In the fall of 1993, like they always did about that time of the year, Death Row Records released the debut album from Snoop Doggy Dogg.
Doggstyle was an album that captured society’s ills through Snoop’s lyrics. There were no news cameras needed in Long Beach. Snoop’s narrative brought us into his lifestyle and his laidback southern drawl and raw street lyrics was a perfect complement to Dr. Dre’s West Coast G-funk production.
“What’s My Name” was the first single and unofficial Snoop anthem with a catchy hook that sampled George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog”.
The second single, “Gin N Juice”, was a party song. Snoop gets into details about an actual party he’s having while his parents aren’t home. The visual directed by Dr. Dre was the right companion piece for the song, with cameos from The Dogg Pound, Eddie Griffin, and even a 6-year-old Lil Bow Wow.
The final single from the album, “Doggy Dogg World”, features Daz and Kurupt, and The Dramatics singing the hook on another Dr. Dre-produced track. In the video each of them assisted Snoop in bringing the visual to life.
If you were one of the first people to buy the CD, you may have a collectors’ item. The first pressings have the song “Gz Up, Hoes Down”. The song was removed due to legal issues over the sample, though the ones released later still list the song.
With Snoop’s raw, detailed lyrics about life in Long Beach, and with the assistance of Dr. Dre’s production, you can’t go wrong with this classic. | THIS ENT
[By Rube Ramon]
On August 11, 2023, we will join Sixman in Grand Rapids, MI for HIP HOP 50Th Anniversary Music Fest live at top-rated venue The Pyramid Scheme!
Celebrating this cultural milestone, Sixman will close out a stacked lineup of Nappy Head Assassins, J.Rob, Manchild, Loudchief, Zero, Gwopped Up Speedy, Alfie Da Great, Huff the Goat, WUZEE, Sonny Ski, D.E.S., Sha Dow, Adrian Wright, Dj Ill One, DJ Kapp, Dj Seven Eightz, and DJ Kokn, with industry favorite MR. 1204 serving as host.
Sponsored by WYCE, NOXX and COOKIES GR, Wasted Brand Clothing, Debo Scotty (Power Moves Only), Vitale’s On Leonard, THIS ENT, and Feeding America (West Michigan), Sixman is encouraging attendees to bring a non-perishable food item to help feed the less fortunate in the community.
With this once-in-a-lifetime event Sixman and everyone involved are upholding the charitable nature of Hip Hop’s origin at 1520 Sedwick Ave in Bronx, NY fifty years ago.
