Release Date: May 12, 2015
If you are anything like me, news of a new Snoop Dogg record is met with indifference. I’ve not anticipated a Snoop Dogg release since Rhythm and Gangsta (an album I enjoyed). Everything he’s released since then, I can seriously do without. I am establishing a rule on this blog that we are never to mention Snoop Lion. It’s not a thing. It never happened.
It’s not that Snoop’s music has gotten bad. It’s just that Snoop has fallen into that cycle that you see artists get into as they age. They seem stuck in no man’s land. Their music doesn’t seem to speak to the younger generation. And his now older fanbase would rather listen to Doggystyle than listen to him have a midlife crisis to a reggae beat. (I know, I broke my own rule.)
So when I heard he had a new record coming out, I prepared to hate it. I expected the record to make me want to listen to Doggystyle. But then I read that the record was being produced by Pharrell and it immediately raised my expectations. Everything that Pharrell touches these days turns to gold. One day I’m gonna have to devote a blog post to Pharrell’s pact with the Devil he’s clearly made.
If there’s something you can never say about Snoop it’s that he’s afraid to change things up or take risks. From making funk records, to reggae records (Dammit, I did it again) Snoop always tries to grow and push himself as an artist. And he’s done that here. This album sounds more like a Pharrell record with Snoop singing than a Snoop record produced by Pharrell. And I mean that as a compliment.
Right from the start with the song California Roll, I was all in. The groovy track paired with Stevie Wonder’s harmonica makes this song damn near perfect. I wouldn’t be shocked if this song ends up on my year end top songs list.
Snoop rarely raps on the record. And that’s actually welcomed here. I like Snoop as a singer. It works on the canvas Pharrell lays out for him. When he does rap it feels forced and lazy.
The rest of the record carries on in this way. It’s a very enjoyable record. It’s remarkable to listen to this record knowing Snoop’s discography. After listening to this album, I did want to put on Doggystyle. But not as a palate cleanser. But as a reminder of where Snoop started and how on Earth we got here..
Rating: 8/10
Favorite Tracks: California Roll, Awake, Edibles, I’m Ya Dogg
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