PRE-ORDER
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DESCRIPTION
Finally back on wax. Tha Doggfather is the second studio album by Snoop Doggy Dogg, released on November 12, 1996, through Death Row Records and Interscope Records. It followed his groundbreaking debut Doggystyle (1993) and marked a major turning point in his career. The album emerged during a turbulent period: Dr. Dre, who had crafted the signature G-funk sound of Doggystyle, had left Death Row; label head Suge Knight was facing serious legal troubles; and Snoop himself had just been acquitted in a high-profile murder trial. These circumstances heavily influenced the tone and direction of the record.
Without Dre’s production, the sound of Tha Doggfather was shaped by DJ Pooh, Daz Dillinger, Soopafly, and Dat Nigga Daz. The result was a less polished but more introspective album. Compared to Doggystyle, it feels more subdued, reflective, and mature. Snoop moves away from the party anthems and braggadocious gangsta themes of his debut, turning instead to issues like fame, loyalty, survival, and the changing hip-hop scene of the mid-1990s. The recent death of Tupac Shakur, who had been a close friend and collaborator, also casts a long emotional shadow over several tracks.
Musically, the album remains rooted in the West Coast sound—laid-back funk grooves, smooth basslines, and Snoop’s effortless flow. Standout tracks include “Snoop’s Upside Ya Head” featuring Charlie Wilson, the confident title track “Tha Doggfather”, the Biz Markie remake “Vapors”, and the introspective “You Thought” with Too $hort. Snoop’s delivery throughout the album is more restrained but equally charismatic, showing a rapper trying to redefine himself amid chaos.
Upon release, Tha Doggfather debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling over 479,000 copies in its first week. Critics were divided: while many praised Snoop’s maturity and lyrical poise, others felt the absence of Dr. Dre’s production left the record uneven and less innovative. Over time, however, the album has gained appreciation as a transitional work—a bridge between Snoop’s early G-funk persona and his later reinvention under No Limit Records, beginning with Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told (1998).
In retrospect, Tha Doggfather stands as the end of the Death Row era and the beginning of Snoop’s path toward independence. Despite the turmoil surrounding its creation, it demonstrates that Snoop Dogg could survive—and thrive—without the powerful figures who helped launch his career, relying instead on his charisma, smooth delivery, and unwavering West Coast spirit
TRACKLIST
A1 Intro
A2 Doggfather
A3 Ride 4 Me
A4 Up Jump Tha Boogie
A5 Freestyle Conversation
A6 When I Grow Up
B1 Snoop Bounce
B2 Gold Rush
B3 Me & My Doggz, (Tear 'Em Off)
B4 You Thought
B5 Vapors
C1 Groupie
C2 2001
C3 Sixx Minutes
C4 Wake Up, (O.J.)
C5 Snoop's Upside Ya Head
D1 Blueberry
D2 Traffic Jam
D3 Doggyland
D4 Downtown Assassins
D5 Outro