Doggystyle is the debut solo album from American
West Coast hip hopWest Coast hip hop is a hip hop music subgenre that encompasses any artists or music which originates in the westernmost region of the United States...
rapper
Snoop Doggy DoggCordazar Calvin Broadus , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is a Grammy Award-nominated American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as an MC in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of producer Dr. Dre's most notable protégés...
, released November 23, 1993 on
Death Row RecordsDeath Row Records is a record label that was founded in 1991 by Dr. Dre and Suge Knight, and was once home to some of West Coast hip hop's most well-known rappers, including 2Pac, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound ....
. The album was recorded soon following the release of
Dr. DreAndre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, and actor...
's landmark debut album
The ChronicThe Chronic is the debut solo studio album of hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre, released December 15, 1992 on his former own label, Death Row Records, and distributed by Priority Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in June 1992 at Death Row Studios in Los Angeles, California and...
(1992), to which Snoop Dogg contributed significantly. His musical stylizations for the album share similarity to those featured on
Doggystyle. Critics have praised Snoop Dogg for the lyrical "realism" he delivers on the album and for his distinctive vocal flow. While recording the album, Snoop Dogg was arrested in connection with Phillip Woldermarian's death; he was tried and acquitted in 1996.
Despite some mixed criticism of the album initially upon its release,
Doggystyle has earned recognition from many music critics as one of the most significant albums of the 1990s, as well as one of the most important hip hop albums ever released. Much like
The Chronic, the distinctive sounds of
Doggystyle helped introduce the hip hop style of
G-funkG-funk, or Gangsta-Funk, is a sub-genre of hip hop music that emerged from West Coast gangsta rap in the early 1990s. It was a dominant sound that put west coast hip hop on the map...
to a mainstream audience, bringing forward West Coast hip hop as a dominant force in the early 1990s. As of 2008, the
Recording Industry Association of AmericaThe Recording Industry Association of America is a group which represents the recording industry distributors in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors, which the RIAA say "create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 85% of all legitimate sound recordings...
(RIAA) has certified
Doggystyle quadruple platinum in sales, as it serves as Snoop Dogg's highest-selling album. The record debuted at number one on the
Billboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling new music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart, and sold 802,858 copies in its first week alone, which was the record for a debuting artist and the fastest-selling album ever until
EminemMarshall Bruce Mathers III , known by his primary stage name Eminem, or by his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer and actor. Eminem quickly gained popularity in 1999 with his major-label debut album The Slim Shady LP, which won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album...
's
The Marshall Mathers LPThe Marshall Mathers LP is the critically acclaimed third studio album by American rapper Eminem, released in 2000. The album sold over 1.76 million copies in its first week just in the U.S., earning a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest selling solo album ever...
in 2000.
Doggystyle is viewed by many critics and fans as a "hip hop classic" and is included in The Source magazine's list of the 100 Best Rap Albums, as well as
Rolling StoneRolling Stone is a United States-based magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J. Gleason.The magazine was named after the 1948 Muddy Waters song of the same...
magazine's list of Essential Recordings of the 90s.
Background
Snoop Dogg came to attention of the music industry in 1992, through his vocal contributions on Dre's
The Chronic. That album is considered to have "transformed the entire sound of West Coast rap" by its development of what later became known as the "
G-funkG-funk, or Gangsta-Funk, is a sub-genre of hip hop music that emerged from West Coast gangsta rap in the early 1990s. It was a dominant sound that put west coast hip hop on the map...
" sound.
The Chronic expanded
gangsta rapGangsta rap is a subgenre of hip hop that reflects the violent lifestyles of some inner-city youths. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word gangster. The genre was pioneered in the mid 1980s by rappers such as Schooly D and Ice T, and was popularized in the later part of the 1980s by...
with profanity, violent lyrics, basic beats, anti-authoritarian lyrics and multi-layered
samplesIn music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song. This is typically done with a sampler, which can be a piece of hardware or a computer program on a digital computer. Sampling is also...
taken from 1970's
P-FunkP-Funk is a shorthand term for the repertoire and performers associated with George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic collective and the distinctive style of funk music they performed...
records. Snoop Dogg contributed vocals to Dre's solo single, "
Deep Cover"Deep Cover", also known as "187" , is Dr. Dre's debut solo single, featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg, which is his debut in a single, for the soundtrack from the film Deep Cover ....
", which lead to a high degree of anticipation amongst hip hop for the release of his own solo album. Snoop was also featured on the single Nuthin' but a "G" Thang, which reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving him mainstream recognition.
Doggystyle and
The Chronic are associated with each other mainly because each prominently featured Snoop Dogg and because both contain G-funk style production from Dr. Dre. The two releases are linked by the high number of vocal contributions from Death Row Records artists, including
Tha Dogg PoundTha Dogg Pound, also known as D.P.G. , is a rap duo made up of Daz Dillinger and Kurupt. They were signed to Death Row Records in their early careers and were key to the label's success. The group made their 1992 rap debut on Dr. Dre's The Chronic, on various songs...
,
RBXEric Dwayne Collins, better known by his stage name RBX, is a rapper and R&B singer from Long Beach, California. Although many think Collins is the son of funk legend Bootsy Collins, actually he's not; but they are close friends...
, The Lady of Rage, while both contain a high density misogynistic lyrics and profanity in their lyrics. In addition, the two albums are each viewed by critics as early "G-funk classics", and have been described as "joined at the hip".
Gangsta rapGangsta rap is a subgenre of hip hop that reflects the violent lifestyles of some inner-city youths. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word gangster. The genre was pioneered in the mid 1980s by rappers such as Schooly D and Ice T, and was popularized in the later part of the 1980s by...
has been criticized for its extreme lyrics, which are often accused of glamorizing gang violence and black-on-black crime. The Gangsta rappers responded that they were simply describing the realities of life in places such as
Compton, CaliforniaCompton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, south-southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city was incorporated in 1889. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 93,493....
, and
Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach is a large city located in southern California, USA, on the Pacific coast. It is situated in Los Angeles County, about south of downtown Los Angeles. Long Beach borders Orange County on its southeast edge....
