Thursday, March 27, 2008
He may have bragging rights with a successful television show, porno (Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle) and at least a dozen hit records, but rapper Snoop Dogg’s ninth album, Ego Trippin’, might actually bruise his ego.
The Doggfather gets a lot of props for the innovation and risk-taking he took with this album. The first single, “Sexual Eruption,” has become a smash hit and features the rapper actually singing. Surprisingly, Snoop pulls it off, and it is showcased throughout the album. Snoop doesn’t forget what made him famous in the first place, though, as he brings his signature gangster flow back on songs like “Whateva You Do” and “Sets Up.”
What’s missing here are solid production and guest appearances. The majority of the album is produced by QDT Muzik, a production team consisting of DJ Quik, Snoop Dogg and Teddy Riley. As a result, the bulk of the album sounds the same. Previous producers Dr. Dre and The Neptunes don’t have much involvement—Dre is nowhere to be found and The Neptunes produce only one track this time around.
Guest appearances from artists like Too Short, Mistah F.A.B, Pharrell and Everlast just don’t stack up against previous collaborators such as Akon, The Game and R. Kelly.
Any Snoop fan will find this to be an average album, though it’s definitely not a classic like his debut album, Doggystyle. I for one appreciate Snoop’s willingness to expand his horizons with his music, but I’d prefer that he write his own lyrics next time, as he uses a lot of guest writers on Ego Trippin’.
Three out of five stars
Mixin' beats
With N.E.R.D.
Morning Brew: The Iditarod tests racers endurance ...
Every year, teams race across Alaska through subzero tempertaures and treacherous terrains ...
Music review: Doom
KJHK’s weekly guide to sonic consumption.
Q&A: Cisco Adler
Because we have questions. Celebrities have answers.
The Game
Music review: Roots Manuva Meets Wrongtom
KJHK's guide to sonic consumption.
Rap music sales decline
The hip-hop and rap industries are losing fans and sales. Sales dropped ...
Music review: Kid Cudi
KJHK’s weekly guide to sonic consumption.
Facebook competition could bring Snoop Dogg to ...
EA SPORTS is sponsoring a competition to bring Snoop Dogg to a ...
Coldham: Lil Wayne takes wrong turn with ...
The rapper should stick to what made him famous in the first ...
Question & Answer
with William Elliott Whitmore
Music Review: 'Eskimo Snow' By Why?
KJHK's guide to sonic consumption.
Rhyming in the far east
On a study abroad trip to Japan, KU student Travis Tewes took ...
Coldham: Best rappers achieve longevity
Consistent respect is an accomplishment attempted by many, fulfilled by very few ...
Music guy
Your guide to music utopia
Montemayor: Summer album releases that shouldn't be ...
Your guide to summer tunes.
Local band gets big-time attention
Musicians question effectiveness of national publicity in enticing fans.
Coldham: Lost art of album making
Coldham discusses the fall of the album and rise of the mixtape.
Hip-hop duo to release second album
The local hip-hop group Crux, which formed in 2005, draws many of ...
Music guy
Your guide to music utopia
Spotlight: Pat Green
At 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 9, Pat Green will take the ...
Review: Mos Def album
‘The Ecstatic’ offers ‘patchwork of infectious beats and rhymes.’
Stage presence: Stik Figa
Rapper's musical style stays true to his Southern roots
Slugger in the spotlight
Junior third baseman Tony Thompson leads by example.
Music Reviews
Reliving the music dream
Mark Gottschall, journalism resource center supervisor, recorded an album in Spain 35 ...
Morning Brew: Lil’ Wayne waxes poetic on ...
The rapper has his own ESPN.com blog, where he shows off his ...
Music review: 'Style Like Mind' — Steddy ...
KJHK's weekly guide to sonic consumption.
MUSIC: Ray LaMontagne, Gossip in the Grain
Music review
Fuck Buttons, "Tarot Sport" (ATP)
Music: 'Watch my fall' by Jay Reatard
KJHK music staff’s guide to tasty sonic consumption.
Brew: Post-Punxsutawney Phil Wish List
If the groundhog forecasts weather, can the brew forecast sports?
Album Review: "Bon Iver, Bon Iver"
A guide for music consumption.
Stage presence: Stik Figa
Local musicians, feel free to swoon.
G. Loves spreads the love
G. Love talks about his Lawrence and his musical influences.
Preparing for the hip-hop season
Ramping up the season of rap and hip hop.
Q&A with Asher Roth
The rapper tells The Kansan about celebrity gossip and his new album.
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID