Snoop Da Game is To Be Sold Not Told — Appreciation Thread!!

[TraceOneInfinite]

On the July 4th, 2026 Anniversary of this album release, I bumped it at midnight in starting a drive from outside the same record store I bought it from in 98 (which is now an indoor miniature golf course).  I've always trashed on this album, but last night it sounded damn near like a 5 Mic Classic.  Because I remembered one important thing I'd forgotten.  This album reminded me when rap music used to be more about being real than having "bars".  Back when "style" was big and before "swag" became a word.   Back when we never used to think of hip-hop in terms of ghostwriters, but we just wanted to hear "game" directly from the artist.

Snoop Dogg - Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told (1998)

1. Snoop World - hype opener, aided by Master P.  One of those vintage Beats By the Pound production that tastes like candy.

2. Slow Down -  Snoop comes real on this joint.  It's not some grand concept or team of ghost writers, just Snoop rapping how he feels over the track, un-hassled

3. Woof! - Can't lie, this joint is still pretty wack

4. Gin & Juice II -  This joint doesn't seem so horrible in 2026

5. Show Me Love - Another intimate cut from Snoop, just giving up game.  Not trying to show off his lyrical prowess by getting a team or writers and spitting "bars" but just writing his feelings on a track and keeping it real

6. Hustle & Ball - still wack

7. Don't Let Go - VINTAGE Snoop 97-98 style lyrics, "I'm high, but I try/ to stay focused, wide eyed, staring dead at the chips, I blink, they dip!"  This is like an anology for Snoop being on top of the game and trying not to lose focus, but being slightly off focus, being down South and with Master P, and losing Dre and the magic he had from 92-95.   This is the most authentic Snoop, vulnerable on the track, but still trying to hold his former #1 spot

8. Tru Tank Dogs - can't remember this one

9. Whatcha Gon Do? - track is way better than I remembered.  No Limit was supporting and backing Snoop on this one.

10. Still a G Thang - This was always the clear standout cut and single from the album.  Great song.  Even in 98' this was the song that really saved the album, and gave the die hard Snoop fans at least one cut that brought back the West Coast sound we wanted from Snoop

11. 20 Dollars to My Name -  Another dope No Limit posse cut, they brought their A game for Snoop

12. D.O.G.'s Get Lonely 2 - don't remember this one

13. Ain't Nut'in Personal - No Limit cut, not the best, but not the worst

14. DPG - is this that NWA remake?  Shit was dope, and they brought CMurder at the end, was a nice change up

15. Game of Life - BANGER!!  Snoop giving up the game

16. See Ya When I Get There -  One of those dope cuts they used to put one of these on nearly every album, after Pac kind of showed the way on these "RIP tracks" he sort of started the trend with "Pour Out A Little Liquor", "Life Goes On", etc

17. Pay for P... - don't remember

18. Picture This - don't remember

19. Doggz Gonna Get Ya -  Another dope cover/remake Snoop had 3 cover tracks on this album, that were a nice touch

20. Hoes, Money & Clout. - Soopafly joint, a feel good West Coast joint to round out the album

21. Get Bout It and Rowdy - Yet another remake, kind of dope hearing Snoop's addition to No Limit's signature breakthru track

[HighEyeCue]

wow...haven't listened to this in years

I liked these joints that I remember off hand

[Sccit]

that's why i say music a lot of the time is energy based

the mood you're in.. the feeling u have.. the scenery while u bang it .. all
play a factor

objectively.. da game is a solid album .. much better than snoops recent efforts, but a far cry from his classix

[TraceOneInfinite]

that's why i say music a lot of the time is energy based

the mood you're in.. the feeling u have.. the scenery while u bang it .. all
play a factor

objectively.. da game is a solid album .. much better than snoops recent efforts, but a far cry from his classix

It was the era... I should write a book about it... 97-98 no classic west coast albums and none of them had that mainstream appeal like the 93-96 and the resurgence era of 99-2002

But damn there is so much interesting material from that time

--DJ Quik
--Nate Dogg
—word on streetz
—Kuruption
—RRGB
—Da Game
—Bull Worth
—Rassasination
—Mack 10's album (the one with the Snoop/Cube video was deadly
—The Firm
—Caught Up Soundtrack
—Got the Hook Up Soundtrack

^^I know some I mentioned were not all West Coast but featured West Coast artists and production

[HighEyeCue]

It was the era... I should write a book about it... 97-98 no classic west coast albums and none of them had that mainstream appeal like the 93-96 and the resurgence era of 99-2002

But damn there is so much interesting material from that time

—word on streetz
—Kuruption
—RRGB
—Da Game
—Bull Worth
—Rassasination
—Mack 10's album (the one with the Snoop/Cube video was deadly
—The Firm
—Caught Up Soundtrack
—Got the Hook Up Soundtrack

^^I know some I mentioned were not all West Coast but featured West Coast artists and production

its wild that Snoop, Daz, Kurupt and Bad Azz all released solos in the same year

[Sccit]

word on tha streetz is a classic 2 me

[TraceOneInfinite]

its wild that Snoop, Daz, Kurupt and Bad Azz all released solos in the same year

yes, thanks for pointing that out... All the more reason that year was amazing.  Don't forget to add Nate to the list.  I can't believe I forgot Nate.  But another perfect example of a 97-98 West Coast project not being classic, but still being an very interesting and memorable album, and very well produced.

[Sccit]

yes, thanks for pointing that out... All the more reason that year was amazing.  Don't forget to add Nate to the list.  I can't believe I forgot Nate.  But another perfect example of a 97-98 West Coast project not being classic, but still being an very interesting and memorable album, and very well produced.

if you combine disc 1 and 2 of g-funk classics into one disc, it's a classic off top

[TraceOneInfinite]

if you combine disc 1 and 2 of g-funk classics into one disc, it's a classic off top

none of the forgotten era 97-98 West Coast albums were classics... but many of them were close.  Like Nate's first solo if condensed to one disc could have been classic.  Track list..

