Author Topic: Snoop: Da Game Is To Be Sold...  (Read 2860 times)

Lord Funk

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Snoop: Da Game Is To Be Sold...
« on: June 29, 2002, 04:41:12 AM »
1. Snoop’s World (w/ Master P)
It just wasn’t natural hearing Master P groan his way through the introduction to a new Snoop album. That said, at least the beat to the opening track showed some attempt to make the Dogg feel at home. KLC, normally known for No Limit’s rowdier productions, offered a smooth beat that lacked any West Coast punch but still suited Snoop’s laid-back flow. For fans waiting for months to see how Snoop’s down south debut would sound, it showed that he would probably hold his own amidst P’s “uuuhhh”s and “bout it, bout it”s – it’s just a shame old Percy pops up for that awful third verse.

2. I Can’t Take The Heat (w/ Mia X)
Snoop and Mia X: what a combination. The first of two tracks on this album that see them pair up is an 80s style affair, and both hold their own over a chilled beat. Lyrically the track treads similar ground to ‘Up Jump Tha Boogie’ on ‘Tha Doggfather’ – both rappers discuss their hard times and warn the young’uns away from street life. O’Dell sings a soulful hook and rounds out a commercial track that still has a street edge to it.

3. Woof (w/ Fiend and Mystikal)
Here it is. The first song on the CD where Snoop tackles the traditional No Limit sound head-on, getting down and dirty with two of the label’s rowdiest rappers. As I’m sure most will agree, it’s a disappointment. The beat is well below average and the theme is a poor man’s version of ‘Make Em Say Uhh.’ Fiend delivers the strongest performance by far, and leaves Snoop and Mystikal trailing far behind. The ‘bow wow wow’ in the chorus is a nice touch, but when Snoop claims he’s “the godfather of G-funk” over a second-rate Master P produced track, it’s just embarrassing.

4. Gin & Juice II
With rare exceptions (I’m thinking ‘Terminator 2’, ‘Aliens’), sequels don’t better the originals. But No Limit has an annoying habit of following up its biggest successes with re-hashed versions – ‘Make Em Say Uhh’, ‘It Ain’t My Fault’, ‘Thug Girl’ and ‘Bout It Bout It’ all spawned follow-ups that failed to reach the heights of the originals. This is, I guess, acceptable when it’s Beats By The Pound re-doing one of their own tracks, but the sheer audacity of them trying to imitate a Dre production beggars belief – and it isn’t the last time they try it. The beat on ‘Gin & Juice II’ has none of the coolness of the ‘Doggystyle’ original. Snoop sounds tired, and where is the sing-along chorus? One of the low points of the album.

5. Show Me Love (w/ Charlie Wilson)
Just when you were starting a whip-round to get Snoop a ticket back to California, along come DJ Pooh and Charlie Wilson to give the man back some West Coast credibility. ‘Show Me Love’ is a summertime jam full of squelchy synths, with a great hook and some cool lyrics, as Snoop mourns a relationship gone sour. It might not have any kind of gangsta edge to it, but everything comes together and goes someway to making up for the previous couple of songs.

6. Hustle and Ball
As I’ve said on this board before, Snoop sounds more comfortable and confident on this track than over nearly any other down south beat I’ve heard him rap on. O’Dell’s beat is simple but top-notch and Snoop’s lyrics and flow are tight – “I’m bringing gangsta shit to this No Limit clique,” he raps, and you actually start to believe him. I read that Master P penned some of the lyrics, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he probably just came up with the simple chorus, bless him.

7. Don’t Let Go
DJ Darryl, Beats By The Pound’s occasional link to the Pacific coast, drops a beat that sounds like a mix of down south and west coast flavours. It’s nicely produced, but over the course of four minutes the lack of variation makes it a bit boring –especially as Snoop’s verses just blend in with the choruses. His vocals have that kind of disinterested tone that made ‘Freestyle Conversation’ such a chore to listen to.

