Ego Trippin' 2008 Album

Snoop Dogg

REVISITING REVIEW '25 This isn't as bad as I remembered it to be. More so than some failed experimentation, like the country/rap song, 'My Medicine', it's some of the generic production that hasn't aged well, and just weak hip hop/pop moments that let it down. I think it was more disappointing when it dropped because it followed one of his strongest hip hop efforts in 'Tha Blue Carpet Treatment'. Nothing against Snoop for trying some different things, and he does show versatility that works at times, but not enough of this is good enough and worth replays. Beats: ★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★☆ Hooks: ★★☆ Best Tracks: Press Play, Sexual Eruption, Neva Have 2 Worry, Can't Say Goodbye 1. A Word Witchya! (Intro) 2. Press Play DJ Quik had some misses the last time he collaborated with Snoop on 'No Limit Top Dogg' but this is a great way to start the album. Kurupt adds some energy and everything works. 3. SD Is Out Teddy Riley's first of five contributions doesn't hit. Kind of boring. 4. Gangsta Like Me The start of this sounds like MJ's '2000 Watts' that Riley also produced. A little better that 'SD Is Out '. 5. Neva Have 2 Worry A good introspective track that maybe isn't anything we haven't heard before, but at least Snoop gives us something to pay attention to. it's a fairly simple beat, but it works for the kind of song it is. 6. Sexual Eruption I love his additional vocals at the end of the song, "Orgasms", like the song was too subtle for us to understand. A great song though and the best one here. 7. Life of Da Party Very much a product of its time sounding very late '00s. Just generic. 8. Waste of Time You're asking for negativity with a title like that. It's smooth, mid-tempo R&B and another passable song. The hook drags on too long. 9. Cool A cover of The Time's song of the same name. It sounds so similar that you might as well listen to the original. If you're going to cover a song, make it your own. 10. Sets Up You'll be able to tell this is a Neptunes' production straight away. This is one of the better moments. 11. Deez Hollywood Nights Ehh. It samples 'Hollywood Knights' performed by Brooklyn Dreams. Snoop tells us what a player he is. Boring hook. I wouldn't have picked this as a Nottz track. 12. Whateva U Do Don't like the production. Snoop isn't entertaining. Skip. 13. Staxxx in My Jeans Another that sounds very much a product of its time. Not bad. Kind of gets me toe tapping. 14. Been Around Tha World More like a standard hip hop song than the experimentation we see throughout this album. A track for his lady where he mentions lots of things he's done but its all nothing like being back with her. 15. Let It Out Good energy and change ups in the production and hook. 16. My Medicine Country rap. Not for me. 17. Ridin' in My Chevy Another that sounds very generic for its time. 18. Those Gurlz Above average pop rap. Chipmunk vocals on the hook. One of the better songs here. 19. One Chance (Make It Good) Snoop encourages listeners to not have regrets. Strong production. This could've been better with a hook that changes it up more from the verses. They blend too much together. 20. Why Did You Leave Me Snoop continues the pop rap as the standard version moves to its final songs. The topic of wanting a loved one back has been done a million time but sonically it's enjoyable. 21. Can't Say Goodbye Samples Bruce Hornsby & The Range's 'The Way It Is' famously sampled on Pac's 'Changes'. This is fittingly the final song seeing Snoop reflective. "If it wasn't for my niggas sayin' stick to the plan/Probably be a gun instead of a pen in my hand/Probably be doin' a dub in the pen with my man/They say leave the streets but they don't really understand." 22. Nobody Better Samples Chaka Khan's 'Ain't Nobody' so you can't dislike this. Not sure about the hook. 64 23. Shootem Up Another bad late '00s sounding track. 30 24. Walk Away To finish the long 90 minute album we get Snoop rocking out. Not for me. 34 -- Original Review: There are way too many soft choruses on this album. It's too poppy and un-hip-hoppy for me coming from Snoop Dogg! I expected as much when I heard the first single 'Sensual Seduction' but that is a well constructed contagious song so it isn't an issue and one of the best from this album... Even the more general hip hop tracks on this are below par. I'm not usually a person to be against an album when the artist has gone a bit more mainstream but this is too far for me. What makes it worse is his last LP was a return to his best. Ego Trippin' is an album that most long time Snoop Dogg fans like myself may take a while to like if they are going to like it at all.