SNOOP DOGG - MISSIONARY (Official Discussion)

[The Predator]

Missionary the mini-movie out in a couple of hrs -

https://www.dubcnn.com/connect/index.php/topic,344278.0.html

[piccardt1]

This album is very mid , to specify, snoops deliveries are OK. I would say the biggest let down is the lack of individuality amongst the beats and the songs they're all very synonymous with each other if that makes sense... Be on the singles that he dropped everything else kind of runs together cohesively yes but sonically gets very bland. Nothing is mine blowing or anything like that the ending is absolutely lackluster I will say.

[Mr. Sunshine]

What I also don't understand on iTunes is the album as Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre listed, but is actually a solo Snoop album with 3 Dr. Dre feat., entirely produced by dre.
Pressure (Feat. K.A.A.N.) is the KAAN in the hook? sounds like Pharrell and if that's a Dre feat. I don't know what it's supposed to be... because Sticcy Situation (Feat. K.A.A.N. & Cocoa Sarai) sounds completely different and I have all of the solo albums, many of them at Dem Jointz, and if you don't know the track I Need Ya from The Black Blood LP album 2017

In any case, I feel sorry for the people who support the album from the beginning, who buy CDs and records and then make such a move. Well, as DJ Age said, maybe it will be the exclusive version at some point, but I don't believe in that Do you think of the 3 big labels, how many records and CDs did they press? And if you take into account the associated costs, shipping tax etc

and someone said they still have both versions at Apple,  just bought it from iTunes and one version is actually $1 cheaper, but everyone buys the 16 track version straight away

[.:Hercy Buggz:.]

Now or Never is dope!!!!!! Real Hiphop shit

Ps: if you listen to this project on your phone or computer, you will hate it.

[doggfather]

Now or Never is dope!!!!!! Rral Hiphop shit

Ps: if you listen to this project on your phone or computer, you will hate it.

nah, i like it on PC!

[Detox Is A Myth!!!]

so they fucked it up completely what an amateur job lol and two versions on digital platforms? what a mess

I agree. Think about it: they are incentivizing us NOT to buy the album now and wait for a later pressing with Thank You. So STUPID. And this is a big budget studio album.

Is it any wonder why the retail music business is on hard times?

[Detox Is A Myth!!!]

You definitely need a decent system to appreciate the details of the production.
I personally recommend listening to it from beginning to the end on a decent set of ear/headphones while going for a walk.

Thanks. I have a Dolby Atmos set-up in my home theater where I'll listen to this on CD via my Blu-ray player. But it's annoying that streaming has Thank You whereas CD doesn't. 

[Mr. Sunshine]

The album as a whole is really not bad, but still not what you expected.
and you hear the intro
Fore Play (Feat. BJ The Chicago Kid) and think to yourself, okay, screw the singles, something is going on
Shangri-La is way too short, a hook would be super cool and at least a second part from Snoop
Outta Da Blue (Feat. Alus) / The beat goes forward, but honestly, it's a terrible sample, and I think I would have swapped it with gorgeous on the tracklist
Hard Knocks / I want to hear something like that
Gorgeous (Feat. Jhené Aiko) / When I heard the track for the first time, I just thought to myself, great head nodding beat, then the hook started, well, it's not bad, but preferably with a different hook
Last Dance With Mary Jane (Feat. Tom Petty & Jelly Roll) / The track grows after repeated listens, but I still hate the remakes, Especially when it comes to Mary Jane, Rick James or or especially when it comes to grass, you could have chosen some other good hook singers
Thank You / reminds me of Fallin Up (Feat. Thurz & Cocoa Sarai) and somehow it doesn't sound fully thought through
Pressure (Feat. K.A.A.N.)
Another Part Of Me (Feat. Sting) / When I heard Sting had a feat, I just thought thank you, but what they did with it, sorry, not my world. For me a slow beat would have suited better, as well as Englishman In New York or a feeling like that on Love Is The Seventh Wave, then autotune on Snoop, please
Skyscrapers (Feat. Method Man & Smitty) / I miss Redman, when I hear the hook I think of some rapper, I can't think of it, but it's cool that Smitty finally got a feat as a ghostwriter and of course what you want to expect is just method man
Fire (Feat. Cocoa Sarai) / Really a good track, but could also have been on the Snoop Lion, Definitely celebrate Cocoa Sarai
Gunz N Smoke (Feat. 50 Cent & Eminem) / honestly expected something completely different, I really don't like the 50 part, the flow
Sticcy Situation (Feat. K.A.A.N. & Cocoa Sarai) , straight away, the head nods and then the beat change, why
Now Or Never (Feat. BJ The Chicago Kid) / I celebrate the guy BJ The Chicago Kid
Gangsta Pose (Feat. Dem Jointz, Stalone & Fat Money) / Stalone is actually the jointz wife, I don't understand the beat change either, The first beat has something, but very poppy, reminds me of Compton, never understood the beat changes, make two tracks out of it, And the track name actually makes you expect something completely different
The Negotiator / a smooth outro would have been better
and if you're honest, Fore Play (Feat. BJ The Chicago Kid) = 1:15, Shangri-La 1:38 are actually 2 intros