8. Tru Tank Dogs (w/ Mystikal)
This one is infectious as hell from the second it starts. KLC makes, in my opinion, one of the best beats on the album. Mystikal’s verse is absolutely blistering – as sharp as “one of the brand new number two pencils out the pencil sharpener,” – and gives weight to the argument that his best performances are those where his energy is captured in a one-verse guest appearance. It’s an odd pairing, with Snoop’s ultra-cool flow juxtaposed against Mystikal’s off-the-wall intensity, but strangely that’s what makes it work. Definitely a highlight of the album.

9. Whatcha Gon Do (w/ Master P)
With a thick, funky beat, this is Snoop’s shout-out to the Bay Area sound. At about two and a half minutes it breezes by, and is probably most interesting because Snoop takes the time to explain his move to No Limit – “Every nigga that you hang with ain’t your cousin or your brother.” Master P keeps himself under control during the chorus and doesn’t do anything too regrettable. Good man.

10. Still a G Thang
When I first heard this I must admit to being disappointed. Going back to it four years later changes things though – of course it can’t compare to the original ‘G Thang’, but then again it doesn’t really try to. Meech’s beat has a lot of bounce to it, and Snoop’s lyrics and flow are nearer to his roots than on much of the rest of the album. And if it hadn’t have been for that shout-out to Dre in the last verse, who knows if we would have had such classics as ‘B Please’ and ‘The Next Episode’ today.

11. 20 Dollars To My Name (w/ Fiend, Silkk and Soulja Slim)
Hmmm… I’m not too sure the theme of the song is believable. Maybe the four rappers could pawn those huge No Limit chains around their necks if they’re that short of finances? Oh well, at least the guys sound good together (with the exception of Silkk, who sounds like he wrote his rhymes ten minutes before he hit the vocal booth and is having trouble getting his mouth around them.) Master P’s beat is pretty hard and  - for a change – doesn’t sound cluttered. The best line comes in the chorus, when Snoop and Fiend rap, “We can’t slang the ‘erb, we smoke too much weed!”





« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by 1034398800 »
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Lord Funk

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Re: Snoop: Da Game Is To Be Sold...
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2002, 04:41:40 AM »
12. D.O.G.s Get Lonely 2
Instantly forgettable. Snoop perfects this style on ‘Somethin’ Bout Yo Bidness’, but here it sounds dreadful. Meech’s beat has nothing to it, the chorus is embarrassing, and Snoop sounds like he couldn’t care less. Am I being harsh? You tell me.

13. Ain’t Nut’in Personal (w/ C-Murder and Silkk)
Great bass line, great beat. I’m sure C-Murder didn’t mean to spoil everything by appearing on the track, although neither Snoop nor Silkk sound that much better here. It’s a shame, because the beat is better than a lot of Beats By The Pound efforts. To me it has the same threatening quality as a lot of ‘Deuces and Trays’- I can imagine Tray Dee sounding great on this.

14. DP Gangsta (w/ C-Murder)
‘Gangsta Gangsta’ is a classic. If anyone doubts it, I simply shake my head in resignation. This cover should never have been attempted. Beats By The Pound’s attempt to recreate the funkyness of Dre’s original sample is shameful, but sounds like a masterpiece when compared to the final verse, where they recreate the ‘Deep Cover’ beat for C-Murder to stumble over. It’s not all the fault of the producers of course – Snoop and C don’t have the same respective charisma as Cube or Eazy for these particular lyrics.

15. Game of Life (w/ Steady Mobb’n)
OK, I take it back – Beats By The Pound aren’t totally useless when it comes to recreating classic beats. C-Loc’s dark take on ‘5Minutes of Funk’ is just right for Snoop’s penitentiary tale. His guests spoil things by failing to match the smoothness of either Snoop or the track, but there have been so many below average tracks before this one that just finding one you don’t have to fast forward is a plus point.

