Missionary

Snoop DoggがDr.Dreと共作したフルアルバム『MISSIONARY』をリリースすることを発表。
ラップとポップ・カルチャーに多大な影響力を持つ二人の巨匠が、『DOGGYSTYLE』以来2度目のフルアルバムを完成させた。
Jhene Aikoを初め、Eminem、50 Cent、Jelly Roll、Sting、Method Man、Tom Pettyなど様々なスターたちの参加が発表されている。

In an interview leading up to the release of his 20th studio album, Missionary, West Coast rap legend Snoop Dogg alluded to the record being a sort of unofficial continuation of his 1993 solo debut, Doggystyle, with even the title being a self-referential nod to that concept. Theres something to this idea, as Missionary brings Dr. Dres high-impact production back to the forefront, and several of the tracks stick to the G-funk formula that made Doggystyle, The Chronic, and anything else Dre touched in the early 90s all-time hip-hop classics. Its there in the brief intro track "Fore Play," which flips the Stylistics eerie 1971 minor-key hit "People Make the World Go Round" into a bumping, celebratory opener, and there are also some echoes of the raw excitement of Snoops earliest days on the slow-burning "Gunz n Smoke," with group energy provided by features from 50 Cent and Eminem. Tracks like "Hard Knocks" and "Outta Da Blue" are bass-heavy party starters, and the time-tested pop approach of reworking a rock song in new raps clothing shows up in the Sting-assisted "Another Part of Me" (a tune that loops the riff from the Polices "Message in a Bottle" for an anthem designed to move stadium crowds) and "Last Dance with Mary Jane," a song using elements from the Tom Petty song "Mary Janes Last Dance" in a fawning love letter to Snoops most enduring muse -- weed. Other notable guest stars fill the ranks throughout Missionary, with Method Man, Jhene Aiko, Alus, and more all making appearances. ~ Fred Thomas

In an interview leading up to the release of his 20th studio album, Missionary, West Coast rap legend Snoop Dogg alluded to the record being a sort of unofficial continuation of his 1993 solo debut, Doggystyle, with even the title being a self-referential nod to that concept. Theres something to this idea, as Missionary brings Dr. Dres high-impact production back to the forefront, and several of the tracks stick to the G-funk formula that made Doggystyle, The Chronic, and anything else Dre touched in the early 90s all-time hip-hop classics. Its there in the brief intro track "Fore Play," which flips the Stylistics eerie 1971 minor-key hit "People Make the World Go Round" into a bumping, celebratory opener, and there are also some echoes of the raw excitement of Snoops earliest days on the slow-burning "Gunz n Smoke," with group energy provided by features from 50 Cent and Eminem. Tracks like "Hard Knocks" and "Outta Da Blue" are bass-heavy party starters, and the time-tested pop approach of reworking a rock song in new raps clothing shows up with mixed results; the Sting-assisted "Another Part of Me" loops the riff from the Polices "Message in a Bottle" for an anthem designed to move stadium crowds, and "Last Dance with Mary Jane" uses elements from the Tom Petty song "Mary Janes Last Dance" in a fawning love letter to Snoops most enduring muse -- weed. The song is merely corny before Jelly Roll comes in with an oversung, overly affected, and fully unnecessary vocal performance. Other notable guest stars fill the ranks throughout Missionary, with Method Man, Jhene Aiko, Alus, and more all making appearances. While it doesnt really come close to capturing the lightning-in-a-bottle power of Doggystyle, theres enough of that original spirit mixed with a modernized production sound to make Missionary one of Snoops more enjoyable full-album listening experiences in several years. ~ Fred Thomas