ARTIST: Snoop Dogg
ALBUM: Malice ‘n’ Wonderland
LABEL: Priority Records
RELEASE DATE: December 8, 2009
Strong in the Game!
Photo by Estevan Oriol
Written by Khadeeja Coonrod
Snoop Dogg, The Doggfather, has released his tenth solo album, Malice N Wonderland. The cover on Malice has the same feel as Snoop’s debut album, Doggystyle that emerged back in 1993. Malice N Wonderland is following Ego Trippin’ released only one year ago March 11, 2008 and was his ninth studio album. Snoop Dogg has been giving us Hip-Hop music for sixteen years and counting.
The opening song, I Wanna Rock has samples of Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock’s, It Takes Two and is produced by Scoop DeVille. It gives West Coast music a combination of old school meets new school. The familiar beat makes the song more enjoyable and adds more bump for a club feel. 2 Minute Warning comes with a force of hitting lyrics, “Vintage, relentless, I mean this, I promise. No Shug, No Dre, I’d have did this regardless. And that’s how I’m supposed to think. Flinch at me like I’m supposed to blink. Motherfucker this Crip still hard to swallow like a big pill, pushing 40, still a big deal. Ponytail still swinging, hair still braided, Laker to a Clipper I won’t be faded.” Even though the words no Dre are mentioned, 2 Minute Warning has a Dre sound.
1800 featuring Lil John and Pronto featuring Soulja Boy aren’t the best tracks on the album. Lil John brings his infamous crunk attitude in usual fashion for 1800 while Soulja Boy doesn’t bring much to the table in Pronto.
That’s Tha Homie, produced by Danja and Timbaland, brings us back to Snoop rhyming in his relaxed style to heavy beats. Pimpin Ain’t EZ featuring R. Kelly should’ve had a Rhythm & Gansta atmosphere but instead the delivery failed to give what should be expected from these two artists. Secrets featuring Kokane brings a G-funk mood as well as another West Coast tune for fans to enjoy. Upside Down Featuring Nipsey Hussle and Problem, produced by Terrance Martin, brings the Gangsta Rap sound to us, which is where many of Snoop’s original fans first heard him as.
The-Dream is featured on two tracks. Luv Drunk is a sensual song that’s smooth and soft but the words aren’t, “You can hear the bed squeak all the way down the street. And it sounds like a song as we fuckin’ to the beat.” Gansta Luv is a radio song for the ladies.
Different Languages featuring Jazmine Sullivan takes a different approach. Snoop speaks to his wife with his lyrics, “Kids going to school, we can act a fool. Skinny dip in the pool, do it real smooth. Miss Bow-Wow. Queen of the town.” Pharrell Williams produces and is featured on Special, along with Brandy. This is another great collaboration between Snoop and the Neptunes Producer. The Doggfather expresses his feelings in a more love-struck manner for his wife, Shante.
Overall the album has only three solo tracks of Snoop and some are better than others but he still brings a few hits in the mix. One thing that can be said about the Doggfather, that he’s keeping up with what the younger generation listens to and that matters in the end when you’re trying to make music that the youth will want to bump. This proves that Snoop can still remain a strong contender in the Hip-Hop industry.