16. See Ya When I Get There (w/ C-Murder and Mystikal)
By this point of the album, fans were probably wondering where the ‘dead homie’ song was – after all, it seems like no No Limit album is ever complete without one. ‘See Ya When I Get There’ is that song, but rather than the tear-jerking R&B cover the label usually churns out, it’s a funky, hard-edged beat from Meech with great storm sound effects fading in and out of the mix. Even C-Murder holds his own, and all three rappers come off tight.

17. Pay For Pussy (w/ Big Pimpin’)
I’m afraid to say I almost always skip this one, and am having trouble even listening to it now as I type. Big Pimpin’s poetry is always clever, but the beat is boring and even 1:43 is too long for me. Oh, it’s over.

18. Picture This (w/ Mia X)
I can’t for the life of me think why Mia isn’t credited for this song as either a writer or performer – she sounds so good over Craig B’s jazzy beat that you almost forget it’s Snoop’s album until he steps up on the chorus. His verse is just as good, and as I said earlier, the two are a great combination. The only criticism is the length – fading it out during the second chorus is inexcusable.

19. Dogg’z Gonna Get Ya
What Snoop album would be complete without a cover of an old school classic? I’ll admit that I haven’t even heard KRS’s original, so I guess I can’t really comment on this. Still, I’m not feeling it very much, and would usually skip it.

20. Hoes, Money and Clout
I’m not sure what to say here. I suppose Snoop wanted to have a genuine West Coast sounding  track on the album, but I’m sure he could have done a lot better than this. Soopa Fly’s beat is unoriginal and the production is clumsy. The whole thing sounds rushed, and really lets Snoop down. Still, it’s a damn sight better than…

21. Get Bout It and Rowdy (w/ Master P)
Laughable. This song smacks of Snoop desperately trying to gain some No Limit credentials. Master P’s “uhhh”s during the chorus are nightmarish – the man sounds in pain. A shame it’s the closing track, because it gets my vote for worst song on the album. In fact – perhaps I’m going out on a limb here – I’d say it could be one of the worst songs of Snoop’s career. What a way to end the review, eh readers?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by 1034398800 »
"I fornicate with porn stars, sluts and strippers.
 Well - only on the Internet but what's the difference?"

 - Mad Child from Swollen Members, 'Adrenaline'
 

verbalassaulta

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Re: Snoop: Da Game Is To Be Sold...
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2002, 10:57:16 AM »
hey, you need to rate you songs and your overall album...well to me this album was total garbage with only maybe 3 good tracks and like 6 that are a total waste...the production is horrid....snoop flows good but cant save it from the disgusting guest list
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by 1034398800 »
 

verbalassaulta

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Re: Snoop: Da Game Is To Be Sold...
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2002, 11:06:00 AM »
rating........3/10
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by 1034398800 »
 

Smooth

Re: Snoop: Da Game Is To Be Sold...
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2002, 12:12:09 PM »
overall to me it's Snoop's worst album but I can still stand a decent amount of the songs... overall id give it a 5.5/10
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by 1034398800 »
"Nigga what up now?. you act like a bitch, you bound to get fucked, you trick ass snitch!" - Snoop Dogg - "Buck Em"

"Stranded on death row for pumpin slug's in muthafucka's" - Kurupt - "Stranded on Death Row"

Here's a message to the youngsters today,standing by you can die - Nate Dogg - "One More Day"

Battle Record 1-0

 

Lord Funk

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Re: Snoop: Da Game Is To Be Sold...
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2002, 08:39:43 AM »
Quote
hey, you need to rate you songs and your overall album...


Sorry man, my fuck up. Hey, it was my first review, cut me some slack  ;)

I'd give it a 6 out of 10. There are definitely a handful of tracks with dope beats (Show Me Love, Hustle & Ball, Tru Tank Dogs, Still A G Thang) and Snoops flow is still on point over a lot of the songs. No doubt it's his worst album, but not as bad as everyone makes out. That's why I reviewed it, just to break down which songs gave it some credibility.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by 1034398800 »
"I fornicate with porn stars, sluts and strippers.
 Well - only on the Internet but what's the difference?"

