Snoop Dogg - R & G: The Masterpiece

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In every Snoop album, there are some songs that instantly satisfy listeners. The intro, I Love To Give You Light is the best Snoop intro since the Doggystyle LP. Produced by Alchemist, the gospel-sounding loop gives the LP a soulful starting point. Over handclaps, Snoop rhymes with a newfound energy and feeling of enlightenment as if he just caught the Holy Ghost. The Bidness is an excellent track that consistently changes beat throughout the song. Snoop handles the changes extremely well. Oh No is a hard-hitting duet with 50 Cent that gives the LP a much needed sinister sound and angry energy. The final track No Thang On Me is a cover from Curtis Mayfield’s classic Superfly soundtrack.

Produced by Hi-Tek, No Thang On Me features Snoop singing once again. The song works because of the pimped-out style mixed with the social awareness originally inspired by music of Superfly. Snoop sings, "I’m so glad I got my own / So glad that I can see / My life’s a natural high…" In this track, the smoked-out emcee has sobered up and has found peace. Bootsy Collins makes a funky appearance, giving the song a seal of approval.

There are also some unlikely collaborations that end up working well. The concept of The Bee Gees performing on a Snoop Dogg album seems just wrong but Ups & Downs actually works. The Bee Gees do not dominate the track and Snoop adds his signature style. 'Step Yo Game Up' featuring Lil Jon and Trina is another song that surprisingly works well. While the style of the song is somewhat different for Snoop, he is quite comfortable with the theme and sentiments of the song. Even listeners who do not like Lil Jon may be able to appreciate this song.

Snoop Dogg has come a very long way since the days of The Chronic and Doggystyle. His latest effort, R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece shows a softer side to the emcee and a blatant attempt at making hit records. For R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece, Snoop pulled out all of the stops to make this accessible for the radio and TV. He has production by The Neptunes, vocal collaborations with Pharrell, a song with 50 Cent, a song with Lil Jon, a song with Nelly, and even a song with Justin Timberlake.

The production has a glossy and expensive sound and the LP is filled with R&B hooks. The days of Snoop and The Dogg Pound are over and done. I’m sorely missing those collabos with Dre though.

Available through Geffen Records