August 30, 2004 @ 9:00 pm

213 - The Hard Way (TVT)

Rondell Conway

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On their long overdue album, The Hard Way, 213— Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Warren G—nostalgically offers its signature G-funk sound.

On their long overdue album, The Hard Way, 213— Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Warren G—nostalgically offers its signature G-funk sound. But delinquent timing and a lack of relevant material won’t recapture an audience that has since moved on. On “Joystick,” Long Beach’s finest rekindle the flame of past glory amid smooth piano accompaniment glazed under the sampled Mtume classic “Juicy Fruit.” The Kanye West–produced “Another Summertime,” featuring the always enjoyable LaToiya Williams, spreads deep soul vibrations throughout the ’hood. And Nate’s melodic crooning on the infectious lead single, “Groupie Luv,” serves as the perfect backdrop for Snoop’s and Warren’s pimp personae. But though their overdone macking is readily accepted, 213 is less convincing these days when selling the gangsta image. Tracks like “Run on Up” and “213 Is da Gangsta Click” fail to stir, despite Nate’s catchy choruses. 213’s obsolete subject matter offsets otherwise satisfying sounds, thus leaving these stars to learn a valuable lesson the hard way: Time waits for no man.

Article tags: 213, Hard, Way, TVT 

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