June 27, 2003 @ 7:19 pm

SNOOP DOGG - PAID THA COST TO BE DA BO$$ (Priority)

Matt Diehl

“I ain’t takin’ orders no more.

“I ain’t takin’ orders no more. It’s my house and I live in it,” Snoop Dogg proclaims on his new album, Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$. Throughout his career, it’s true, Snoop’s success has been tied to any number of big dogs (Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, and Master P). But after steadily dropping smashes during a decade in the game, Snoop shouldn’t have to take orders; now 30, he has proven to be one of hip hop’s most resilient superstars. In fact, it would be easy for him to coast, so it’s exciting that Paid finds Snoop experimenting with new producers and sounds deep into his career. Still, the album’s most compelling moments recall the Doggfather’s early days. Through a good part of the album, Snoop diverges from G-funk (though “Stoplight” and “Boss Playa” wheel out dependable George Clinton samples). Instead, Paid explores some surprisingly earthy grooves, with Hi-Tek and DJ Premier contributing the most significant set pieces. Tek brings “I Believe in You,” an off-kilter groove with brittle guitars reminiscent of his 2001 boho ditty “Round and Round,” featuring Jonell. Even the album’s mainstream hitmakers sound more innovative than radio friendly. Just Blaze is on a bongo-fied-beatnik tip with congas, flute, and wahwah for “Lollipop.” The Neptunes’ two tracks come off less Nelly than N.E.R.D.:Paid’s first single, “From tha Chuuuch to da Palace,” reps like a heavy metal remix of “Murder Was the Case,” while “Beautiful” trips out on spacey retro keyboards. Lyrically, Snoop traverses ground both old and new. “Stoplight” has his usual pimps and hos patter, and on “From tha Chuuuch,” he’s still doing it for the Gs and the hustlers with a playful old-school delivery. But he also shows a romantic side on “I Believe in You,” declaring, “I couldn’t give you away no matter what my friends sizz-ay.” He even gets a bit reflective on “I Miss That Bitch,” where he compares giving up weed to the loss of a lover. For the most part, this is a kinder, gentler, less misogynistic Snoop, who’s more about good clean fun than “Ain’t No Fun.” His wordplay is still as nimble and quick as ever, giving the beats a beat down with newfound urgency. Maybe it’s because he quit smoking trees, or maybe he’s just trying to keep up with his guests, who deliver some of their most potent rhymes: Eastsidaz’ Goldie Loc kicks it like classic Big Daddy Kane on “Hourglass”; Ludacris disturbs the peace nicely on “You Got What I Want”; and when Jay-Z laces “Lollipop” with a typically volcanic verse, it’s thrilling to hear two of rap’s greatest flows in such close proximity. But the album’s most exciting track, “Pimp Slapped,” is all Snoop. A longtime Crip, he bigs-up the Bloods—even naming specific riders to show how he has risen above color lines. And while he does have battle words for Xzibit and Kurupt, Snoop reserves a special bitch slap for Knight: “I fucked all your groupies when you was doin’ time in Camp Snoopy / With the fags and snitches / No killers, just bitches, and you was payin’ niggas off with all my riches…. You’re not able to compete with the heat that I drop / And I still ain’t been paid for 187 on a cop.” It’s a telling climax to the album. Though Snoop is boldly trying to diversify his game, “Pimp Slapped” proves there’s nothing better than when he calls the shots straight-up Cali style.

Article tags: SNOOP, DOGG, PAID, THA, COST, DA, BO, Priority 

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http://www.vibe.com/music/revolutions/2003/06/snoop_dogg_paid_tha_cost_be_da_bo_priority/

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