Snoop definitely sounds really dope, but the beats, people

Let's take the last Snoop album - BODR, the first track
Still Smokin Prod. By Battlecat / reinterpreted the track with a big kick, the track is good, but you know what I mean the Dre touch
then I would have expected at least in the style of aint no fun, like Coming Back (Feat. Nefertitti Avani & October London) or Outside The Box (Feat. Nate Dogg) , or a really smooth number like Sandwich Bag

[BJV]

Now or Never is dope!!!!!! Real Hiphop shit

Ps: if you listen to this project on your phone or computer, you will hate it.

I got a good soundcard and studio monitors the best place to listen to music in my house is my computer lol

Still havent listened to the album yet busy friday I will get to it tomorrow

[Safe+Sound]

After a full listen of the project from top to bottom (in hi-res), I walked away quite surprised and impressed. This album has the potential to cement itself as a Hip Hop masterpiece. Production, arrangement, and writing all get top marks. It's not what I wanted nor what I expected from Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre after 31 years but this record is clearly an evolutionary piece that also makes sure the listener doesn't forget where the artist came from. I think the visuals also reinforced this concept perfectly. No more khakis and Ben Davis - it's a roaring 20's era class act with silk suits, highballs, and big scores. They've moved up in the underworld. As much as I wanted a funk record from these two, I can say that I am completely satisfied with this offering. It's a gift to Hip Hop. But I'm still holding onto hope for the evolution of G-Funk.

Overall, superbly executed and probably in the running for a few awards. Album of the year. 10/10

P.S. The stakes just rose for Xzibit. Smart move to release in 2025. 

[Mr. Sunshine]

it would be cool if someone would post the booklet

[--Vance--]

The sound on Missionary definitely feels too sharp, and it’s largely due to the evolution of Dr. Dre's production style over the years. Dre's work on 2001 was groundbreaking, with deep bass, atmospheric synths, and crisp drums that defined the West Coast sound. The mix was warm and immersive.

However, as time has passed, Dre has shifted towards a more polished, "brighter" sound, influenced by newer trends and technologies. The highs are more pronounced, and the bass feels less heavy, which can feel less organic compared to the darker, layered production of 2001. Dre has also been influenced by newer producers and musical movements, leading to a departure from the classic "G-funk" style that made him famous.

Overall Trends in Post-2006 Dr. Dre Productions:

Bright vs. Warm: The most noticeable difference between Dre's earlier work (pre-2006) and his later productions is the brightness of the mix. In his earlier work, the sound was warmer with more emphasis on bass and midrange frequencies. In his post-2006 work, the balance has shifted towards a more bright and sharp sound, with higher frequencies (particularly the treble) more emphasized.

Modern Mixing Techniques: The evolution in frequency balance may also reflect the influence of modern mixing and mastering techniques. Today, there is a tendency toward cleaner mixes with more separation of elements, and less reliance on overwhelming low-end power. Additionally, advancements in digital technology and the loudness war (which strives for maximizing volume) could lead to a more polished, high-frequency emphasis to ensure tracks stand out in a compressed, high-volume digital space.

