Yet another round of hip-hop legend today, as we go back to the west coast for the next Death Row Records release, the debut hit from Snoop Dogg, or Snoop Doggy Dogg as he was known then. Even though this was his first release, he was already a well-known commodity serving as the primary MC on Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” album. Like many, I have always been thoroughly entertained by Snoop Dogg. He is pretty much a cartoon character at this point, but his smooth delivery and his comically overcooked version of gangs, weed, booze and women serve as an effective parody as well as a sadly accurate lens on life in the inner city. “Doggystyle” was a very successful album commercially, and is rated as album #340 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Musically, the production on the album is outstanding. It is another G-Funk classic, and while the years have created some controversy between Dr. Dre and other collaborators as to who produced what, at the end of the day, that team with Snoop’s vocals created an album I could easily listen to over and over again. There are several iconic songs on this record, including the first two singles released, “Who Am I?” (What’s My Name?)” and the even more-famous “Gin & Juice”. It’s hard to imagine many fans of the genre not loving these tracks. They have great hooks, really bouncy bass beats, and Snoop’s one-of-a-kind delivery makes them sound like no other in the hip-hop world. I may laugh and smile when I play them, but I assure you both are on my play list and always get turned up.
The album has some other classics, and is really a strong product from beginning to end. “Murder Was the Case” is another gangster-cliché track that mirrors the trial of Snoop and his bodyguard for a gang shooting. He is loved by most now, but he certainly had a legitimate past in the world of crime and certainly is a more productive member of society in his current role as rapper emeritus.
My favorite track I was not familiar with before is “Lodi Dodi”, a reshaped version of “La Di Da Di”, created by Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh. I loved the slow-paced hook of this song, and the lyrics are just as wonderfully ridiculous as any on this album. You even hear a segment of the song that would eventually become “Hypnotize” by The Notorious B.I.G., as he also borrowed from the same roots this song originated from.
Dre and Snoop and crew created another top-of-the-line record with “Doggystyle”, and even though you won’t find either this or “The Chronic” on any streaming service these days, a little extra effort will get you right back to Long Beach or Compton just in time for the fun to continue.
A Lifetime-Plus of Music 