Trust Me
It's always nice to hear Suga Free. Passable after he opens the song. There is nothing too memorable about this one either.
4. My Heat Goes Boom
After a lackluster start, this is the first song to get me moving. Catchier hook and a funkier beat.
5. Dolomite
6. Snoopafella
Snoop covers 'Cinderfella' by Dana Dane telling a story about a low budget male hood-Cinderella of sorts.
7. In Love With a Thug
Everything about this is unfulfilling from the beat to the lyrics to the hook. Snoop tells some stories about being in love with the wrong people.
8. G Bedtime Stories
As I’ve been revisiting Snoop’s discography, I’ve noticed more covers and nods to other artists than I’d realised. This track is essentially a more gangsta-flavoured spin on Slick Rick's 'Children’s Story'. It also uses Public Enemy's line, "You can get a smack for that".
9. Down 4 My N's
This reminds me of a track I love that makes better use of the horns. The instrumentation here doesn’t change enough with the hook and verses blending too closely, but the rappers bring plenty of energy.
10. Betta Days
Another okay song. Worse than the above. It sounds like there's no hook because it sounds no different from the verses. It has a positive message and the production is okay.
11. Somethin Bout Yo Bidness
I complained about the guy on the intro here, Kevin Slow Jammin James, on Daz's recent album, 'Retaliation, Revenge and Get Back 2, and here he is annoying me again. He just sounds like such a wanker. As for the song, this is average pop rap at best.
12. Bitch Please
Classic. Enough said. Snoop shouted out Dre on Doggfather (I think it was) inviting him back and here he is to finally give us a great song.
13. Doin' Too Much
DJ Quik's first of two beats. Another decent but forgettable track. It doesn't really have his iconic sound. Snoop calls people for being fake or actin' too hard to impress.
14. Gangsta Ride
A little better with more of a discernible hook and funky beat.
15. Ghetto Symphony
The No Limit posse track. This beat though is so damn simple. KLC remade/sampled 'The Symphony' from '88 (with Marley Marl, Big Daddy Kane Masta Ace, Craig G and Kool G Rap) and made it more bare bones and worse...
16. Party With a D.P.G.
Jelly Roll gives us the best beat aside from 'Bitch Please'. Dope chorus, enjoyable spitting and a beat that goes a couple of different places.
17. Buss'n Rocks
DJ Quik didn't bring his best here. It's better than most tracks on this album but still nothing great.
18. Just Dippin'
The third Dre track. I feel like this beat was used for something/someone else? Maybe I heard it on a freestyle... This one is above average for the album, but it's not touching 'Bitch Please'.
19. Don't Tell
Third time lucky for DJ Quik. One of the best tracks. It features an incredibly catchy hook that takes it to the next level. Vibey funky production. And then Nate drops in at the end. I never forget this one.
20. 20 Minutes
Another okay song bringing back the street after Quik's last funky song.
21. I Love My Momma
The obligatory mum tribute to finish an album that few rappers haven't done. It's aight.
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Original Review:
An improvement on Snoop's previous two albums, and we finally see another great track to rank up with Snoop's best in 'Bitch Please', thanks to Dre who returns to produce with Snoop, and the other two Dre produced tracks ('Buck Em' & 'Just Dippin') are among the best also. While there still isn't a lot of great stuff here, the standard is higher than we've received with the last couple of albums, and it's well worth a listen for fans of Snoop Dogg. 3-3.5/5.
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