Snoop Dogg's new album Missionary: “Adolescent quirkiness” | NDR.de – Culture – Music

by Goetz Steeger

Bam – we’re back! This is how the tush comes at the beginning of the album Missionary and while Snoop Dogg then comes down the grand gala staircase to the relaxed beat, he is announced by R&B singer BJ The Chicago Kid.

What follows is what was to be expected: Official West Coast Flow with sublime Dr. Dre beats and sounds. More than 30 years ago, “Doggystyle,” the last joint album by the two legends of West Coast hip-hop, was released. The first single from Missionary – “Gorgeous” with its catchy piano figure – sounds like a crime series from the 70s.

For each track, guests were invited into the studio, such as singer Jhené Aiko. The distribution of roles is as usual: woman sings, man raps about himself and how irresistible he is.

Dr. Dre can't stop rapping

In advance, Dr. Dre claims that he would leave all the rapping to Snoop Dog and concentrate entirely on his role as a beatmaker and producer. Apparently he couldn't quite let it go, as can be heard on “Outta Da Blue”.

A lot of it sounds nostalgic like 90s old school, the know-how with which the heavy beat is enriched with atmosphere – including bells – is still impressive.

Rap flow reaches new levels of maturity

“The album will show a new level of maturity,” announced Dr. Dre on. As far as the rap flow and the beats are concerned, that may be true, but naming the new album after a sex position and then the stylish condom on the cover comes across more like well-known youthful quirkiness.

Sting can be heard here as a guitarist and bassist and not as a singer. The old Police hit “Message In A Bottle” is the basis for “Another Part Of Me”. Will the song be as successful as “I'll Be Missing You”, Puff Daddy's mega hit in the 90s? It's also based on a Police song, namely “Every Breath You Take”? It cannot be ruled out!

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