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Snoop Dogg thrilled fans last weekend after delivering his highly anticipated 20th studio album, Missionary, on Friday (December 13) via his record label Death Row, alongside Aftermath and Interscope Records.
Marking their first full-length collaboration since 1993's Doggystyle, Snoop and Dr. Dre reunite for the official sequel to the former's chart-topping debut studio album. In a recent interview with Complex Magazine, when asked why the duo decided to release the second installment to their classic LP after 30 years, the Death Row CEO responded:
"We still in our prime. We still good at what we do and we just felt like we always fill the void when we make music. We trying to put back the sound that we created under his direction and that's what we're doing. We're putting it back in the scene again."
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Featuring previously released lead singles like Gorgeous (feat. Jhené Aiko), Missionary was distributed to all major DSPs alongside a short film directed by Dave Meyers.
With Missionary, Dr. Dre heads the production team marking his first full-length project since 2015, when he released his third studio album, Compton. When speaking with Complex Magazine, Dre cited Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d city and To Pimp a Butterfly as the only two hip-hop albums that have inspired him recently, explaining:
"I don't want to be disrespectful to anybody right now, but I'm not really inspired by what's happening with hip-hop these days. It's not for me. I've always said I'm not going to disrespect it or anything like that, but I haven't heard anything that makes me go fu*k, why didn't I do that? I haven't heard that in a long time, which makes my job easy to be honest."
A Complete breakdown of Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre's 'Missionary'
Snoop and Dre's 15-record LP features a star-studded line-up over a production that blends old-school and modern hip-hop music.
With a complete runtime of 43 minutes hosting features from Grammy-nominated country singer Jelly Roll to Aftermath Entertainment rap icons like Eminem and 50 Cent, Missionary is an action-packed LP fueled by some of hip-hop's greatest acts.
Notable themes that Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre delve into in their official sequel to Doggystyle have been listed below:
- Success
- Legacy
- Fame
- Wealth
- Relationships
- Love
- Excess
- Marijuana
Disclaimer: This review is rated explicit. Reader discretion is advised.
Fore Play (feat. BJ The Chicago Kid)
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre)
Providing an upbeat R&B introduction to Missionary, BJ The Chicago Kid opens on Fore Play with a verse that seemingly references The Stylistics' 1971 record People Make The World Go ‘Round.
"But that's when days, my world go 'round / The ups and downs like carousels / The price of fame, when sh*t goes down (When sh*t goes down) / You would not understand (You would not understand) / Snoop Dogg makes the world go 'round," BJ The Chicago Kid's hook on 'Fore Play'.
Shangri-La
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre, Sam Sneed, Sire (Producer), and Lawton “Hassan Agent” Bouhairie)
Claiming to "re-write history" with the release of Missionary, Snoop opens on Shangri-La, speaking on his recent successes and rise to fame since the release of Doggystyle in 1993.
The classic old-school production accentuates Snoop Dogg's cadence, especially on the hook, where he raps about his early struggles, as seen on lines like:
"Top shelf sh*t, it's time to start some trouble / Yeah, you motherf**kin' right, I made a life out of this hustle / Now let it bubble / We back, sit back, relax and roll it up / Brainstormin' and I'm chainsmokin' and by / The same token, the changes remain a potent supply"
Outta Da Blue (feat. Alus)
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre, Dem Jointz, BoogzDaBeast, and FNZ)
Listeners are then introduced to one of the album's lead singles, Outta Da Blue, exclusively released to Madden 25's soundtrack in November.
The track features Snoop and Dre going bar-for-bar over two highly entertaining verses, with Alus assisting on the record's nostalgic hook. The production on Outta Da Blue samples M.I.A.'s 2007 hit record Paper Planes, with the rap duo delivering lines like:
"Uh, Hip-Hop, took sh*t global, we done did it / Huh, wanna see your mogul, we showing you how to pivot / Got this sh*t from DMC, let's run with it (Check) / Took the fundamentals and have us some fun with it / These songs, King Kong, my team strong / Godzilla, set fire to whatever I breathe on / Got the killers and choir all singing my theme song"
Hard Knocks
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre, Corporal, Focus…, and Self B Tru)
Fueled by a double production and a beat switch, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg deliver an interesting record titled Hard Knocks, filled with vigorous and subtly sensual bars over four full-length verses.
From flexing his now "household name" to referencing his murder trial, Snoop invites listeners into his West-Coast rap arc, delivering lines like:
"I see you for what you is with my vision blurred / Don't make a n***a sign off on this hit without a signature / You know this sh*t could get ugly as Forest Whitaker / Make your bones chillin', you feelin' all in your fibula / I be home gettin' my di*k sucked with the semi-tucked / Frequently knee-deep in some p***y and still don't give a fu*k"
Gorgeous (feat. Jhené Aiko)
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre, Erik “Bluetooth” Griggs, FredWreck, and David Balfour)
Opening as the fifth record on Missionary is Snoop Dogg's first lead single, Gorgeous, where he features alongside singer-songwriter Jhené Aiko.
