In 1993, hip-hop as a musical genre was still in its early years. With New York being the birthplace, the West Coast was trying to earn its respect in the rap game. Former N.W.A. member, Dr. Dre, coming straight outta Compton, had hit another grand slam in the discovery of a young rapper named Snoop Doggy Dogg.
The Long Beach rapping prodigy continued the G-Funk sound following the success of The Chronic with his debut album, Doggystyle. This would catapult him and Death Row Records into the stratosphere. So get you some “Gin and Juice,” sit back and relax as we take you back on a trip down memory lane!
Lodi Dodi Snoop Likes to Party
Bow wow wow yippy yo yippy yay, the Doggystyle album was definitely here to stay. Most people can’t predict the future like Nostradamus or The Simpsons, but hip-hop enthusiasts knew that the debut of Mr. Doggy Dogg would be an instant classic. With the rap game’s most influential producer, Dr. Dre, behind it, the project was destined for greatness.
As soon as the beat hit on the “G-Funk Intro,” listeners knew they could light one up, chill with the homies, slam down their bones, and yell out “Domino!” With Dre’s beats and the smooth lyrical style of Snoop, the duo couldn’t be messed with. Then, when “Gin and Juice” hit your speakers, I’ll be damned if you didn’t imagine yourself hittin’ switches for those hydrolicks in your old school Cadillac.
For you wrestling fans out there, if I could quote Sheamus, this album featured “Banger after banger!” Hit singles like “Gin and Juice,” “Murder was the Case,” “Who Am I (What’s My Name),” and “Ain’t No Fun” only gave the average listener the surface of an all time great tracklist!
Snoop’s DoggyStyle Includes the Gz and Hustlas
If we learned one thing from Doggystyle, it would be that “it ain’t no fun, if the homies can’t have none!” Well, Snoop’s homies were definitely involved with the success of the debut. The features on the nineteen-track CD included some new, fresh, upcoming artists under the Death Row brand.
The D-O-double-giz-ee brought along childhood friends Warren G and the “King of Hooks” Nate Dogg, creating a unique sound that would ultimately become the soundtrack of West Coast hip-hop! He also had features from Tha Dogg Pound, Daz and Korrupt, The D.O.C., and Baby D herself, Lady of Rage.
Dr. Dre knew he had struck gold twice in a row with The Chronic and Doggystyle, giving the Westside its own identity in the rap world. Snoop would go on to sell eleven million copies worldwide. Doggystyle is also recognized as a top-100 rap album of all time, and a top-500 album in the ’90s, according to Rolling Stone.
“With so much drama in the LBC, it seems pretty easy to be Snoop D-O-double G,” having the accolades of this phenomenal debut record. This would set him up for a one-of-a-kind, successful career. From rapper to actor to hanging out with Martha Stewart and doing hilarious commentary, it all started with many people’s favorite position.
Final Thoughts
It seems like today, Snoop is similar to a Kardashian. I say that because nowadays he seems famous just for being famous. But it all started with this classic record thirty-two years ago! I remember being six years old, my older brother sneaking me into his bedroom, and telling me, “Don’t let mom know I let you listen to this.” From that point on, I knew all about the “Gz and Hustlas!” So before I go, I will leave you with this: “He is I, and I am him, slim with the tilted brim, what’s my motherf****** name?” Snoop Doggy Dog!
