“I rock rough and tough with my afro puffs/ handcuffed as I bust bout to tear shit up,” says the Lady of Rage as she is the first to drop down her rhymes on the song “G-Funk Intro” off of Snoop Doggy Dogg’s first release, “Doggystyle.”
The album gives the listener a chance to journey with Snoop for a brief moment in his life.
The cover art and book are a testament, as the comic booklet allows you cartoon access into Snoop’s doghouse and the happenings inside.
With the actual music, “Doggystyle” opens with “Bathtub” as the first track on the album. Snoop is being bathed by a young lady in his home set in Long Beach, while people come over wanting to spend time with Snoop. Indeed a good time is spent with the continuation of the disc.
“Lodi Dodi” opens with a grandiose game of dominoes being played by a band of Snoop’s friends. The song is of humorous nature as Snoop describes a day in his life from his wake up and morning stretch to a conversation with his mirror and clothing selection for the day, which includes his “brand new pair of doggy underwear.”
He then runs into a couple of neighborhood friends who wish to share in his daily habits. They are of mother and daughter make-up.
The mother questions Snoop as to why they won’t be able to acquaint with each other a little closer, but Snoop replies that he is only 19.
The album was released in 1993 and featured a style known as G-Funk.
“This is just a small introduction to the G-Funk Era,” says Snoop on the track “G-Funk Intro.”
The Era, which was in part due to the main feature of producer Dr. Dre replicating old songs by such artists as Parliament into his music, was a fascination of the entire decade of the 1990’s. The track with Rage samples “Knee Deep” by Parliament-Funkadelic.
The words “Everybody’s got a little light/ Under the Suuuunn/ Under the Suuuunn/ Under the Suuuuuuuunn!!” in “Flashlight” by P-Funk is reworked for a fit of comedy on the opening minute of “The Shiznit”.
Early 70’s psyche-band Sons of Champlin are sampled as well on this track. It has a very clean drumbeat and a slight synthesizer that gets the head waving. “Boppin’, stoppin’, hoppin’ like a rabbit,” relays Snoop. A downward-spiraled bass line adds to the excitement.
Snoop spirals down in “Murder Was the Case” where a plot for his murder is exacted. “As I look up at the Sky/ My mind starts trippin’ and a tear drops my eye.” A coma results and Snoop begins to observe visions of death. “Pumpin’ on my chest and I’m screamin’/I stop breathin’/ Damn! I see demons.”
Snoop then has a conversation with the Devil and he grants Snoop life, as well as power and money.
“So relax your soul, let me take control/close your eyes my son,” as Snoop quips, “My eyes are closed.”
Our hero then receives a turn around from life and as he begins pushing and climbs the ladder of life. Snoop then makes a common mistake of humanity. “They say I’m greedy but I still want more/ because my eyes want to journey some more.” Greed ruins Snoop’s life and the Devil wins.
Back to the comedy of things is “Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None).” In a cut-down version with different language in use, it boils down to if you scam around with others, people are less likely to respect you.
“Doggystyle” is a good-natured disc that everyone in the world has heard at least one song from. He even has a song on there so you can learn his name if you did not already know it. It can be very playful, yet serious at times and it furthered along the creation of an abrasive art form.