Crisper, Cleaner Production: With the influence of newer producers and trends, Dre’s sound has become more clinical and less organic. This is particularly true in the higher frequencies, where the clarity and presence of instruments (especially percussion) have become more prominent, sometimes at the cost of the "richness" and depth that characterized his earlier work.

Conclusion:

The shift from Dre’s pre-2006 sound (which emphasized warm, deep bass and smooth midrange) to the more bright and high-frequency-focused production style of Missionary, The Contract EP, and Compton can be attributed to both an evolution in Dre’s personal taste (or his ear-fatigue?) and the broader trends in hip-hop and music production. While this new approach might feel jarring to some longtime fans who loved the deeper, more layered sound of Dre's earlier albums, it's clear that Dre has adapted to modern expectations, embracing a cleaner, more polished, and "brighter" sound that aligns with current music production trends.

[The Predator]

'Thank You' is the funkiest shit on here.

[.:Hercy Buggz:.]

The sound on Missionary definitely feels too sharp, and it’s largely due to the evolution of Dr. Dre's production style over the years. Dre's work on 2001 was groundbreaking, with deep bass, atmospheric synths, and crisp drums that defined the West Coast sound. The mix was warm and immersive.

However, as time has passed, Dre has shifted towards a more polished, "brighter" sound, influenced by newer trends and technologies. The highs are more pronounced, and the bass feels less heavy, which can feel less organic compared to the darker, layered production of 2001. Dre has also been influenced by newer producers and musical movements, leading to a departure from the classic "G-funk" style that made him famous.

Overall Trends in Post-2006 Dr. Dre Productions:

Bright vs. Warm: The most noticeable difference between Dre's earlier work (pre-2006) and his later productions is the brightness of the mix. In his earlier work, the sound was warmer with more emphasis on bass and midrange frequencies. In his post-2006 work, the balance has shifted towards a more bright and sharp sound, with higher frequencies (particularly the treble) more emphasized.

Modern Mixing Techniques: The evolution in frequency balance may also reflect the influence of modern mixing and mastering techniques. Today, there is a tendency toward cleaner mixes with more separation of elements, and less reliance on overwhelming low-end power. Additionally, advancements in digital technology and the loudness war (which strives for maximizing volume) could lead to a more polished, high-frequency emphasis to ensure tracks stand out in a compressed, high-volume digital space.

Crisper, Cleaner Production: With the influence of newer producers and trends, Dre’s sound has become more clinical and less organic. This is particularly true in the higher frequencies, where the clarity and presence of instruments (especially percussion) have become more prominent, sometimes at the cost of the "richness" and depth that characterized his earlier work.

Conclusion:

The shift from Dre’s pre-2006 sound (which emphasized warm, deep bass and smooth midrange) to the more bright and high-frequency-focused production style of Missionary, The Contract EP, and Compton can be attributed to both an evolution in Dre’s personal taste (or his ear-fatigue?) and the broader trends in hip-hop and music production. While this new approach might feel jarring to some longtime fans who loved the deeper, more layered sound of Dre's earlier albums, it's clear that Dre has adapted to modern expectations, embracing a cleaner, more polished, and "brighter" sound that aligns with current music production trends.

I  wouldn't categorize Dr.Dre's sound as GFunk, as a matter of fact throughout his career, he did all he could to stay away from it.  This ideology is fan made.

Also, about the new producers...Fred wreck and Focus are all over this new album. They ain't new comers.

There is nothing trendy about this album. Nothing at all.

[Soopafly DPGC]

I agree. Think about it: they are incentivizing us NOT to buy the album now and wait for a later pressing with Thank You. So STUPID. And this is a big budget studio album.

Is it any wonder why the retail music business is on hard times?

So what would be the solution if you were in their shoes?  The album was already pressed some time ago and shipped out.  Thank You was a last minute addition to the album thanks to fan feedback.  So the options were to do it the way they are doing it now, which you say is STUPID.....or not put Thank You on the album at all (streaming or hard copy) which will make everyone mad.  OR, delay the release date, after all the hype and promotion for the 13th, recall and destroy all the existing copies of the album and repress and reship with THANK YOU on it. 

Of the possible options, this is the best they could do.