. Describing
Doggystyle in 1993, Snoop Dogg likewise points to the album's realism, and the extent to which it is based on his personal experience. He said, "I can't rap about something I don't know. You'll never hear me rapping about no bachelor's degree. It's only what I know and that's that street life. It's all everyday life, reality." Explaining his intentions, Snoop Dogg claims he feels he is a role model to many young black men, and that his songs are designed to relate to their concerns. "For little kids growing up in the ghettos," he said, "it's easy to get into the wrong types of things, especially gangbanging and selling drugs. I've seen what that was like, and I don't glorify it, but I don't preach. I bring it to them rather than have them go find out about it for themselves." He further explained the "dream" that he would pursue after making the album: "I'm going to try to eliminate the gang violence. I'll be on a mission for peace. I know I have a lot of power. I know if I say, 'Don't kill,' niggas won't kill".
Recording
Doggystyle was recorded in early 1993 at
Death Row StudiosDeath Row Records is a record label that was founded in 1991 by Dr. Dre and Suge Knight, and was once home to some of West Coast hip hop's most well-known rappers, including 2Pac, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound ....
. It was produced in a style similar to
The Chronic; some critics called it a "carbon copy". Snoop Dogg collaborated with two music groups, 213 and
Tha Dogg PoundTha Dogg Pound, also known as D.P.G. , is a rap duo made up of Daz Dillinger and Kurupt. They were signed to Death Row Records in their early careers and were key to the label's success. The group made their 1992 rap debut on Dr. Dre's The Chronic, on various songs...
. Daz Dillinger, of the latter group, accused Dr. Dre of taking sole recognition for the songs and alleged he and
Warren GWarren Griffin III better known by his stage name Warren G, is an American West Coast rapper and hip hop producer. He is Dr. Dre's step brother. His biggest hit to date was the single "Regulate" with Nate Dogg released in 1994...
were uncredited on many tracks.
[ Tha Dogg Pound. (2005). DPG Eulogy]- Overview :The ups and downs experienced by the West Coast's Dogg Pound Gangstas have been legion. This documentary seeks to set the record straight, tracing the evolution of the beefs, reunions, and lasting relationships over the years. Damian Zellous reveals accusations that Dre stole some of...
[DVD]. Innovative Distribution Network. Accessed April 27, 2008. Snoop Dogg said Dr. Dre was capable of making beats without the help of collaborators and addressed the issues with Warren G and Daz, stating "They made beats, Dre produced that record". He discussed the track "Ain't No Fun", mentioning that Daz and Warren G brought Dr. Dre the beat but "Dre took that muthafucka to the next level!" Bruce Williams, closely affiliated with Dr. Dre, discussed the recording process during Dre's time at Death Row Records, stating:
Williams said the album was never finished and because of the demand for the record, the distributors insisted the album be completed, otherwise they would cancel the album's orders. This resulted in Dr. Dre mixing the album and inserting the skits within 48 hours, which enabled the album to be released.
Rolling Stone writer Jonathan Gold described how Dr. Dre produced a beat from scratch to complete instrumental: "Dre may find something he likes from an old drum break, loop it and gradually replace each part with a better tom-tom sound, a kick-drum sound he adores, until the beat bears the same relationship to the original that the Incredible Hulk does to Bill Bixby". Gold also described how the track progressed with other musicians adding to the song, stating "A bass player wanders in, unpacks his instrument and pops a funky two-note bass line over the beat, then leaves to watch CNN, though his two notes keep looping into infinity. A smiling guy in a striped jersey plays a nasty one-fingered melody on an old Mini-Moog synthesizer that's been obsolete since 1982, and Dre scratches in a sort of surfadelic munching noise, and then from his well-stocked Akai MPC60 sample comes a shriek, a spare piano chord, an ejaculation from the first Beastie's record -- "Let me clear my throat" -- and the many-layered groove is happening, bumping, breathing, almost loud enough to see."
While recording
Doggystyle with Dr. Dre in August 1993, Snoop Dogg was arrested in connection with the death of Phillip Woldermarian, a member of a rival gang who was shot and killed in a gang fight. According to the charges, the rapper's bodyguard, McKinley Lee, shot Woldermarian as Snoop Dogg drove the vehicle; the rapper claimed it was self-defense, alleging the victim was stalking Snoop Dogg. He spent most of 1995 preparing the case which went to trial in late 1995. He was cleared of all charges in February 1996 when he began work on his second album,
Tha DoggfatherTha Doggfather is Snoop Doggy Dogg's follow up to his debut album Doggystyle, released by Death Row Records in 1996.Although the album debuted at number one in the week of November 12, 1996 with over 478,971 copies sold, it failed to match the commercial success of Doggystyle due to the lack of...
.
Title significance
The album's title alludes to the
Doggy styleDoggy style is a group of sex positions in which the receiving partner crouches on all fours, while the inserting partner penetrates the receiving partner's vagina or anus from behind. This name refers to the initial position assumed by dogs when mating Doggy style (also known as doggie position,...
sex position and is a reference to the musician's name. The artwork represents the themes covered in the album and the style of implementation of those ideas. Some critics believe the artwork portrays a woman merely as a hole to be filled by the man, which they believe adheres to the narcissistic and sexist lyrical themes Snoop Dogg covers. In this interpretation, the cover art and lyrics convey what they refer to as the self-indulgent "gangsta" lifestyle, drugs, cars, sex, and money. The artwork uses several quotes from the 1982
George ClintonGeorge Clinton is an American singer, songwriter and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and began his work as a solo artist in 1981. He has been called one of the most prominent...
single "
Atomic Dog"Atomic Dog" is a song by George Clinton from his 1982 album Computer Games. The track was released as a single in December of 1982 and became the P-Funk collective's last to reach #1 on the U.S. R&B Chart...
". The quotes come from the dogs at the top of the brick wall on the album cover, which say, "Why must I feel like dat?", "Why must I chase da cat?" and "Nuttin' but da dogg in me".
