Tha Doggfather

by

Snoop Dogg

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This is no doubt one of Snoop's best albums, probably my favorite. I can listen to it all the way through. The bulk of the album is produced by DJ Pooh and he mixed the entire thing is well. He comes with some classic material, "Up Jump Tha Boogie" which gives you that Roger Troutman style bounce and talkbox melodies. Add on a great appearance by Kurupt and it's a wrap. Another one that really comes to mind is "Doggyland" which would most likely be on my 'Top 10' Snoop Dogg list. Something about this beat and the way Snoop rhymes, makes you sad and happy at the same time. Very clean, the mastering on this entire record was well done. There is also a classic Biz Markie remake, "Vapors", where Snoop rhymes about his crew individually going from rags to riches, nothing great but it's a good laid back song. DJ Pooh also produced "2001", "Snoop's Upside Ya Head", and "Snoop Bounce". With additional cuts from Daz, Soopafly, LT Hutton, Sam Sneed, Arkim & Flair. If a Snoop fan, this is for sure a MUST HAVE, and for any West Coast fan. If you love the West and don't like this, check your opinion, you're hating on a great one. What a legendary album.

The reason I say "ironically" is because Doggystyle happens to be their best. Though some would disagree with that, saying that either the Chronic or All Eyez On Me (or even Makaveli) is better, Doggystyle still remains the epitome of true hip hop originality. I listened to Tha Doggfather and hated it. I listened to it again and thought it was just okay. Then again, and again, and again. My opinion still stands. It's just okay.

What made Doggystyle so great was the production and Snoop's funkified rapping voice, which is something of an overstatement, since every good rap album should have good beats and insightful rapping. But tha Doggfather exhibits neither of these traits. The reason Snoop isn't the guy we all know and love from Doggystyle is because of three reasons:

1. He was going through his murder case around the time of this album's recording.

2. Tupac had just been killed.

3. Death Row was starting to plummet.

That said, I don't blame Snoop at all for this tired effort. But even while knowing this, it's still hard to enjoy this album even with a grain of salt. He's unfocused and sounds like he's about to fall asleep, ESPECIALLY on the Freestyle. Sorry, folks. I'm not going to say I loved this CD out of pity. Secondly, the beats. This album takes a HUGE turn away from the concept of Doggystyle, and the music turns out to be nothing more than dull, almost monotone production, which is just plain weird, since Daz usually does some pretty nifty stuff with his beats. Though some of it is good (Gold Rush, Snoop's Upside Ya Head, Vapors), it simply can't save the entire album from pitiful mediocrity. I'm well aware that Dre was finished with Death Row at this point, and the label lost it's most notorious producer, but like I said before. I refuse to support an album out of pity.

It's not really a terrible album, but I've tried over and over again to get into it. I just can't do it. After Doggystyle, it would take years for Snoop to come back with tha Last Meal, but even that remains an inconsistent album. Since about early 1996, Snoop was never the same afterwards. If you want to hear him at his best, buy the following: Doggystyle, the Chronic and Murder Was the Case. If you want to hear Death Row at their best, buy the previously mentioned albums, along with Makaveli, Dogg Food and the Gang Related soundtrack (sorry. I'm just not feeling the Above the Rim soundtrack at all).