It’s all about the Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Ego Trippin’ (Geffen)
ESSENTIAL “Whateva U Do”
Cats may have nine lives, but that’s nothing compared to Snoop Dogg. From revelatory protégé to porn king, TV star, and now hip-hop icon, Snoop finds ways to survive and thrive. His ninth record is more of the MC playing with his cartoon persona while reigniting his G-thang mojo. Of course, no one sees Snoop as a ‘hood sage, but he still manages to make credible and buoyant
hip-hop. What has distinguished the MC is his sly wit, and on “Deez Hollywood Nights” and “Whateva U Do” he nails some winners. There are some oddball tracks, including a cover of the Time’s “Cool” and the funny “My Medicine,” a countrified ode to the blunt truth produced by Everlast. The songs have a blizzard of hooks including the T-Pain-inspired “Sexual Eruption,” complete with vocoder and crude come-ons. Taking this stuff seriously is futile as contradictions abound is he a pimp supreme or family man? Hustler or impresario? It all works, though, if you just go with his blunted-out flow. [Ken Capobianco]
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