Track listing

1 Hardest Man in Town
2 G-Funk
3 First We Pray
    feat. Kurupt the Kingpin
4 These Days
    feat. Daz Dillinger
5 Bag O'Weed
    feat. Big Tray Deee
6 Me & My Homies 4:09
    feat. 2Pac
7 My Money
8 Never Leave Me Alone
    feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg
9 I Don't Wanna Hurt No More
10 Just Another Day
11 Friends
    feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg & Warren G
12 Nobody Does It Better
    feat. Warren G
13 Dogg Pound Gangstaville
    feat. Kurupt & Snoop Doggy Dogg

[Sccit]

none of the forgotten era 97-98 West Coast albums were classics... but many of them were close.  Like Nate's first solo if condensed to one disc could have been classic.  Track list..

Track listing

1 Hardest Man in Town
2 G-Funk
3 First We Pray
    feat. Kurupt the Kingpin
4 These Days
    feat. Daz Dillinger
5 Bag O'Weed
    feat. Big Tray Deee
6 Me & My Homies 4:09
    feat. 2Pac
7 My Money
8 Never Leave Me Alone
    feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg
9 I Don't Wanna Hurt No More
10 Just Another Day
11 Friends
    feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg & Warren G
12 Nobody Does It Better
    feat. Warren G
13 Dogg Pound Gangstaville
    feat. Kurupt & Snoop Doggy Dogg

1997:

brotha lynch - loaded
suga free - street gospel
mack 10 - based on a true story
andre nickatina - cocaine raps
nate dogg - gfunk classics vol 1
dubee - for that scrilla
biggie - life after death
wu-tang - forever
scarface - untouchable
three 6 mafia - chapter 2
jay-z - vol 1
mystikal - unpredictable
master p - ghetto d
psycho realm - the psycho realm
bone thugs - art of war
twista - adrenaline rush
mase - harlem world
puff daddy - no way out
luniz - lunitik muzik



all rank from near classic to classic



ill holla back with 1998 soon

[HighEyeCue]

if you combine disc 1 and 2 of g-funk classics into one disc, it's a classic off top

this is true about most double albums

Pac made it trendy in '96 but no one was really able to duplicate what he had done

the prime example would be Kurupt but even Wu and Bone couldn't really match what 2Pac did with AEOM

[TraceOneInfinite]

1997:

brotha lynch - loaded
suga free - street gospel
mack 10 - based on a true story
andre nickatina - cocaine raps
nate dogg - gfunk classics vol 1
biggie - life after death
wu-tang - forever
scarface - untouchable
three 6 mafia - chapter 2
jay-z - vol 1
mystikal - unpredictable
psycho realm - the psycho realm
bone thugs - art of war
twists - adrenaline rush
mase - harlem world
puff daddy - no way out
luniz - lunitik muzik



all rank from near classic to classic



ill holla back with 1998 soon

I was talking about the West, but if we are talking about other regions then unfortunately in 97-98 the West Coast stopped being mainstream and South (No Limit) and East (Bad Boy, Ruff Ryders, Jay Z) became more mainstream.

As for the albums you mentioned... Wu-Tang and Bone ran into the same problem as the West Coast did—a near classic album with a lot of interesting material.

Bad Boy was putting out fully polished classics that reached their full potential.  I'm not saying I even like Life After Death or Harlem World or No Way Out.  But you can't deny the polish and perfectionism that Puffy demanded for those albums—so even if I hate those guys, I have to give them a nod for dropping classics when the West was falling a bit short in 97-98

[Sccit]

I was talking about the West, but if we are talking about other regions then unfortunately in 97-98 the West Coast stopped being mainstream and South (No Limit) and East (Bad Boy, Ruff Ryders, Jay Z) became more mainstream.

As for the albums you mentioned... Wu-Tang and Bone ran into the same problem as the West Coast did—a near classic album with a lot of interesting material.

Bad Boy was putting out fully polished classics that reached their full potential.  I'm not saying I even like Life After Death or Harlem World or No Way Out.  But you can't deny the polish and perfectionism that Puffy demanded for those albums—so even if I hate those guys, I have to give them a nod for dropping classics when the West was falling a bit short in 97-98

yea, but still a few arguable west coast classix there

1998 was even better

dj quik - rhytmalism
c-bo - til my casket drops
mac dre - stupid doo doo dumb
wc - the shadiest one
jurrasic 5 - jurrasic 5
andre nickatina - raven in my eyes
e-40 - element of surprise
xzibit - 40 dayz & 40 nightz
nate dogg - gfunk classics vol 1 & 2
bad azz - word on tha streetz
cypress hill - IV
jayo felony - watcha gonna do


all near classic to classic all west coast

[TraceOneInfinite]

yea, but still a few arguable west coast classix there

1998 was even better

dj quik - rhytmalism
c-bo - til my casket drops
mac dre - stupid doo doo dumb
wc - the shadiest one
jurrasic 5 - jurrasic 5
andre nickatina - raven in my eyes
e-40 - element of surprise
xzibit - 40 dayz & 40 nightz
nate dogg - gfunk classics vol 1 & 2
bad azz - word on tha streetz
cypress hill - IV
jayo felony - watcha gonna do


all near classic to classic all west coast

damn how could I forget Rythamalism by DJ Quik.  That fits perfectly with my narrative of well produced, memorable, near classic West Coast album that didn't break mainstream from 97-98