With artists like Method Man and DMX trying to recapture the “golden
years” of their careers, it looks like Daz
and Kurupt are trying to do the same
– releasing their second album in less than a year. Their last album, the
disappointing Cali Iz Active, failed
to impress. This wasn’t because people expect something new from the DPG. Rather, the problem seemed that Tha Dogg Pound was operating outside of
its comfort zone – is a song with Diddy
really necessary?
Well, it seems like Daz and Kurupt have returned to their roots
with Dogg Chit. The West Coast crew
has never been known for diverse subject matter, and this album is no
exception. Guns, hoes, gangbangin’ and more guns are once again the topics of
discussion.
The first three joints on the album – “Get Out of My Way”, “I’ll Bury Ya” and
“Everybody” – might as well be the same song. Truth be told, it’s hard to tell
when one ends and the other begins, as each offers the same ol’ unimaginative
gangsterisms: “Don’t act hard now
mahfucka/’Cuz your homies with you now mahfucka/Cuz I’ll lay you down
mahfucka/And every nigga with you now mahfucka.“
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Thankfully things pick up a little bit with “Anybody Killa,” which features
a stellar verse from The Game. The
lyrical content isn’t anything new, but at least Daz and Kurupt sound
interested – finally rapping with the ferocity that made them famous. Snoop Dogg shows up for the oh-so
smooth “Vibe,” but only lends a hook. “Can’t Get Enough,” which features Too $hort, is just straight jokes, but
suffers from bland production.
“Dat Ain’t My Baby” isn’t even a song worth checking, though “Thiz Gangsta
Chit Iz Ourz” finally provides some interesting production, with haunting piano
keys that supplement DPG‘s confessions
quite nicely. “1 N 1 Out” is a standout track, as Kurupt reveals his grand ambitions: “This is what we made of, life at the bottom/To the top of society,
selection, variety/Ability to reshape mountains to statues, to represent our
lives or our pain and afflictions/Remembered for all time like Greeks,
Egyptians.”
“Where U From” and “Throw Ya Hood Up” have a pleasant bounce to them, but “It’z
a Good Ass Day” is where the DPG truly
shines. The song has a classic West Coast vibe, and is an ode to good, simple
times. The song proves that Daz and Kurupt still have the chemistry that
made them a West Coast favorite.
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Overall, Dogg Chit is a
significant step up from Cali Iz Active,
as it shows glimpses of the former Death
Row artists whom we all grew to love. However, the production on the album
is, for the most part, uninspired at best. Coupled with extremely repetitive
subject matter, and Dogg Chit a
pretty average album. At the very least, the DPG is doing them, which is all the fans can ask.
