The Ego Has Landed
In my opinion the release of a new Snoop Dogg album is always cause for excited anticipation. For anyone following his career, to quote the Doggfather himself on his 2004 return to form R&G (Rhythm and Gangsta): The Masterpiece, there will be ups and downs, smiles and frowns. And indeed there have been many. But throughout label wranglings, questionable artistic directions and simply the crazy weeded out world of Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr and all it brings to bear, there have been more than a few moments of absolute genius.
His position as a rap legend is unquestioned and surely he would be close to the top of any all time greatest list. Who can forget the first time they heard the languid and soulful tones of Mr Dogg on the Deep Cover soundtrack, teasingly introducing his presence with a now trademark "dggyeeah". A couple more spoken lines before the half-sung, half-rapped, half-downright threatening "Cos it's 1-8-7 on a mother fuckin cop" (yes I realise that is three halves, but you get the point). And then the verse..."Creep with me as I crawl through the hood, Maniac, lunatic, call 'em Snoop Eastwood". Incredible. And of course there is his central role in the Chronic.
For me, one of the defining moments in my love affair with hip-hop came with the first time that the Chronic intro kicked in and that soon to be familiar drawl made a stunning statement of intent that suggested to you that this was going to be a seminal album. And this was even before the first song, and has proven to be the case. Death Row records is truly in full-mutha-fuckin-effessett. By the time "bow-wow-wow-yippee-yo-yippeeyay" had kicked in nothing would be the same again for this fledgling rap appreciative. And while we're at it, how incredible is Doggystyle? Anyway, I have digressed, but the point is that those three appearances alone would bestow on Snoop Dogg an unshakeable position in the rap canon. But who would have thought that we would now be waiting for long player number nine? Or that the career of the crip from the 213, which threatened to be derailed so early by a murder rap, would now take in movie roles (family and x-rated, of course) reality TV success, pop stardom, little league coach, and a role as a born-again family man and community role model? And with "Ego Trippin" we have what promises to be yet another side of the Dogg's character.
On this album he has foregone the usual label, pop and market-led collaborations to bring us Snoop on Snoop, and has also brought out the Ralph Tresvant in his bad self. We've already had more than a taster with "Sensual Seduction/Sexual Eruption", and I for one am crazy for the new vocoded falsetto sound. Going back to the 80s, and back to the funk. Back to the showmanship and good vibes of George Clinton, Prince and Rick James. Back to the soul of Curtis and Leroy Hutson. Back to Morris Day and the Time for goodness sake! If anyone can pull it off, i'd put my money on Snoop and after all, if we're going to take a trip on anyone's ego, we may as well make it interesting. And that is something which Mr Broadus, and his output, will always be.
His position as a rap legend is unquestioned and surely he would be close to the top of any all time greatest list. Who can forget the first time they heard the languid and soulful tones of Mr Dogg on the Deep Cover soundtrack, teasingly introducing his presence with a now trademark "dggyeeah". A couple more spoken lines before the half-sung, half-rapped, half-downright threatening "Cos it's 1-8-7 on a mother fuckin cop" (yes I realise that is three halves, but you get the point). And then the verse..."Creep with me as I crawl through the hood, Maniac, lunatic, call 'em Snoop Eastwood". Incredible. And of course there is his central role in the Chronic.
For me, one of the defining moments in my love affair with hip-hop came with the first time that the Chronic intro kicked in and that soon to be familiar drawl made a stunning statement of intent that suggested to you that this was going to be a seminal album. And this was even before the first song, and has proven to be the case. Death Row records is truly in full-mutha-fuckin-effessett. By the time "bow-wow-wow-yippee-yo-yippeeyay" had kicked in nothing would be the same again for this fledgling rap appreciative. And while we're at it, how incredible is Doggystyle? Anyway, I have digressed, but the point is that those three appearances alone would bestow on Snoop Dogg an unshakeable position in the rap canon. But who would have thought that we would now be waiting for long player number nine? Or that the career of the crip from the 213, which threatened to be derailed so early by a murder rap, would now take in movie roles (family and x-rated, of course) reality TV success, pop stardom, little league coach, and a role as a born-again family man and community role model? And with "Ego Trippin" we have what promises to be yet another side of the Dogg's character.
On this album he has foregone the usual label, pop and market-led collaborations to bring us Snoop on Snoop, and has also brought out the Ralph Tresvant in his bad self. We've already had more than a taster with "Sensual Seduction/Sexual Eruption", and I for one am crazy for the new vocoded falsetto sound. Going back to the 80s, and back to the funk. Back to the showmanship and good vibes of George Clinton, Prince and Rick James. Back to the soul of Curtis and Leroy Hutson. Back to Morris Day and the Time for goodness sake! If anyone can pull it off, i'd put my money on Snoop and after all, if we're going to take a trip on anyone's ego, we may as well make it interesting. And that is something which Mr Broadus, and his output, will always be.
posted by Twelve Bar at 3:43 PM
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