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--INTERVIEW
VIBE 2000
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DOGGY'S ANGELS
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MURDER TRIAL
THA LAST MEAL
NWA REUNION
NOT THESE NIGGAZ AGAIN
UP IN SMOKE TOUR
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Top Dogg is the jump-from-the-foul-line slam dunk that Snoop fans have been waiting for since Doggystyle (1993), an album that spawned legions of imitators possessed of little talent and even less charm.
Snoop's Tha Doggfather (1996) was an unfocused attempt at G-funk. His Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told (1998) was a misguided effort to turn tha Dogg into a Dirty South rapper. Casting around for a focus and finding his strengths is not a problem on Top Dogg. In fact, there isn't much on this album that's a problem. It's not about hard-hitting Dirty South beats or dance grooves mined from the Gap Band and P-Funk; it is about soulful, smoke-friendly loops inspired by Blaxploitation soundtracks and Isaac Hayes' Hot Buttered Soul.
Unlike Tha Doggfather and Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told, this record is packed with highlights. On "Buck 'Em," "Bitch Please" and "Just Dippin'," Dr. Dre proves that he hasn't forgotten how to make the smooth, yet aggro-synth dominated tracks that serve Snoop's mellow flow so well. Among the other guests on the album, special props go to: Sylk E. Fyne, for her expert sparring with Snoop on "Trust Me"; Sticky Fingers from Onyx, for showing he can rhyme without screaming on "Buck 'Em"; and Xzibit, for playing the bad cop to Snoop's deceptively good cop on "Bitch Please."
The "Hard To Handle" loop on "Ghetto Symphony" makes "Symphony" the best No Limit posse track since Master P's "Make 'Em Say Uhh" (quite an accomplishment, considering the number of No Limit albums unleashed since then). Also worth mentioning here is "Snoopafella," Snoop's cover of Dana Dane's "Cinderfella Dana Dane." In the past, Snoop has covered hits by Slick Rick, Biz Markie, N.W.A, Boogie Down Productions and, uh, himself. This time he dug deeper for inspiration and came up with a dusty gem.
The only trouble with this album is that Dogg's still gnawing on the same old bone. Rhymes about weed, women, parties and hustling dominate. Maybe next time around we'll see Snoop expand his territory ... maybe not.
Personnel includes: Snoop Dogg, Sticky Fingers, Sylk E. Fine, Suga Free, Magic, Raphael Saadiq, Xzibit, Fiend, Mia X, Goldie Loc, Dr. Dre, Jewell, Mauseberg, Warren G, Silkk The Shocker, C-Murder, Daz, Kurupt, Mystikal, Nate Dogg (rap vocals); James Tre Rabb, Jimmy Roach (guitar); Shawn Dogg (background vocals).
Producers include: Dr. Dre, Bud'da, Meech Wells, Ant Banks, KLC.