Production
Dre's handling of the production was praised by critics. Allmusic writer Stephen Erlewine stated: "Dre realized that it wasn't time to push the limits of G-funk, and instead decided to deepen it musically, creating easy-rolling productions that have more layers than they appear". He added that the beats were "laid-back funky, continuing to resonate after many listens".
Rolling StoneRolling Stone is a United States-based magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J. Gleason.The magazine was named after the 1948 Muddy Waters song of the same...
writer
TouréTouré is an American novelist, music journalist, cultural critic, and television personality based in New York City. He is a contributor to MSNBC's the Morning Meeting with Dylan Ratigan and the host of the Hip Hop Shop on Fuse TV....
noted "
The Chronics slow, heavy beats were a sonic representation of angry depression as accurate as
CobainKurt Donald Cobain was an American musician, best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Nirvana....
's feedback blasts;
Doggystyle is leaner, with its high-tempo
Isaac HayesIsaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American singer-songwriter, actor and musician. Hayes was one of the main creative forces behind southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served as both an in-house songwriter and producer with partner David Porter during the mid-1960s...
- and
Curtis MayfieldCurtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions and composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly. From these works and others, he is highly regarded as a pioneer of funk and of...
-derived tracks". He went on to say that "Most of Dre's hooks and nearly all his beats refuse to linger, as if the songs themselves are nervous, fearful of exposure, restless to get offscreen."
Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books and popular culture. Unlike celebrity-focused publications US Weekly, People, and In Touch Weekly, EWs primary concentration is on entertainment...
magazine's David Browne mentioned that "The mix of samples and live music on Dre's latest,
The Chronic, gave it texture and depth, and he continues his knob-turning growth on
Doggystyle, fluidly weaving together a gaggle of background singers and rappers, quirky samples, his trademark horror-flick keyboard lines". The Source magazine columinst wrote: "Dre's brand of G-funk may be common now, but it is still painstakingly well-produced".
Lyrics
Snoop Dogg's lyrics were generally praised by critics, although they caused some controversy. He was acclaimed for the realism in his rhymes and his harmonious flow. Allmusic's Stephen Erlewine commended Snoop Dogg, saying: "he's one of hip-hop's greatest vocal stylists with this record" and he "takes his time, playing with the flow of his words, giving his rhymes a nearly melodic eloquence. Snoop is something special, with unpredictable turns of phrase, evocative imagery, and a distinctive, addictive flow".
TimeTime is an American newsmagazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong. As of 2009, Time no longer publishes a Canadian advertiser edition...
magazine's Christopher John Farley noted "Snoop's rapping isn't flashy, but it is catchy" and stated "His relaxed vocal style is a perfect match for Dre's bass-heavy producing. Snoop's voice is lithe enough to snake its way around the big beats". The ideas put forward through the lyrics include Snoop Dogg's adolescent urges, as he freely talks of casual sex, smoking marijuana and gunning down rival gang members.
TimeTime is an American newsmagazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong. As of 2009, Time no longer publishes a Canadian advertiser edition...
magazine remarked that the notions "are often unnecessarily graphic; at some points they're downright obscene" and that "the album would have been stronger if such misgivings about the criminal life, as well as Snoop's touches of introspection, had been applied to some of the cruder songs". The album also covered gun play, drug dealing and pimping.
The New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded in 1851 and published in New York City. The largest metropolitan newspaper in the United States, "The Gray Lady"—named for its staid appearance and style—is regarded as a national newspaper of record...
said that the lyrical concepts were delivered in "crudest, rudest terms".
Some critics said Snoop Dogg was "obsessed with being a 'G', a gangster, a lawbreaker who smokes dope and kills with impunity" and that his lyrics depict the black-on-black crime in the inner-cities. The lyrics involve many derogatory terms against woman, with expressions such as "bitches" and "ho's" being used throughout, which illustrates the feeling of sexism and oppression within the African-American community. In certain tracks Snoop Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound casually speak of gang rape, illustrating the demeaning of women. Snoop Dogg's lyrics depict drugs, alcohol, sex, and money as methods of escape from oppression, but they also show an underside of the "gangsta" lifestyle and the results of following this lifestyle. The lyrics' violent representations, including murder and aggressive behaviour, have also generated controversy. C. DeLores Tucker of the National Political Congress of Black Women named gangsta rap "a profane and obscene glorification of murder and rape", which can be attributed to
Doggystyle.
Content
"Who Am I (What's My Name)?" was the first single released from the album on November 30, 1993. It peaked at number eight on the
Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday; while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts, and reached number one on the Hot Rap Singles. The RIAA certified it
GoldIn the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
on February 8, 1994. It reached number 20 on the
UK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record industry. The full chart contains the top 200 singles based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 of this list...
in 1994 and re-entered the chart in 2004, reaching number 100. "Gin and Juice" was the second single released on January 15, 1994. Like the previous single, it was a hit on multiple charts. It reached number eight on the
Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday; while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, number 13 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, number one on Hot Rap Singles, and number 39 on the UK Singles Chart. The RIAA certified it Platinum on April 6, 1994. The song was nominated at the
1995 Grammy AwardsThe 37th Grammy Awards were presented March 1, 1995. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.- Award winners :*Record of the Year**Bill Bottrell & Sheryl Crow for "All I Wanna Do"*Album of the Year...
for Best Rap Solo Performance, but lost to
Queen LatifahDana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, actress, singer, model, and CoverGirl...
's "
U.N.I.T.Y."U.N.I.T.Y" is a Grammy Award-winning song by rapper/actress Queen Latifah's 1993 album, Black Reign. The single, released on January 6, 1994, spoke out against the disrespect of women in society, both from without and within....
". "Doggy Dogg World" was released as a Europe-only single during June 1994. Even though the single was not officially released in the U.S., it received some radio airplay which resulted in position 19 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart. A music video was produced for the single, which gained American video TV-play and won the 1994
MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap VideoThe MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video was first given out in 1989, and it was one the four original genre categories added at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards. This award was last given out in 2006, as MTV did not bring it back in 2008 like it did with other genre awards...
