Since bursting onto the scene in 1992 with his explosive bars on Dr. Dre’s “Deep Cover,” the inimitable Snoop Dogg has become a mainstay in music and pop culture. From Long Beach gang banger to illustrious multi-millionaire and co-host of VH1’s Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, Uncle Snoop’s Criptastic journey has been thoroughly detailed with a navy blue brush throughout his stacked catalog.
His latest — Make America Crip Again — is a short, eight-track EP that finds Mr. Calvin Broadus rapping from two different perspectives over a soundtrack of R&B, G-Funk and classic gangsta rap. The title, coupled with the blue cover art and its blue bandana background, makes it blatantly obvious that gangsta Snoop has come out of retirement for this one.
Album opener “M.A.C.A.” — which begins with a nod to Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh — finds him flexing his O.G. status with lines like, “But don’t trip, we Crip/ And we gang up too/ And if I do a count/ I’m sure we got more guns than you.”
On the flip side, he also allows his maturity to shine through, taking on the role of a wise rap professor. “G status, earned that/ Now that I’m your OG, it’s my job to teach you/ Show you, look out, reach you/ Every chance you get, hit that lick and get that shit/ And put your name down and your thang down/ We gon’ make America crip again,” he spits.
Throughout the album, he seems to wrestle with these two dualities. On one hand, he’s the seasoned gangsta rap legend who’s paid his dues, but on the other, he’s a married man with three children, one grandchild and a heap of responsibilities.
For example, on songs like “Good Foot” with Kid Capri, it would be easy to question his authenticity. Lines like, “Penthouse suites with about 40 hoes/ Tanqueray glasses smoke fills the air/ And hoes with fat asses playing truth or dare,” almost ring hallow.
Only two songs later, he’s proclaiming his undying love for his wife on “My Last Name,” which plays like an apology for his wild ways. The hook, provided by Doggy Style Records’ artist October London, questions why his woman would be bothered by any of those “hoes.”
While at the song’s core, the sentiment is commendable, Snoop’s bars are sloppy and suffer with predictable lines comparing his romantic relationship to JAY-Z and Beyoncé’s.
Album highlights “Dis Finna Be A Breeze!” featuring Ha Ha Davis, and (believe it or not) “3’s Company” with Chris Brown and O.T. Genasis bring the heat production wise. The deep, rolling bass paired with the burgeoning Long Beach rapper’s bars add a freshness to the latter, showcasing O.T.’s indisputable talent on the mic, while Brown’s vocal hook (although executed well) seems unnecessary.
Snoop’s follow-up to Neva Left comes to a quiet close with “Fly Away,” a song that could have been pulled from an old Color Me Badd album. Peppered with Snoop’s staccato-like delivery, it again borders on mild cheesiness, but then again, he’s getting ready to release a gospel album, so maybe he’s just preparing his listeners for the transition.
Either way, Make America Crip Again is more like a hobble — it’s not terrible, but it’s a far cry from what made Snoop Tha Doggfather in the first place. The days of “Gin & Juice” may be gone, but at least the G’s still in him.
Another wack album from Snoop ! Make America Crip Again ? Don’t commercial gang activity !
Snoop’s writing and delivery have fallen the hell off. It’s like he just shows up to the studio and freestyles his verse in one cut and just goes with it. Why keep making records when the inspiration is obviously not there? Accurate assessment of the album I’d say.
I guess it’s just a way to keep his name popping up – not in a good way, though. Just so damn lazily executed that it really wasn’t worth of the time spent listening to it.
I love Snoop but this album sucks. Where’s Dr. Dre???
Why Dre? Dre doesnt produce his own beats. Ask: warren, daz, the glove, mel man, sam sneed, above the law, denaun porter etc. Besides that why Dre? A 50 year old man rapping about shooint, money and blunts. Really?
Not that I disagree with you that much, but whenever you see that “prod by dr dre”, whoever helped him or made the beat, it always ends up being the best track in the album.
Snoop’s music really sucks. Gin & Juice and 187 are way far in the past. For all of his apparent talent, he can no longer make a decent record. And, for all of his other current success, he can’t let crippin’ go.
Terrible
Make Snopp Dogg again
The production was the only thing I this that I enjoyed. The lyrics were terrible. I forgot who posted it, but someone on here said TBCT was his last good album and I have to agree.
I agree. Blue carpet definitely his last good album.
Snoop’s discography is horrible. He is 4 for 15.
Legit. What’s the four good ones? Doggystyle, dogg father, tha last meal., blue carpet treatment? I feel like one other from that time period was averagely good. But even blue carpet treatment is completely forgotten besides drop it like it sounds hot. Nobody plays “that’s tjat shit” with r jelly anymore. Doggystyle was to for snoop. Without it, his career would have never gone far.
1st off…MACA isn’t a nod to Slick Rick and Doug E Fresh’s ‘La-Di-Da-Di’ because its Slick Rick’s ‘Hey Young World’,the fact you got that wrong immediately tells me,”Kyle Eustice doesn’t know what he’s talking bout”,you reviewed a project in less than 12 hours which is disingenuous in its self but to point out contradicting lifestyle bars of a 40+ year old Snoop who’s done it ALL is lazy AF…yea you exposed yourself smh fake hip hoppers/real life lames
First of all, you’re a dick, and second of all, you’re wrong.
Uh journalists get albums hella early…way before albums come out, dummy.
Lmao, bullshit. Maybe some get to listen, but they aren’t handed albums early… at least not the good and anticipated ones. Too much potential for a leak if they gave them away days in advance.
That’d be like saying movie critics get handed a DVD of a movie before it hits theatres. Nope.
They are handed a DVD of a movie before it hits theaters. They’re called screeners. And they are literally on a DVD.
Y’all really wasted time listening to an album called Make America Trip Again?
Snoop, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!! Buy some beats. Get the Dogg Pound on tracks. Do a track with Em, one with xzibit, King Tee, Above The Law, Kendrick, Kokaine, W.C. fuck it… Yg, Ty dolla $ign, O.T., Vince Staples. Buy beats from Harry Fraud, Premier, Battle Cat, Mustard, the Neptunes, beg Dre to hook you up… You’ve got money bruh… Terrible album.
my hoodness calvin broadus. album after album after album after album after album after album after album after album after album after album after album after album after album after album after doggystyle has put you so far away from bein an artist i want 2 see in the hof. you’re a joke an a laughin stock 2 the game u had ahold of for a brief sec in ’93. u ran 2 new orleans cause u were scared of suge an joined percy miller only 2 make 1 out of 3 decent albums. how are your kids or your wife able 2 look @ w/o bein thoroughly disgusted @ your horrible career. you are turnin white before our eyes an you’re no longer a gang member so why use words like crip when you’re makin food w/ the snow bunny martha stewart. u need 2 get snatched up by some true blue crips an be taken out of your miserable existence. STOP MAKIN TRASH.
The truth is that after Pac came to Death Row, his career slowly went downhill. He’s still rich tho. Free Suge.
Snoop needs to open up and get some new producers that noone ever heard . futuurish sounds and even work with some dope writers for dope concepts . Snoop can still come back. he needs new hungry cats just like when Dre found them and made the chronic.
His las good album was R&G
last good album was blue carpet treatment.
snoop did his thing. I am a fan, but it is time for him to move on.
snoops last good album was doggystyle real talk!!!
People aren’t giving Snoop full props, but I will here. He has been coming pretty solid with about the last 3 releases….It’s classic snoop and it goes well in my collection