It’s sort of hilarious how mainstream Snoop Dogg has become over the last decade or so considering his gangsta rap origins. You can see him everywhere now– beer commercials during the Super Bowl, NBC during the Olympics (he basically was the face of the US during the 2024 summer games), or spending time with his new bestie Martha Stewart on a cooking show. I don’t think there’s anyone (Snoop included) who would have predicted his impact on American culture when Doggystyle came out in 1993.
Before he became a household name Snoop Dogg was just Calvin Broadus from Long Beach, California. He came up freestyling in high school and recording homemade tapes with his friends, one of which made its way to Dr. Dre. That serendipitous meeting would change everything for both men. Snoop’s smooth, unhurried flow was the perfect foil to Dre’s cinematic production and landed him a prominent feature on Dre’s The Chronic in 1992.
That made him an instant star and set the stage for his debut album. The buzz around him was massive by the time Doggystyle dropped in ’93, and the album didn’t disappoint. It was funky, menacing, and cool all at once, punctuated by Snoop’s laidback approach to rapping that sounds like he’s having a casual conversation after smoking half a joint. There’s a natural rhythm to the way he raps, often hovering just behind the beat and uttered in a sing-songy type way, giving everything he says this effortless cool that’s immediately recognizable. He’s truly one of a kind.
Standout Songs: “Gin and Juice”, “Lodi Dodi”, “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?”, “Ain’t No Fun (If The Homies Can’t Have None)”
