The descent from good taste continues.
- Paul Wong
- Jason Alexander as “”Bob Patterson.””<br><br>Courtesy of ABC
Snoop Dogg”s career continues to thrive after a decade, despite numerous label changes and many lackluster records, none of which ever came close to the quality of his 1993 magnum opus Doggystyle. He has demonstrated a longevity that cannot possibly be a result of his personal skills (read: Dr. Dre carrying his sorry behind).
This latest offering, a soundtrack based on his upcoming cinematic thriller, is essentially a Snoop album packaged and passed off as a compilation.
With appearances reading as a who”s who of West Coast hip-hop, the soundtrack should satisfy the tastes of California mainstream fans. Tha Eastsidas, Xzibit and Kurupt are among the list of artists rhyming over production from the likes of Battlecat and “Fredwreck” Nassar.
Cypress Hill fans have a little something-something from their blunt-smoking regime with “Memories,” and for all the D-12 fans that have been itching for a taste of the nutjobs since their album, check out Slim Shady and the click in the gritty “These Drugs,” surprisingly one of the better tracks on the soundtrack.
And if all that is not enough to tickle your fancy, the hordes of Outkast fans will find that the once underground “Fresh and Clean” remix with Snoop has found a home. The track lacks the flavor that made the original mega-popular, but that Dirty South essence remains.
Not surprisingly, most of the record sounds like recycled goods: It is packaged and presented as new, yet it”s been heard so many times before.
The embarrassing “Dogg Named Snoop” track is nothing more than another variation of the many songs Snoop has made concerning his own stage name. The “Ballad of Jimmy Bones,” by R&B singer LaToya Williams, suffers from one significant problem bad vocals.
“Jimmy”s Revenge,” by Snoop and Soopafly, features an almost blasphemous rendition of the James Brown classic “Payback,” where the former calls himself trying to sing. Nail rapping down first, and then we will see about your career as a balladeer, pal.
Only if you are a die-hard West Coast fan without the need for Dr. Dre”s sound, or if you are one of the couple dozen loyal Snoop Dogg fans, will you appreciate this soundtrack to its fullest. The talent involved provides it with so much potential, but the end result is not exactly sufficient.
Fight the system, along with Snoop”s pocketbook, and burn a friend”s copy.
Grade: C