The up-tempo R&B anthem is fueled by its passionate lyricism revolving around themes of relationships and love, with undertones of narcissism stemming from one attaining massive fame and success.
"I mix Crip sh*t with the highs and the lows / Picture this, b***h, withdrawin' the bankroll / It's just some Dogg food for the soulless / Criminal psychology, this sh*t just a part of me / Industrial robbery, a product of '93 (Yeah) / Follow me, follow me, I'm where the dollars be / My stock up, n***a, no return on this policy," Snoop Dogg raps on 'Gorgeous'.
Last Dance With Mary Jane (feat. Tom Petty and Jelly Roll)
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre)
Over a slow-rock production, credited to Dr. Dre, Snoop teams up with Grammy-nominated country singer Jelly Roll on the record titled Last Dance With Mary Jane, with an assisted hook from the late Tom Petty.
Interestingly, the record revolves around Snoop's relationship with weed, with him metaphorically drawing similarities to a romantic relationship with a woman, as seen on lines like:
"Looking back, I wouldn't change sh*t, oh what a career / I used to flip bags with her, skip class with her / She comfortable as fu*k when I'm trying to smash with her / She got a lot of fans and thеy always harassing us / Ashes to ash to dust, feels like I'm Lazarus / I can't get past thе rush, never pass her up"
Thank You
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre)
Interpolating Sly and the Family Stone’s 1969 hit Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) on the song's hook, Snoop and Dre deliver an upbeat G-Funk classic titled Thank You.
Interestingly, Snoop's lyricism showcases his evolved mindset surrounding excess, as he critiques today's hip-hop generation, citing them as being dangerously destructive. Notable bars from Thank You include lines like:
"Things just ain't the same for gangsters / Times are changing, young n****s is dangerous / Rich and shameless, do anything to be famous / If you talking 'bout this crippin', then you speaking my language / This how you do waking up with the world under you / I'm rolling blunts, fu*ked up, it's so comfortable"
Pressure (feat. K.A.A.N.)
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre, Focus…, and Melvin Henderson)
The funky production on Pressure is a notable moment on Missionary, where listeners are delivered two full verses from Snoop Dogg with assisted performances from rapper K.A.A.N.
Notable bars from Pressure include Snoop revisiting his early day relationship with Dr. Dre, as seen on lines like:
"Dre the dopeman cookin' that dope / He was servin' that bass, I was sellin' that coke / Doin' 'bout a hunnid on these century spokes / With a pocket full of money and a fat ass rope / Precious diamonds on my fingers like I'm Lord of the Rings / Liftin' up my left leg just to piss on your dreams"
Another Part Of Me (feat. Sting)
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre)
A standout moment on Missionary is Snoop Dogg's collaboration with Sting on the record titled Another Part Of Me, serenading fans with enticing vocal performances.
Snoop Dogg's singing on Another Part Of Me adds character to the record, whose lyricism delves into themes of excess, lifestyle, luxury, wealth, and struggles. He even references 21 Savage's hit record from January, Redrum, on lines like:
"Now tell me, what do you want from me? / Here in the land of the lost and the scandalous / Bright lights, sunny days, cold nights / Ridе the wave, hold tight, just a day in Los Angelеs / Encore, I'm not done, he is I, one of one / From my hood, two-one, risky business, Top Gun / Dogg back out on a mornin' run, me and Dre, redrum"
Skyscrapers (feat. Method Man and Smitty)
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre, Sam Sneed, Sire, and Lawton “Hassan Agent” Bouhairie)
Listeners are then introduced to an extremely braggadocious record titled Skyscrapers, where Snoop teams up with East Coast legend MCs Method Man and Smitty.
Thematically the track revolves around money and success, with each rapper showcasing why they are considered the greatest of their generation. Smitty's hook cites how young artists should grow their wealth and "stack paper as tall as skyscrapers," building on themes set in Method Man and Snoop Dogg's verses.
"Duffle bag on the floor (Yes) / Blowing fast, let it go (Yes) / Raise a glass for the coast (Coast) / We the last of the GOATs / N****s funny when they broke (What?) / Say they love me when they don't (No) / With the C's and the B's / I get money with 'em both (What up, though?) / Floor seats, fu*k the bleachers, back to breathing that ether," Snoop Dogg raps on 'Skyscrapers'.
Fire (feat. Cocoa Sarai)
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre, FredWreck, and Focus…)
Snoop Lion, an alias he adopted after being rechristened by a Rastafarian priest in 2012, seemingly makes an appearance on the record titled Fire, alongside Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Cocoa Sarai.