. It reached number 32 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Lodi Dodi" and "Murder Was the Case" were not official singles, but they received radio airplay and charted in Rhythmic Top 40. An 18 minute music video was shot for the two songs, with an accompanying
Murder Was the CaseMurder Was the Case is a 1994 short film and soundtrack album starring Snoop Doggy Dogg. The 18 minute film was directed by Dr. Dre and Fab Five Freddy and chronicles the fictional death of Snoop Dogg and his resurrection after making a deal with the devil...
soundtrack. The video won the 1995 Video of the Year award at
The SourceThe Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988. The...
Hip-Hop Music Awards. "Gin and Juice" was nominated at the
1995 Grammy AwardsThe 37th Grammy Awards were presented March 1, 1995. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.- Award winners :*Record of the Year**Bill Bottrell & Sheryl Crow for "All I Wanna Do"*Album of the Year...
for Best Rap Solo Performance. A bonus track, "Gz Up, Hoes Down", was included in the album's first pressing, but not in later versions because of sample clearance issues. Snoop Dogg could not gain the rights to use the beats because the record company was not willing to pay license fees for using the samples. "Gz Up, Hoes Down" was later released on the Death Row compilation "
15 Years on Death Row15 Years on Death Row is a compilation album released in 2006 by CEO of Death Row Recordings, Suge Knight, it contains many of Death row artist such as Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Tha Dogg Pound, Nate Dogg and The Lady of Rage. It also contains a Music Video DVD.-Disc #1:#187 - Dr. Dre...
". "Tha Next Episode" was listed on the cover, but not included in any pressing. It is considered the original material used for the 2000 Dr. Dre single "
The Next Episode"The Next Episode" is a single by Dr. Dre released in 2000 from his album 2001, which was released in 1999. It features Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, & Kurupt. It was the third single from 2001 and peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. It sold 146,570 copies between 2001 and 2002 in the UK...
" but bears no resemblance to the later song. It was 4 minutes and 36 seconds (4:36) long. "Tha Next Episode" was later released on the Dr. Dre mixtape
Pretox under the name "Chronic Unreleased Studio Session", but only 1:10 long. "Doggystyle" featuring
George ClintonGeorge Clinton is an American singer, songwriter and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and began his work as a solo artist in 1981. He has been called one of the most prominent...
was a 5:26 long outtake from the album sessions. It is a singing melody with vocals dominating the song and it extensively samples "Oh I" by Funkadelic from their album "Electric Spanking of War Babies". The Brides of Funkenstein are featured on the chorus.
Commercial performance
The album has sold over five million copies in the United States and over seven million worldwide. It was certified four times
platinumIn the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
by the
Recording Industry Association of AmericaThe Recording Industry Association of America is a group which represents the recording industry distributors in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors, which the RIAA say "create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 85% of all legitimate sound recordings...
on May 31, 1994. It is Snoop Dogg's most successful album; his following albums were certified single- or double-platinum.
Doggystyle first appeared on music charts in 1993, peaking on the
Billboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling new music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and
Top R&B/Hip-Hop AlbumsTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
at number one. It re-peaked at number one on the
Billboard 200 in January 1994, when it was already certified three times platinum by the RIAA. The record was mildly successful in Europe, reaching number 18 in Sweden, number 24 in the Czech Republic and number 35 in Austria. It also peaked at number 25 on the
Recording Industry Association of New ZealandThe Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists in New Zealand. Membership of RIANZ is open to any record label operating in New Zealand.-Piracy:...
album chart. At the end of 1994, the album was number three on the
Billboard Year-End Top Albums Chart and number one on the
Billboard Year-End Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. It re-entered the charts in 2003, peaking on the Ireland Albums Top 75 at number 70.
Critical response
Doggystyle was generally praised by critics.
Rolling StoneRolling Stone is a United States-based magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J. Gleason.The magazine was named after the 1948 Muddy Waters song of the same...
writer
TouréTouré is an American novelist, music journalist, cultural critic, and television personality based in New York City. He is a contributor to MSNBC's the Morning Meeting with Dylan Ratigan and the host of the Hip Hop Shop on Fuse TV....
mentioned "
Doggystyle is filled with verbal and vocal feats that meet its high expectations. It speeds through 55 minutes of constant talk as if on a suicide hot line". David Browne of
Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books and popular culture. Unlike celebrity-focused publications US Weekly, People, and In Touch Weekly, EWs primary concentration is on entertainment...
noted "It is the most limber, low-rider gangsta album to date" and went on to say "
Doggystyle is a grim, bleak-faced record. It's set in a dead-end, no-tomorrow world of cheap thrills". Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic stated "
Doggystyle and
The ChronicThe Chronic is the debut solo studio album of hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre, released December 15, 1992 on his former own label, Death Row Records, and distributed by Priority Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in June 1992 at Death Row Studios in Los Angeles, California and...
stand proudly together as the twin pinnacles of
West Coast G-funk hip-hopWest Coast hip hop is a hip hop music subgenre that encompasses any artists or music which originates in the westernmost region of the United States...
of the early '90s"
Stylus magazine presented "The Chronic vs. Doggystyle" article, and stated a strong point of
Doggystyle compared to Dre's album was its follow-up singles and that "some of the album tracks are more famous than the singles".
Vibe magazine expressed that "Snoop is no ordinary gangsta; that's impossible for an artist this playful. On his debut, with Dre riding shotgun anthems abound as often as gin-soaked debauchery".
The SourceThe Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988. The...
magazine gave the album a 4/5 mic rating. It said Snoop Dogg emerged as a rapper who lived up to all the advance hype which came from his work on
The Chronic, and discussed songs on the record, stating "If 'Murder Was The Case' is a stroke of near genius, then 'Lodi Dodi' is an example of total genius."
NME magazine called the lead single "a pinnacle he conquered effortlessly" and went on to name the record a "benchmark album".
