SNOOP DOGGY DOGG Doggystyle (Death Row)

Something of a totem in hip-hop circles, Snoop Dogg’s 1993 debut album plays like an inferior but entertaining companion piece to Dr. Dre’s mighty “The Chronic”, with which it shares some personnel. All squidgy synthed G-funk (derived substantially from George Clinton’s back catalogue) and highly questionable morals, “Doggystyle “ nevertheless manages the occasional moment of genius. Chief among them are the singles “Gin And Juice” (which puts a comic crimp in his style with the inadvertent revelation that the Snoop of the song still lives with his mum), “Who Am I (What’s My Name?)” and “Ain’t No Fun (If The Homies Can’t Have None)”, which is almost, almost akin to the young Prince at his PMRC-baiting filthiest.  

The legend “Digitally Remastered” splashed across the cover doesn’t exactly bode well for the album’s sonic prospects, and this current vinyl issue sounds brash, loud and harsh, although it could be argued that in doing so it’s entirely in keeping with the tone of the material.

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