Tha Doggfather

One of the world's most popular artists, Snoop Dogg transcended mere "rapper" status and evolved into an accomplished actor, entrepreneur, and all-around entertainer. After his star-making turn on The Chronic and the explosive success of Doggystyle (not to mention beating a murder charge), Snoop seemed absolutely untouchable. But behind the scenes, trouble lurked. When Tha Doggfather was released, Death Row was already crumbling; Dr. Dre had left the label over money disputes, Suge Knight was indicted for racketeering, and Tupac had just been shot to death in Las Vegas. Both in terms of lyrics and production, this album is not as good Snoop's earlier work, as often happens with artists who drop universally praised debuts. That being said, it's still pretty dope, albeit with slightly less memorable beats, this time from West Coast vets Daz Dillinger and DJ Pooh. "Groupie" recalls the DPG vibe of "Ain't No Fun (If The Homies Can't Have None)," "Vapors" is a Cali-fied take of Biz Markie's classic jam, and the Wild West-themed "Gold Rush" is a forgotten gem. The years have been kind to it; in retrospect Tha Doggfather deserves more applause.