The album also received some negative criticism. Erlewine of Allmusic mentioned the album did not "surprise or offer anything that wasn't already on The Chronic". Christopher John Farley noted Snoop Dogg had little examination over his emotions and feelings. David Browne spoke of "Ain't No Fun", stating it was an example of how "musically artful, yet lyrically repellent, this album can be" and went on to say "It's easy to be impressed one moment and appalled the next". Renown rock critic
Robert ChristgauRobert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-professed "Dean of American Rock Critics". In print, he often abbreviates his name as Xgau....
gave the album a dud rating, which signifies "a bad record whose details rarely merit further thought. At the upper level it may merely be overrated, disappointing, or dull. Down below it may be contemptible." Despite the initial mixed criticism, critical perception of the album later improved, as
Doggystyle has earned several accolades and rankings on critics' "best album" lists. The Source magazine later gave the album a classic five-mic rating.
Hip hop music
Doggystyle is seen by many hip hop pundits as a "classic" and an "essential" album. It is credited with defining
West Coast hip hopWest Coast hip hop is a hip hop music subgenre that encompasses any artists or music which originates in the westernmost region of the United States...
; shifting the emphasis to more melodious, synth-driven, and funk-induced beats. About.com stated during the period the album was released, "Gangsta rap never sounded so sweet." The album is credited for further establishment of the slurred "lazy drawl" that sacrificed lyrical complexity for clarity and
rhythmRhythm is the variation of the length and accentuation of a series of sounds or other events.-Rhythm in linguistics:...
ic
cadenceIn Western musical theory, a harmonic cadence is a progression of two chords that concludes a phrase, section, or piece of music. A rhythmic cadence is a characteristic rhythmic pattern indicating the end of a phrase...
on
Doggystyle and
The Chronic. The album is considered as one of the first G-funk albums which many rappers duplicated in later years.
Hip-hop culture
It has been suggested by some writers and publications that
Doggystyle has considerably affected African-American culture. Some publications have held the rap genre responsible for social problems such as sexual violence and sexism, which has been blamed on Snoop Dogg and other rappers for calling their controversial lyrics "keeping it real". The problems of sexual violence and sexism are attributed to lyrics degrading women such as "bitches" and "ho's", which some believe have influenced black males. Snoop Dogg and other hip hop artists, including N.W.A, especially Eazy E,
Dr. DreAndre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, and actor...
and
Ice CubeO'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper, actor, screenwriter, and producer.He began his career as a member of the rap group N.W.A along with group leader Eazy-E, and later launched a successful solo career in music and cinema. In 1992, he married Kimberly...
(due to their success) and
Tupac ShakurTupac Amaru Shakur , also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. He has sold 75 million albums to date and is one of the best-selling music artists in the world. In addition to his status as a top-selling recording artist, Shakur was a promising actor and a social...
, have been held accountable for developing the gangsta rap form; a genre which articulated the rage of the urban underclass and its sense of intense oppression and defiant rebellion, which has been attained through the ability to communicate free of censorship, and has allowed hip hop culture to become a dominant style and ethos throughout the world.
Mariah CareyMariah Carey is an American R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut in 1990 under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, and became the first recording artist to have her first five singles top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart...
sampled the song "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)" in her 1999 album
RainbowRainbow is the ninth album and seventh studio album by American pop/R&B singer Mariah Carey, released in the United States on November 2, 1999 by Columbia Records. Rainbow has been certified 3x platinum by the RIAA...
for the remix of
Heartbreaker"Heartbreaker" is a song recorded by American singer Mariah Carey for her ninth studio album, Rainbow . Written by Carey, the track features a guest appearance from American rapper Jay-Z. The singer wrote the song, initially planning for it to be featured in a movie project...
where it featured
Missy ElliottMissy "Misdemeanor" Elliott is an American recording artist, producer and actress. With record sales of over seven million in the United States, she is the only female rapper to have six albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one double platinum Under Construction.Elliott is known for a...
and
Da BratShawntae Harris , better known by her stage name Da Brat is an American rapper and actress. Her debut album, Funkdafied, sold one million copies making her the first female rapper to have a platinum-selling album....
.
The writers of
Enculturation, Steven Best and Douglas Kellner, have noted that Snoop Dogg and other rappers only condemn violence when it is directed against them, otherwise "they celebrate it, internalize it, and embrace it as an ethos and means of self expression", which some believe has an effect on the black-on-black crime. The release of music videos from
Doggystyle and
The Chronic has enabled the artists to add visual illustrations to their lyrics, which generally involve Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg driving around South Central, Los Angeles in a
lowrider]A lowrider is a car or truck which has had its suspension system modified so that it rides as low as possible. Lowriders often have user controlled height adjustable suspension...
(a vehicle with lowered suspension). This imagery of the "gangsta lifestyle" is thought to have influenced young black males into trying to live the same lifestyle and it is also noted by T. Denean, writer of
Pimps Up, Ho's Down: Hip Hop's Hold on Young Black Women, that the videos highlight the representation of class, race and Black masculinity within contemporary urban America.
Subsequent work by Snoop Dogg
Doggystyle is generally considered Snoop Dogg's best record, in addition to being his highest charting and best-selling album. It differs from following albums as his later work featured production from multiple individuals, such as
The NeptunesThe Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for some successful Hip hop, R&B and Pop artists in the late-90s and 2000s....
,
TimbalandTimothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American Grammy Award-winning record producer, singer and rapper. Timbaland has produced albums and singles for a number of artists from the mid-1990s to the present day..Timbaland's first full credit production work was in...
and
Daz DillingerDelmar Drew Arnaud , better known by his stage name Daz Dillinger is an American hip hop producer and rapper mostly known for his membership in the rap duo Tha Dogg Pound, with Kurupt, and his work with Death Row Records...
, with reduced input from Dr. Dre, which shows a shift from G-funk production. Snoop Dogg's follow-up album,
Tha Doggfather (1996), did not involve Dr. Dre, as he left Death Row Records. As a result, Dillinger was the main beat-maker for the album.
Tha Doggfather followed the methods of a G-funk record and initially sold well, but received mixed reviews and failed to produce a major hit single. In 1998, Snoop Dogg left Death Row and joined
No Limit RecordsNo Limit Records was a record label that began in 1990 as the No Limit Record Shop in Richmond, California. It was founded by Master P, and was active from 1994 to 2003.-Early years:...