 - Mad Child from Swollen Members, 'Adrenaline'
 

King-Suge

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Re: Snoop: Da Game Is To Be Sold...
« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2002, 07:31:10 PM »
7/10 aka 3.5 mics

There is a lot of filler--but there are a lot of songs I like.  I was out of rap for a few years and this album brought me back in.  There are a lot of bangers on here and it is unfairly shitted on.  Granted-it is Snoops weakest album..but its not like its Nastradamus or anything  ::)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by 1034398800 »
I only gave you the crown, so I could shoot it off your fucking head-Suge

Refer to me as your highness or dont refer at all

The King is Eddie Winslow/Youre a modern day Urkel/Ill throw you in the pool and hide your pink snorkel.
 

HBKid_Jr

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Re: Snoop: Da Game Is To Be Sold...
« Reply #7 on: July 21, 2002, 07:57:15 PM »
Quote
7/10 aka 3.5 mics

There is a lot of filler--but there are a lot of songs I like.  I was out of rap for a few years and this album brought me back in.  There are a lot of bangers on here and it is unfairly shitted on.  Granted-it is Snoops weakest album..but its not like its Nastradamus or anything  ::)


i have a question no beef or anything,  but why do you brong up nas in every post even if he is not mentioned once.  an jus my 2 cents this album is almost as wack aS nastraudamus
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by 1034398800 »
 

King-Suge

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Re: Snoop: Da Game Is To Be Sold...
« Reply #8 on: July 26, 2002, 05:34:48 PM »
Quote


i have a question no beef or anything,  but why do you brong up nas in every post even if he is not mentioned once.  an jus my 2 cents this album is almost as wack aS nastraudamus


LOL--isnt that the pot calling the kettle black.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by 1034398800 »
I only gave you the crown, so I could shoot it off your fucking head-Suge

Refer to me as your highness or dont refer at all

The King is Eddie Winslow/Youre a modern day Urkel/Ill throw you in the pool and hide your pink snorkel.
 

snoopdoggfan32002

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Re:Snoop: Da Game Is To Be Sold...
« Reply #9 on: December 15, 2003, 07:08:50 AM »
I don't like this snoop dogg album.
this is one of the worst album I ever heard.
I give it 3.5/5
 

Bramsterdam (see ya)

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Re:Snoop: Da Game Is To Be Sold...
« Reply #10 on: December 15, 2003, 05:32:53 PM »
Defenetly Snoop's worst album ever..

2.5/5  for me
 

Lincoln

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Re:Snoop: Da Game Is To Be Sold...
« Reply #11 on: December 15, 2003, 07:12:16 PM »
The No Limit Soldiers (C-Murder, Fiend, Mystikal, Soulja Slim [Rest In Peace] etc...) kill their songs on this album. Snoop was the one who fucked the tracks up. Take him off most of the songs & you would have had a nice NL compilation.

Most hip-hop is now keyboard driven, because the majority of hip-hop workstations have loops and patches that enable somebody with marginal skills to put tracks together,...

Unfortunately, most hip-hop artists gravitated towards the path of least resistance by relying on these pre-set patches. As a result, electric guitar and real musicians became devalued, and a lot of hip-hop now sounds the same.

Paris
 

187_gangsta_crip

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Re: Snoop: Da Game Is To Be Sold...
« Reply #12 on: December 27, 2011, 06:32:18 PM »
Only songs worth listening to are Still A G Thang & Can't take the Heat which is a classic  8)

Hood Crawler

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Re: Snoop: Da Game Is To Be Sold...
« Reply #13 on: March 21, 2012, 11:16:39 PM »
I dig all of Snoop's albums but this one was my lease favorite.  Just not the same style as his others.