Snoop Dogg remains one of rap's star icons, yet in my humble opinion, the doggfather hasn't released a great album since his classic debut, Doggystyle. Da Blue Carpet Treatment was probably his best effort since then, and that was just ok. Not to mention his latest album, Ego Trippin', which was an effin disaster. I don't care what anyone says, "Sexual Eruption" just doesn't do it for me [II]. So did Snoop come correct and jump back on track with Malice in Wonderland?
No, not really. With each album it seems Snoop has travelled farther and farther from his west coast roots in pursuit of a sound that will sell. From the Rob Base sampling single "I Wanna Rock" to "Special", that sounds undeniably like a sequel to "Beautiful", Snoop is basically spoonfeeding the masses.
The infamous Soulja Boy even makes an autotune-laden appearance on "Pronto", only further proving my point that Snoop was trying his best to make this album completely mainstream-compatible. Because you know all the teenage white girls love them some Soulja Boy. I refuse to believe that he actually thought SB's verses or horrible, incomprehensible hook were hot.
Songs like "That's The Homie" and "Upside Down" got me excited, but ended up only disappointing me even more. The first is good right up until that Magic Schoolbus-esque "that's the homie!" interjection starts popping up everywhere. The second track, although featuring one of my favorite young West-Coast up-and-comers, Nipsey Hussle, had mediocre verses, unexceptional production, and a bad hook. Skip track for me.
That's not to say the whole album is watered-down nonsense. I enjoyed tracks like "2 Minute Warning" where Snoops goes in a little harder over a darker sounding beat, just wish there was a little bit more of it. And I must admit, The-Dream is borderline genius when it comes to these hooks on "Gangsta Luv" and "Luv Drunk". Hate him or love him, he's got skills.
Again, this album isn't a return to Snoop's glory days, neither does he really have anything to prove with this release, and it shows. Not much of this album is worth a second listen, but if you're largely a mainstream fan, it's probably worth giving a spin.
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