Snoop Dogg returns to his roots on his G-funk indebted 15th album.
Snoop Dogg returns to his roots on his G-funk indebted 15th album.
It's a tough thing to admit, but it's time to face facts: Snoop Dogg has been phoning it in for years. And lately, it's been hard to take his call.
Snoop's last good album was Tha Blue Carpet Treatment in 2006 and in the 11 years since, we've had fivealbums varying from the wayward (2009's Malice n Wonderland), to the weird (2015's bonkers Bush) to the downright disturbing (2013's Reincarnated, which saw him change his name to Snoop Lion and duet with Miley Cyrus).
Ugh. If you're a fan of Snoop's early days, which helped usher in a new era of thug-level gangsta rap, it's been a lean time. Those lean times are finally over.
On Neva Left - his 15th record - Snoop returns to his roots. That means he's gone all the way back to his debut, 1993's G-funk masterpiece Doggystyle, for inspiration. Great idea.
That means Neva Left doesn't reinvent the wheel. Instead, it celebrates it. Listen to the old-school drum kicks of Bacc in the Dayz and reminisce. Check out the woozy synths and wobbly bass of Promise You This and smile. Marvel at Snoop's effortless menace on the brilliantly woozy remix of Lavender. And you can't help but laugh at the sheer and utter joy Redman, Method Man and B-Real have reuniting on Mount Kushmore. Yes, it's a weed anthem - but it's a good one.
If you close your eyes during Swivel - a thumping G-funk party anthem you should add to your Saturday night playlist immediately - you can almost picture Snoop in the studio, surrounded by clouds of smoke, bandana around his head, a giant framed photo of Dr Dre on the wall.
It's not enough to forgive the last 11 years, but it does repair some of the damage. This Dogg's been digging up the past - and Neva Left is one hell of a trip down memory lane. Gin n juice, please. It's time for a toast.
Snoop Dogg - Neva Left Label: Doggystyle Stars: Four Verdict: This Dogg's been digging up his past
