Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 31/03/08
Label: Geffen/Polydor

When Snoop Dogg is good, he's untouchable. When he's bad he's laughable, and to the frustration of anyone sitting through all 22 tracks on "Ego Trippin'", he gets to be both. It is, even by his standards, an extremely schizophrenic, dysfunctional album; a seemingly random collection of vehicles for the chaotic, and at times embarrassing, cast of characters who make-up his raging ego. The title's apt, if not quite for the self congratulating reasons he intended.

There is plenty of good material here though, so out of respect for the fact that before becoming the don of soft-core booty bouncing porn and reality TV, he was once the hottest property in hip hop, let's focus first on the positives. As he assures listeners on the intro, his ninth is a serious album, featuring serious producers - DJ Quick and Teddy Riley - and well worth the considerable effort he claims to have put into making it.

The ultra-laid back G-funk of DJ Quick's first offering, "Press Play", built on a horn toting Isley Brothers groove, is quick to add weight to the intro's claims. As are "SD Is Out" and "Gangsta Like Me", an old skool West Coast shimmer and a futuristic threat which respectively relive Riley's glory days and confirm he's still got ideas up his sleeve. "Neva Have 2 Worry" is unexpectedly introspective to a tasteful 2am slouch, "Cool" plants its tongue firmly in its Funkadelic cheek and "Let It Out" delivers a stylish, hip-jutting Arabian bounce befitting rap royalty.

Unfortunately for Snoop, as well as a hip hop legend, nonchalant gangsta and self-depreciating pimp, his alter-egos also include a comedy lothario, the world's worst marriage counsellor, a cringe-worthy playa and a sentimental fool. Transforming into the hip hop Sid James, he unloads a bulging chest of innuendo for "Sexual Eruption", lets the ladies down gently with subtle break-up song "Waste Of Time", swaps hoes with Leonardo DiCaprio on the "Sesame Street"-styled "Deez Hollywood Nights" and then rounds things off with a slew of excruciating schmaltz to show Tupac wasn't the only one who could do sensitive.

With "My Medicine" as a straight-up country tribute to Johnny Cash and "Those Gurlz" perfectly striking the balance between filth and affection, the good does eventually win out. But it's a close run thing. At its best "Ego Trippin'" is intelligent, sly and full of the easy brilliance which put Snoop on the top of the pile in the first place. At its worst it makes thong-filled DVD "Snoop Dogg's Diary Of A Pimp" look like high art. He truly is his own worst enemy.

    by Dan Gennoe