, changing his stage name from Snoop Doggy Dogg to Snoop Dogg. During his tenure at the label, he continued several of the themes from
Doggystyle with follow-ups to earlier songs, such as "Gin & Juice II" (1998) and "
Snoop Dogg (What's My Name II)"Snoop Dogg " is the follow up for one of the first singles released by rapper Snoop Dogg, Who Am I ?. It was also the only CD single released in his fifth album, Tha Last Meal. The music video is directed by Chris Robinson. It is produced by Timbaland and the music video nominated for the "Music...
" (2000).
Subsequent studio albums such as
Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss (2002) and
R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece (2004) exhibited a more mainstream, pop-oriented theme with new sounds, but remained "hardcore throughout" and featured "plenty of street and commercial appeal". These releases included three hit singles, "
Beautiful"Beautiful" is a 2003 single by Snoop Dogg, from his album Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$. The song features Pharrell and Charlie Wilson and was produced by The Neptunes. The music video was filmed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The single peaked at #6 on the U.S...
", "
Drop It Like It's Hot"Drop It Like It's Hot" is a 2004 rap also a song written by a band called Carpathian on the album "nothing to lose". number-one hit single by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell. Snoop performs the chorus and the second and third verses . Pharrell performs the first verse which includes a line from his...
" and "Signs". Snoop Dogg was credited for returning to his G-funk roots in 2006, which was established with his eighth studio album,
Tha Blue Carpet TreatmentTha Blue Carpet Treatment is the eighth solo album released by rapper Snoop Dogg. It was released on November 21, 2006 on Geffen Records.-Album information:...
(2006). The album was noted for being a "hard and very G-Funk record".
Track listing
- "Gz Up, Hoes Down" was omitted after initial pressings due to sample clearance issues.
- The CD/vinyl tracklisting does not list any of the albums interludes.
| # |
Title |
Producer(s) |
Featured guest(s) |
Notes |
| 1 |
"Bathtub (Skit)" |
Dr. Dre Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, and actor...
|
Warren G |
|
| 2 |
"G Funk Intro" |
Dr. Dre |
The Lady of Rage, Dr. Dre, George ClintonGeorge Clinton is an American singer, songwriter and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and began his work as a solo artist in 1981. He has been called one of the most prominent...
|
|
| 3 |
"Gin and Juice "Gin and Juice" is the second single by rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg from his debut album Doggystyle. The song pays homage to Seagrams and Tanqueray gin. A top 10 hit single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, peaking at number eight, "Gin and Juice" was nominated for the 1995 Grammy Award...
" |
Dr. Dre |
Daz Dillinger Delmar Drew Arnaud , better known by his stage name Daz Dillinger is an American hip hop producer and rapper mostly known for his membership in the rap duo Tha Dogg Pound, with Kurupt, and his work with Death Row Records...
|
|
| 4 |
"WBallz (Interlude)" |
Dr. Dre |
Queen of Funk, Ricky Harris |
|
| 5 |
"Tha Shiznit" |
Dr. Dre |
|
|
| 6 |
"Domino Intro (Interlude)" |
Dr. Dre |
Daz Dillinger, Dr. Dre |
|
| 7 |
"Lodi Dodi" |
Dr. Dre |
Nancy Fletcher |
|
| 8 |
"Murder Was the Case (DeathAfterVisualizingEternity)" |
Dr. Dre |
Daz Dillinger |
|
| 9 |
"Serial Killa" |
Dr. Dre, Daz Dillinger |
Tha Dogg Pound Tha Dogg Pound, also known as D.P.G. , is a rap duo made up of Daz Dillinger and Kurupt. They were signed to Death Row Records in their early careers and were key to the label's success. The group made their 1992 rap debut on Dr. Dre's The Chronic, on various songs...
, RBXEric Dwayne Collins, better known by his stage name RBX, is a rapper and R&B singer from Long Beach, California. Although many think Collins is the son of funk legend Bootsy Collins, actually he's not; but they are close friends...
, The D.O.C.Tracy Lynn Curry, known as The D.O.C., is an American rapper from Dallas, Texas. He was a member of the Fila Fresh Crew and a creative force behind the rap group N.W.A.-Early career:...
|
|
| 10 |
"Who Am I (What's My Name)? "What's My Name?", also known as "Who Am I? , is the solo debut single from rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg's debut album Doggystyle. The song was a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #8.-Background:The song, produced by Dr...
" |
Dr. Dre |
Dr. Dre (very briefly), Jewell Jewell is a female R&B singer who was signed to Death Row Records from 1992-1996. She was working part-time - though still unsigned - for IV Life Records. She had a video and charting hit "Woman to Woman", that reached 72nd on the Billboard Hot 100...
|
|
| 11 |
"For All My Niggaz & Bitches" |
Dr. Dre, Daz Dillinger |
Tha Dogg Pound, The Lady of Rage, Lil 1/2 Dead |
|
| 12 |
"Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)" |
Dr. Dre |
Warren G Warren Griffin III better known by his stage name Warren G, is an American West Coast rapper and hip hop producer. He is Dr. Dre's step brother. His biggest hit to date was the single "Regulate" with Nate Dogg released in 1994...
, Nate DoggNathaniel Dwayne Hale , better known by his stage name Nate Dogg, is an American R&B/hip hop artist and singer born in Long Beach, California...
, KuruptRicardo Emmanuel Brown , better known as Kurupt, is an American rapper and former Executive Vice President of Death Row Records...
|
|
| 13 |
"Chronic Relief Intro (Interlude)" |
Dr. Dre |
|
|
| 14 |
"Doggy Dogg World "Doggy Dogg World" is the third single from Snoop Doggy Dogg's debut album Doggystyle. It is the first European-only release with an American video TV-play. It features '70s funk band The Dramatics, with cameo rapping from Kurupt and Daz Dillinger members of Tha Dogg Pound, and chorus singing by...
