For the past 15 years, Snoop Dogg has been hip-hop’s resident Renaissance man. He’s brought his doggy style to rapping; his short-lived MTV sketch show, Doggy Fizzle Televizzle; his family’s current reality show, Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood and even to directing porn flicks.
No matter what medium he’s dabbling in, the Doggfather always brings his lovable, laid-back style and ease.
Given Snoop’s propensity for experimentation in entertainment, it’s only fitting that he incorporates nearly 10 different musical genres into his latest release, Ego Trippin’. His ninth studio solo album is by far his most diverse, but most of the album – produced by R&B legend Teddy Riley and Los Angeles gangsta rap mainstay DJ Quik – is too far out of Snoop’s reach.
The nostalgic soul and dance tracks fail to build on the originals they sample, while Snoop’s rhymes are repetitive and his flow is one-dimensional. Often, Ego Trippin’ is only listenable because of Snoop’s engaging caricature of a personality.
“Sexual Eruption,” the album’s first single, was a radio hit as the toned-down “Sensual Seduction” but is more of a hilarious novelty track than a quality song. Snoop’s raspy crooning and the slightly distorted ’80s disco beat give listeners visions of androgynous makeup and satin Members Only jackets, and the song’s music video only builds on that Prince-copying theme. On “Cool,” a remake of The Time’s 1981 hit of the same name, Snoop also manages to get by on his charm. His rendition isn’t a radical change from the original, and his lyrics about diamonds, cars and girls have been heard plenty of times before. But still, Snoop is right when he sings, “Ain’t nobody bad like me.”
Ego Trippin’ is also amusing because the 36-year-old Snoop still has the libido of a teenager. On “Deez Hollywood Nights,” Snoop boasts of sharing “hoes” with Leonardo DiCaprio and blazing with Jessica Simpson, Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel. Forget fatherhood after 10 p.m. – the party’s popping. Snoop even becomes a director on this track; he raps, “She said she wanted to be an actress/ So I pointed to deez nuts and yelled, ‘Action!'”
Snoop even manages to be a playa on a song dedicated to his wife. The verses on “Been Around Tha World” are more about his traveling exploits than his love for Shante; in fact, Snoop even slips in a line about cheating. “I’m in Sydney with somebody’s daughter,” he raps. Wow, Snoop, that’s slicker than Ricky D.
Although most of Ego Trippin’ is laughable yet tolerable, “My Medicine” is just ridiculous. Produced by House of Pain emcee-turned-blues singer Everlast, Snoop’s homage to the Grand Ole Opry country music of Johnny Cash is the worst mash-up of genres since Nelly and Tim McGraw’s collaboration. Texans at the ho-down, hip-hop heads and even teeny-boppers should all be grimacing.
Snoop does his best on Ego Trippin’ when he stays near his comfort zone. “Gangsta Like Me” is the traditional Snoop with his standard lyrics about his blue Chucks, khakis, clubbing, the California sun and gator shoes. He can, however, hold his own on different types of hip-hop beats. Snoop’s rhymes about “crippin” and “locin” are solid on his musical ode to the Chicano gang-banging culture, “Sets Up,” a track produced by Pharrell Williams and infused with Latin-style percussion. He even adapts his relaxed flow to the chaotic Bay Area beat on “Life Of Da Party,” featuring Oakland hip-hop veteran Too Short. Snoop can also sip sizzurp and snap his fingers on “Staxxx In My Jeans,” a track with a Houston-esque, screwed-and-chopped hook and synthesizers jacked from Lil Jon’s record crates.
On “Neva Have 2 Worry,” an autobiographical track, Snoop recalls the stages in his career, from his 1992 break-out on “Deep Cover” to his murder case to his stint with No Limit Records to “being the G [he] is today.” It’s one of his most personal tracks since “Murder Was the Case” from his 1993 debut album, Doggystyle. Snoop offers more words of wisdom on the soulful “One Change (Make It Good),” advising young men to take advantage of their “one chance to crack, one chance to pop, better hit the spot/ ‘Cause there’s 100 other brothers waiting in line.”
Although Ego Trippin’ ultimately suffers due to Snoop’s musical risks, he is still a pop culture icon. Snoop’s recipe for longevity includes being flexible in his entertainment ventures and being rap’s stoned comedian. It’s too bad this mixture doesn’t include high-quality music.
arush@umd.edu
RATING: 2.5 STARS OUT OF 5
