CD Review
Artist: Snoop Dogg
Title: Ego Trippin'
Label: Geffen Records/Doggy Style Records
Released: March 11^th 2008

Parental Advisory 

3 Stars  

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey

I must admit to being amused by guys like Snoop Dogg. He reminds me of the kid on the school playground saying "My Dad's bigger then your Dad." Only now Dogg says his house, car, success, fame and hoe's are all bigger then yours. From playground to world stage, Snoop Dogg is a showman. 

The format for Ego Trippin' Snoop Dogg's ninth album is much the same of past impressions. If you thought Dogg was a chauvinist pig before, chances are this album won't change your mind, and if you thought he was the coolest rapper ever before, chances are you will feel the same after hearing this album. You either love or hate Snoop Dogg (a small percentage, like myself, find him amusing). What is appealing about Snoop Dogg's sound is that he has great music, the words are too ridiculous, but the actual hooks, loops, beats and tunes are memorable and quality. If ‘Cool' isn't a homage to Prince, it should be, as the song is reminiscent of that great beat and synthesizer sound of Prince circa late 80s. ‘Cool' was by far a great track and perhaps a smart direction for Snoop Dogg to go in for future projects. Even ‘Deez Hollywood Nights' is a great block party style song, sampled from ‘Hollywood Nights' by Brooklyn Dreams.

Songs like ‘SD Is Out' and ‘Sexual Eruption' are perhaps the songs I was the most amused at. Hasn't anyone bothered to tell Dogg that if you have to talk so much about your sexual prowess, you are probably wasting time talking big when you could be perfecting the art form you are convinced you are so good at? It's like the person who tells people they are funny, if you have to tell people you are funny, chances are you probably aren't. The talk is cheap and fun to listen to in any case. Perhaps by the ninth album though, that conversation is a little old. Besides, women like to be asked out, wined and dined, romantically enticed and then she will be romantic back in equal measure....or perhaps that is just a certain kind of woman that Dogg hasn't had the fortune of being introduced to. Mind you, Bill Maher once said ‘You never treat a dame like a lady or a lady like a dame,' lets hope Snoop Dogg has the same perspective.

Aside from the repetitious, egocentric banter on all Snoop Dogg's albums, he is actually very talented and diverse; it's a shame that doesn't show through more. Snoop Dogg does a brilliant tribute to Johnny Cash in the track ‘My Medicine.' He also brings in a sample of New Age musician Terry Oldfield's song ‘Celtic Rain' for a beautiful song called ‘Why Did You Leave Me.' The last track ‘Can't Say Goodbye' is an almost melancholy uplifting song that reveals more about the man behind the tough talking persona. Snoop Dogg is at his best when he is his inspiring and reflective; I wish he would direct his energies more that way on all his tracks.

A Word Witchya! (Intro)
Press Play
SD Is Out
Gangsta Like Me
Neva Have To Worry
Sexual Eruption
Life Of Da Party feat. Too Short and Mistah F.A.B.
Waste Of Time feat. Raphael Saadiq
Cool
Sets Up
Deez Hollywood Nights
Whateva U Do
Staxxx In My Jeans
Been Around Tha World
Let It Out
My Medicine
Ridin' In My Chevy
Those Gurlz
One Chance
Why Did You Leave Me
Can't Say Goodbye