" |
Dr. Dre |
Tha Dogg Pound, The Dramatics The Dramatics are an American soul music vocal group, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1962. They are best known for their 1972 million selling hit song, "In the Rain".-Career:...
|
|
| 15 |
"Class Room Intro (Interlude)" |
Dr. Dre |
|
|
| 16 |
"Gz and Hustlas" |
Dr. Dre |
Nancy Fletcher |
|
| 17 |
"Checkin' (Interlude)" |
Dr. Dre |
Sam Sneed Sam Sneed is a producer and rapper. He originally got his start working as a producer for K-Solo and the Hit Squad.-Death Row Records:...
|
|
| 18 |
"Gz Up, Hoes Down" |
Dr. Dre |
Hug |
Only available on initial pressings |
| 19 |
"Pump Pump" |
Dr. Dre |
Mr. Malik Malik Edwards, also known as Mr. Malik, is an American rapper best known as one-half of the adolescent rap group, Illegal with Jamal Phillips. As a member of Illegal, Malik released an album entitled The Untold Truth through Rowdy Records. After the group disbanded in 1995, Malik released a single...
, Lil 1/2 Dead |
|
Samples used
- "Bathtub"
- Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions and composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly. From these works and others, he is highly regarded as a pioneer of funk and of...
- "Give Me Your Love (Love Song)"
- "G Funk Intro"
- Funkadelic
Funkadelic was an African American music band most prominent during the 1970s. It and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
- "(Not Just) Knee Deep" Knee Deep" is a funk song running 15 minutes, 21 seconds on side 1 of Funkadelic's 1979 album Uncle Jam Wants You.-Album information:...
"
- George Clinton
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and began his work as a solo artist in 1981. He has been called one of the most prominent...
- "Atomic Dog"
- "Gin And Juice"
- George McCrae
George McCrae is a soul and disco singer, most famous for his 1974 hit "Rock Your Baby", released on the independent, TK Records label, based in Hialeah, Florida, in May of 1974.-Career:...
- "I Get Lifted"
- Slave
Slave was an Ohio funk band popular in the 1970s and early 1980s. Trumpeter Steve Washington and Mark Hicks formed the group in Dayton, Ohio in 1975.-Career:Trombonist Floyd Miller teamed with Tom Lockett Jr...
- "Watchin' You" (interpolationIn the mathematical subfield of numerical analysis, interpolation is a method of constructing new data points within the range of a discrete set of known data points....
)
- "Tha Shiznit"
- Parliament
Parliament was an African American music band most prominent during the 1970s. It and its sister act Funkadelic, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
- "Flashlight" (interpolation)
- "Lodi Dodi"
- "La Di Da Di"by Slick Rick
Ricky Walters , better known by stage names Slick Rick, MC Ricky D and Rick the Ruler, is a Grammy-nominated British-American rapper.-Career:...
& Doug E. FreshDouglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box...
(interpolation)
- Kyu Sakamoto
was a Japanese singer and actor.He is ranked at number 18 in a list of Japan's top 100 influential musicians by HMV Japan.-Biography:...
- "SukiyakiSukiyaki is a Japanese dish in the nabemono style.It consists of meat , or a vegetarian version made only with firm tofu, slowly cooked or simmered at the table, alongside vegetables and other ingredients, in a shallow iron pot in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, and mirin...
"
- Rose Royce
Rose Royce is a Grammy-nominated American soul band. The Los Angeles-based group composed of Henry Garner , Terral "Terry" Santiel , Lequeint "Duke" Jobe , Michael Moore , Rose Norwalt , Kenny Copeland , Kenji Brown , Freddie Dunn , and Michael Nash — was...
- "Ooh Boy"
- "Murder Was The Case (DeathAfterVisualizingEternity)"
- "Indo Smoke" (Intro) by Mista Grimm
Mista Grimm is a rapper who was signed to Epic Records in the 1990s . His debut album Things Are Looking Grimm was released in 1995. In 1993 his single "Indo Smoke" which appeared on the soundtrack to the Janet Jackson film Poetic Justice peaked in the top ten of the Billboard single sales chart,...
- "Funky President" by James Brown
James Joseph Brown , originally James Joseph Brown, Jr., also known as "The Godfather of Soul", was an American entertainer. He is recognized as one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music and was renowned for his vocals and feverish dancing...
- "Serial Killa"
- Ohio Players
The Ohio Players are a funk and R&B band. They are best known for their hit songs "Fire" and "Love Rollercoaster".-Biography:The band formed in Dayton, Ohio in 1959 as the Ohio Untouchables, and initially included members Robert Ward , Marshall "Rock" Jones , Clarence "Satch" Satchell , Cornelius...
- "Funky Worm"
- "Who Am I? (What's My Name?)"
- Parliament - "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)
"Give Up the Funk " is a funk song by Parliament. It was released as a single under the name "Tear the Roof off the Sucker ". It was the second single to be released from Parliament's 1976 album Mothership Connection "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)" is a funk song by Parliament. It...
", "P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)"
- Funkadelic - "(Not Just) Knee Deep
" Knee Deep" is a funk song running 15 minutes, 21 seconds on side 1 of Funkadelic's 1979 album Uncle Jam Wants You.-Album information:...
"
- George Clinton
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and began his work as a solo artist in 1981. He has been called one of the most prominent...
- "Atomic Dog"Atomic Dog" is a song by George Clinton from his 1982 album Computer Games. The track was released as a single in December of 1982 and became the P-Funk collective's last to reach #1 on the U.S. R&B Chart...
" (interpolation)
- Tom Browne
For the former BBC Radio 1 chart presenter, see Tom Browne .Tom Browne is a jazz trumpeter who rose to prominence first through his early work with Sonny Fortune, and for his 1980 single "Funkin' For Jamaica".Browne originally played piano, having taken lessons from the age of 11...
- "Funkin' 4 Jamaica"
- The Counts
The Counts is a R&B doo-wop band that started in 1953 and is still performing today. Band members include lead singer Chester Brown, James Lee, Robert Penick, Robert Wesley, and Robert Young. The Counts are also known as The Original Counts for the fact they have not replaced any members in their...
- "Pack of Lies"
- "For All My Niggas & Bitches"
- Funk Inc. - "Kool Is Back"
- "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)"
- Lyn Collins
Lyn Collins was an African American soul singer best known for working with James Brown in the 1970s. Contrary to some reports, she is not related to Bootsy Collins, nor Catfish Collins....