The track is fueled by its reggae energy, easily evidenced by its highly infectious production, with occasional bars that casually highlight Snoop's excessive lifestyle as a West Coast legend.
"If life a test, motherf**ker, we got the cheat sheet (Chee) / Fu*k back to back on you b***hes, this sh*t a three-peat (I see all these) / Petty crimes and pretty dimes in my environment / Sh*t is timeless, let me present what I'm designing / More money, more violence, witnesses silent / Call me a tyrant, back on my sh*t with Andre the Giant," Snoop Dogg raps on 'Fire'.
Gunz N Smoke (feat. 50 Cent and Eminem)
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre and C.S. Armstrong)
One of the most standout records on Missionary, titled Gunz N Smoke, marks the first time Snoop, Eminem, and 50 Cent have collaborated on a record together.
Dr. Dre's expert production samples The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1999 posthumous record Dead Wrong (feat. Diddy and Eminem). The track finds each artist flexing their affinity for violent acts against those standing against them, with Biggie's "Gun Smoke" adlib supporting throughout Gunz N Smoke's playtime.
"If you ain't gangster, this is not for you / Yeah, bullet holes in the palm trees / Dirty money in the laundry / Ten toes in the concrete / N****s know where to find me (Find) / I got a long reach, this Long Beach, where we don't speak / And you saw what happened to the last n***a / That tried to fu*k with my proceeds (Gun smoke)," Snoop Dogg raps on 'Gunz N Smoke'.
Sticcy Situation (feat. K.A.A.N. and Cocoa Sarai)
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre)
With an infectious rhythm, listeners are introduced to Sticcy Situation, marking Snoop's second collaboration with K.A.A.N. and Cocoa Sarai on Missionary.
The record is fueled by Snoop Dogg's braggadocious lyricism, where he draws similarities between himself and the late American publisher Hugh Hefner, as seen on lines like:
"Call my sh*t the Playboy Mansion and I'm Snoop Heff / Snow bunnies with loose necks / Yeah, a n***a blew a few checks / Livin' with no regrets, this is what I do best / Evidently, it's exactly what it's meant to be, the crime of the century / N****s should know by now, you can't get rid of me / I'm the epitome / Moppin' up top tiers, ain't showin' no sympathy"
Now Or Never (feat. BJ The Chicago Kid)
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre, Eric Hudson, and Danny Murdock Jr.)
Now Or Never is an impactful record that revolves around the pitfalls of fame and success, as seen in BJ The Chicago Kid's hook.
Snoop's verses on the record build on these themes, delivering memorable bars that even reference his close relationship with American Businesswoman Martha Stewart, with lines like:
"Dеath Row Cadillac Records in these muddy watеrs / Spent my whole life moving forward, I'm the evidence / Legendary veteran, heaven-sent with rhetoric / Cooking up with Martha Stewart, know you n****s smell the scent / Hood n***a to Hollywood, I must have had a Sixth Sense / I turned into the n***a I'm supposed to be / C walking on that Nipsey Hussle blue upholstery"
Gangsta Pose (feat. Dem Jointz, Stalone, and Fat Money)
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre, J.LBS, Melvin Henderson, and Dem Jointz)
Opening as the 15th track on Missionary, listeners are introduced to a groovy record titled Gangsta Pose, teaming up with rappers Dem Jointz and Fat Money. Fueled by trumpets and wavy instrumentals, the record is filled with braggadocious lyricism, with Snoop delivering bars like:
"Cross your arms though, n***a / And ever since the walls been pushed up against a n***a back / I been swingin' on enemies, gettin' closer / Inquirin' too much, that sh*t can backfire / Sh*t, you could become a victim of the culture / I still got homies in prison, them n****s waitin' on pictures, let's flick it up for my n****s"
The Negotiator
(Production Credits: Dr. Dre, Sam Sneed, Sire, Lawton “Hassan Agent” Bouhairie, and Dem Jointz)
Snoop Dogg's 20th studio album closes out with a solo record titled The Negotiator, expressing himself as one of the greatest rappers of his generation, supported by the track's anthemic production.
"Some more ether through your speaker, I think this one is a keeper / Flowers high as the Eiffel Tower, higher than Wiz Khalifa (Smoke some') / Let's take it deeper, built a legacy that you can't replace / I am the chronic, your n***a forever plant-based / Call this my victory lap and this might be my last dance," Snoop Dogg raps on 'The Negotiator'
While Snoop Dogg's Missionary pales in comparison to the electric nature of his debut studio album, the multiple collaborations and Dr. Dre's production elevate the project's overall listening experience.
The album sounds more like a victory lap for Snoop's tenured and highly acclaimed career, inviting fans to immerse themselves into iconic production elements that made G-Funk a popular sub-genre in the early 1990s.
