Often eclipsed as a rapper by his Dogg Pound [click to read] partner Kurupt, Daz Dillinger has proven himself to be a formidable producer with the ability to make strong albums. However, for every enduring street classic like Revenge, Retaliation or Get Back and R.A.W., there have been nearly a dozen duds either devoted to Daz‘s endless attack on enemies at the time, or appearing to be thrown-together half-baked tracks and ideas, furthering the crack game/rap game parallel. As his cousin Snoop Dogg gets more musical with Ego Trippin’ [click to read], and Kurupt tries an east coast ’90s sound with Pete Rock and DJ Premier [click to read], Daz slows his roll long enough to remind us with Only On The Left Side why he was such a draw over a decade ago.
Part of Daz‘s appeal has been his relentless conviction to his beliefs. Whether riding for the west in ’95, being the last man standing at a label in ’99, or feuding with estranged rhyme partners in ’02, there has never been an apology, a soft side, or a glimpse at the man behind the locc sunglasses. “Regretz,” with Tyrese [click to read] and Nicole Wray finds a Long Beach Crip apologizing to loved ones for physical and emotional abuse. Akin to Snoop‘s “Why Did You Leave Me,” Daz is making this record his most personal, and for something beyond carrying a grudge. However, don’t get it twisted. Daz remains to be piss and vinegar on tracks like “Switch Tha Trigger” and “I’m The Dopeman.” Although it’s always been a little more interesting when he’s been attacking another rapper or executive, Daz proves that he still is quick to get in somebody’s face. With collaborations with Dogg Pound alums like Snoop and Kurupt, plus Keak Da Sneak and Swizz Beatz [click to read], it’s odd that the most compelling joint effort comes with Obie Trice on “My Way R Shady.” However unfortunate that the track comes after Obie took walking papers from Shady, the union here is forged in good music and a lot of mirroring in rappers’ styles. With Daz playing some DJ Toomp-like fuzzed out keys, this joint transcends the lackluster DPG-Unit work heard on mixtapes.
Production is Daz‘s greatest improvement on this album. This is, after all, the man who produced for 2Pac, Snoop, and more recently with T.I. and Youngbloodz. Rather than crutch the same eerie G-Funk, Daz fools around with synthesizers and keyboards, allowing for his biggest transformation to date. “This Is How Do It” implements a sound of screwed-choruses that sounds robust and imposing. Other efforts use appealing arrangement of Daz‘s signature reduction of Crunk, G-Funk and California love. Assisted throughout by LV (not to be confused with Puffy‘s Hitman), the lone guest production comes from Swizz Beatz with an annoyingly infectious chorus amidst polished boardsmanship on “I’m From The Hood.”
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Only On The Left Side might appear to be a low-carb companion to Snoop‘s Blue Carpet Treatment [click to read], but Daz‘s latest venture proves to be more than just Crip Hop. The Long Beach fixture uses inspiring music and some of his most personal writing to advance his catalog more than usual. Still, as his cover of Cube‘s “My Summer Vacation” proves, this falls a few first downs short of the west coast classic club.