- "Think (About It)"Think " is a funk song recorded by Lyn Collins and released as a single on James Brown's People Records in 1972. The recording was produced by Brown and featured instrumental backing from his band The J.B.'s...
"
- Isaac Hayes
Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American singer-songwriter, actor and musician. Hayes was one of the main creative forces behind southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served as both an in-house songwriter and producer with partner David Porter during the mid-1960s...
- "A Few More Kisses To Go"
- "Doggy Dogg World"
- Richard Field
Richard Field was an English ecclesiological theologian associated with the work of Richard Hooker. Field's major work, Of the Church , was an affirmation of the Church of England against the Roman Catholic Church...
- "If it Ain't One Thing, It's Another" (interpolation)
- "Gz and Hustlas"
- Bernard Wright
Bernard Wright is an American funk and jazz keyboardist born in Miami, Florida.Wright was offered a slot touring with Lenny White when he was 13, and he played with Tom Browne at age 16. GRP Records signed him in 1981 and released his debut LP, Nard, tracks from which have been prominently sampled...
- "Haboglabotribin"
- "Gz Up, Hoes Down"
- Isaac Hayes
Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American singer-songwriter, actor and musician. Hayes was one of the main creative forces behind southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served as both an in-house songwriter and producer with partner David Porter during the mid-1960s...
- "The Look of Love"
Chart history
| Charts |
Peak
position |
| Austrian album chart |
35 |
| Czech Album Chart |
24 |
| Ireland Albums Top 75 |
70 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart |
25 |
| Swedish Album Chart |
18 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 |
1 |
Accolades
The information regarding accolades attributed to
Doggystyle is adapted from AcclaimedMusic.net.
| Publication |
Country |
Accolade |
Year |
Rank |
About.comAbout.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
|
United States |
10 Essential Hip-Hop Albums |
2006 |
10 |
| Blender Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
|
U.S. |
500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die |
2003 |
* |
| Ego Trip |
U.S. |
Hip Hop's 25 Greatest Albums by Year 1980-98 |
1999 |
3 |
| Pause & Play |
U.S. |
Albums Inducted into a Time Capsule, One Album per Week |
- |
* |
| Pause & Play |
U.S. |
The 90s Top 100 Essential Albums |
1999 |
11 |
| Rolling Stone |
U.S. |
The Essential Recordings of the 90s |
1999 |
* |
| Rolling Stone (Chris Rock Christopher Julius "Chris" Rock III is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director. He was voted by Comedy Central as the fifth greatest stand-up comedian of all time....
) |
U.S. |
Top 25 Hip Hop Albums Ever |
2005 |
2 |
| Stylus Stylus is a print magazine devoted to fine writing instruments . It is published on a bi-monthly calendar and includes reviews of new pens and accessories, as well as articles about vintage pens, collecting, inks and paper...
|
U.S. |
Top 200 Albums of All time |
2004 |
115 |
| The Source |
U.S. |
The 100 Best Rap Albums |
1998 |
* |
| The New Nation |
United Kingdom |
Top 100 Albums by Black Artists |
- |
30 |
| Robert Dimery |
- |
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die is a musical reference book edited by Robert Dimery, released in 2006.It consists of a list of albums released between 1955 and 2005, part of a series from Quintessence Editions Ltd. The book is arranged chronologically, starting with Frank Sinatra's In the...
|
2005 |
* |
(*) designates lists that are unordered.
Personnel
- Snoop Dogg – vocals
- Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, and actor...
– producer, vocals
- Daz Dillinger
Delmar Drew Arnaud , better known by his stage name Daz Dillinger is an American hip hop producer and rapper mostly known for his membership in the rap duo Tha Dogg Pound, with Kurupt, and his work with Death Row Records...
– producer, vocals, performer
- Ulrich Wild
Ulrich Wild is an American record producer, engineer and mixer specializing in the rock and metal genres. Born and raised in Switzerland, Ulrich is now a naturalized citizen living in Los Angeles...
– engineer
- Tha Dogg Pound
Tha Dogg Pound, also known as D.P.G. , is a rap duo made up of Daz Dillinger and Kurupt. They were signed to Death Row Records in their early careers and were key to the label's success. The group made their 1992 rap debut on Dr. Dre's The Chronic, on various songs...
– performer
- Warren G
Warren Griffin III better known by his stage name Warren G, is an American West Coast rapper and hip hop producer. He is Dr. Dre's step brother. His biggest hit to date was the single "Regulate" with Nate Dogg released in 1994...
– performer
- The D.O.C.
Tracy Lynn Curry, known as The D.O.C., is an American rapper from Dallas, Texas. He was a member of the Fila Fresh Crew and a creative force behind the rap group N.W.A.-Early career:...
– performer
- The Lady of Rage – performer
- RBX
Eric Dwayne Collins, better known by his stage name RBX, is a rapper and R&B singer from Long Beach, California. Although many think Collins is the son of funk legend Bootsy Collins, actually he's not; but they are close friends...
– performer
- Kurupt
Ricardo Emmanuel Brown , better known as Kurupt, is an American rapper and former Executive Vice President of Death Row Records...
– performer
- Nate Dogg
Nathaniel Dwayne Hale , better known by his stage name Nate Dogg, is an American R&B/hip hop artist and singer born in Long Beach, California...
– performer
- The Dramatics
The Dramatics are an American soul music vocal group, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1962. They are best known for their 1972 million selling hit song, "In the Rain".-Career:...
– performer
- Emanuel "Porkchop" Dean – producer
- Chris "The Glove" Taylor – songwriter, producer, mixing
- Suge Knight
Marion Hugh Knight, Jr. , better known as Suge Knight, is the co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records. The record label rose to dominate the charts after Dr. Dre's breakthrough album The Chronic in 1992. After several years of chart successes for artists including Tupac Shakur, Dr...
– executive producer
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Chi Modu – photography
- Nanci Fletcher – vocals, vocals (background)
- Dan Winters – photography
- Kimberly Holt – artwork
- Kimberly Brown – project coordinator
- Joe Cool – cover artwork