I liked this more upon initial listens than I do going back to it now. Snoop proved he's still got it earlier this year with 'Bacc on Death Row' and this continues from that being an enjoyable tape with engaging rapping and more consistent than many of Snoop's other recent projects. He gives shine to an R&B artist, Jane Handcock, on a couple of tracks, that are my least favourite moments. Those aside, it's mostly all hard hip hop and easy to play from start to finish. The high moments aren't high enough to give this a better rating though. And calling DJ Drama's bullshit vocals annoying is an understatement. We need No DJ versions of these tapes. Hearing Lil Jon scream "Gangsta Grillz" takes me back. Beats: ★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆ Hooks: ★★★ Best Tracks: I'm From 21st Street, I Still Got It, No Half Steppin

After a fairly good season, this wasn't strong. The scenes with the gang felt tacked on.

This is better than most of Snoop's official albums, and it's a shame more don't think it's worth checking out. It features leftovers from Snoop Dogg's time at Death Row. He released his final album with them in '96 and departed the label in '98. The title and the back cover (Snoop in a casket), shows how Suge felt about him jumping ship to No Limit. Politics aside, this is a worthwhile collection of songs. You can hear elements of the songs from 'Doggystyle' but most sound like they are tracks that didn't make 'Tha Doggfather' or perhaps songs that were meant to be on his third album. Big Hutch, Daz, L.T. Hutton, DJ Pooh and Soopafly produce with Snoop co-producing on some. If you like Snoop and '90s west coast hip hop, you'll find something you like here. Quite consistent with a few highlights to play on repeat. Beats: ★★★★ Vocals/Bars: ★★★☆ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: May I, C-Walkin, Head Doctor, Change Gone Come 1. May I 93 A great way to kick the album off. Fun, funky, jazzy. Snoop rapping like he doesn't do enough of. That nostalgic, female sung vocals on the hook like so many iconic west coast mid-90s classics is featured. One of Soopafly's best productions. 2. C-Walkin 86 This one has a simpler, less funky, harder beat, but it works well too. This one maybe feels more like something from 'Tha Doggfather'. Surely these opening two songs weren't left off 'Tha Doggfather'. 3. Head Doctor 80 Back to that funky chit like the opener. From the title, you can guess what this is about. Another dope, catchy hook. This one had a music video and there is an OG version that was supposedly meant to be on 'Tha Doggfather'. The updated version here is better. 4. Hit Rocks 70 More funk sampling with 'Shine Your Light' by The Graingers being used. 5. Tommy Boy 70 Daz and Snoop storytelling trade bars. Decent, but not an outstanding beat by Daz. No discernible hook. 6. Change Gone Come 86 More classic west coast production. Another dope female sung hook and backing vocals. You can imagine this on Pac's 'All Eyez on Me'. This has no connection to Sam Cooke's song. 7. Too Black 61 Snoop gets pro-black rapping with more of a sleepy flow. 8. Gangsta Walk 62 Decent Daz gangsta rap production. 9. County Blues 74 Catchy bassline with country flavour. 10. I Will Survive 77 Another well produced song with nice touches that help the song never get boring. 11. My Favourite Color 70 Similar themes to 'Too Black'. Not the kind of song Snoop usually makes. He's spitting differently too. 12. Me and My Doggs 59 Snoop showing love to his canines. Probably the least interestingly produced tracks on the album.

I was way too harsh on this initially. As I revisit it I've found a solid album with some enjoyable moments. If you think of Snoop's more experimental albums like 'Ego Trippin'', 'Bush' and '7 Days of Funk', I think this is the better one. 'Ashtrays and Heartbreaks' standouts, but Snoop takes a backseat to Miley who completely takes over the song, which can be said more than once here. The features do a lot of the heavy lifting at times, and that's probably why this isn't a bad project. I like 'No Guns Allowed' too, but wish it didn't have Drake's phone it in verse. 'Smoke the Weed' is kind of catchy. 'Lighters Up' is probably the most hip hop of the songs, and has a dope hook which can be said for a number of tracks. 'Tired of Running' on the other hand is so much worse than Akon's near perfect original from his second album. If you haven't heard it, check it out. Other weaker moments include 'Get Away', that moves into the dance genre, and the dubstep/dancehall 'Fruit Juice.' All in all, this is a good attempt at feel-good reggae by Snoop and all of his friends who helped put it together. The standard edition is enough as the deluxe doesn't have much to shout about. Beats: ★★★ Vocals/Bars: ★★★ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: Lighters Up, So Long, No Guns Allowed, Torn Apart, Ashtrays and Heartbreaks 13. Boulevard 50 14. Remedy 53 15. La La La 64 16. Harder Times 66

Terrible movie, but the soundtrack fares better. I’ve never been a fan of Wiz Khalifa. There's nothing about his style feels compelling, and his delivery is so sluggish it’s like he’s rapping in slow motion. The tone of the album is mostly upbeat, with the usual heavy dose of weed references, but the other themes-tying into the film’s high school setting-aren’t any more engaging. Compared to other Snoop albums, it’s more concise than many and avoids major lows, yet there’s nothing that truly stands out. Even the big single, 'Young, Wild & Free', isn’t one worth raving about. I was hoping to find some gems in the two bonus tracks, but nope. Beats: ★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★☆ Hooks: ★★☆ Best Tracks: You Can Put It in a Zag I’mma Put It in a Blunt, 6:30, Young, Wild & Free, OG