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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not as Good as THA BLUE CARPET TREATMENT; 3 ½ Stars, May 14, 2008
First things first, EGO TRIPPIN' isn't as good as Snoop's last album, THA BLUE CARPET TREATMENT. Also, it isn't a bad album by any means either - just a flawed album. Sure, "Sensual (Sexual) Seduction" gave Snoop his first top-ten hit since 2004's ubiquitous Neptunes helmed "Drop It Like It's Hot" reached #1 (not counting Akon's #1 with Snoop, "I Wanna F**k You"), but "Sensual Seduction" isn't enough to make EGO TRIPPIN', which is pretty good, a truly great or innovative album. Sure, Snoop rocks the vocoder out on "Sensual Seduction", but a vocoder doesn't make up for some of EGO TRIPPIN' laxer moments.
The album starts with the typical forgettable interlude, then follows with "Press Play", which is ultimately forgettable as well. Snoop ignites the flame with "SD is Out", an undeniably catchy track in which you feel Snoop is at least somewhat in his element. Sure, it isn't the second coming by any means, but it works. "Gangsta Like Me" follows in the same boat as "SD is Out" - it is catchy, though not as great as some of the best songs appearing on 2006's THA BLUE CARPET TREATMENT. Similarly still, "Never Have 2 Worry" is solid, though not earth shattering. The background vocals are fantastic here and Snoop does still sound "relevant" if not 100% fresh this round. Finally, "Sexual Eruption" (or "Sensual" depending on the version), comes and revives some sense of true, inspired vitality within EGO TRIPPIN'. It is followed by another excellent track, "Life of Da Party" which features inspired guest turns from several rappers, with the standout being Too $hort. Snoop sounds like he has salvaged his image on this track more so than the earlier tracks. This track compares to the catchy nature that "Candy Drippin'" possessed on THA BLUE CARPET TREATMENT, which makes this one of the best tracks of EGO TRIPPIN'.
"Waste of Time" is decent as well, if not as strong as say 2006's "That's That Sh**". Either way, Raphael Saadiq sounds particularly strong and soulful here. "Cool", a remake of a Morris Day and the Time hit, is good, even if it seems like it shouldn't appear on this album. But then again, EGO TRIPPIN' lacks the cohesiveness of Snoop's best, as later shown by the laughable country turn Snoop makes on the horrific "Medicine Man". Aside from semi-standouts from "Been Around the World", "Make It Good", and the celtic sampling "Why Did You Leave Me", the rest of EGO TRIPPIN' is merely average. "Sets Up" features excellent production from the Neptunes, but it doesn't allure one like the very best Neptunes hit would (in this case 2004's "Drop It Like It's Hot"). "Deez Hollywood Nights" is completely catchy, though utterly rediculous in which Snoop states that "Leonardo Di Caprio keeps a bad h*" - honestly, what? "Staxx in My Jeans" and "Ridin' In My Chevy" also disappoint hardcore Snoop fans. It makes you question if Snoop really is still "relevant".
Overall, I don't know if I'd spend $15 again to buy EGO TRIPPIN'. Sure, it has its good moments, but it is much more flawed than most of Snoop's other albums. I guess even a great recording artist like Snoop is allowed one slip-up, but my advice to S.D. would be to get The Neptunes as well as the producers from THA BLUE CARPET TREATMENT to produce your next album as opposed to mostly Teddy Riley. Not knocking the production work, but I think Snoop has worked better with different collaborators. 3 - 3 ½ Stars.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ya did it again Snoop!!!, April 10, 2008
It isn't no "Doggystyle" or "R&G", but it was better than I expected. I actually can see the concept that he was aiming for. What surprised me the most is that Teddy Riley & DJ Quik jumped on board to help produce the album, but the outcome was a definitely a great one.
Out of the 21 tracks, I liked 15. And that's good. Hard to find a cd like that these days.
My Top 5:
1. Press Play
2. Those Girls
3. Been Around The World
4. Neva Have 2 Worry
5. Waste Of Time (with my man Raphael Saadiq)
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Snoop shows he may have another Great album in him....2.5 stars, March 21, 2008
I obviously wasn't expecting Doggystyle when I picked this up this week. I will say this was far superior to his last few efforts, Blue Carpet Treatment, R&G and Paid the Cost. There isn't much being said at all in the album, but Snoop sounds so good when he says it. The production is pretty good to. Obviously it is very, very comercial. Track by track
1. Intro
2. Press Play - 3 Stars - The intro song to the album. I like the beat and Snoop sounds good.
3. SD is out - 1 Star - Sounds like a R&B track. Just can't dig it.
4. Gangsta like me - 2 Stars - Typical I am a gangsta track. I have heard it all before. The beat is kind of all over the place in my opinion.
5. Neva Have 2 Worry - 2.5 stars - autobiographical track. It isn't to bad, it doesn't stack up to NaS's Last Real N**** Alive Autobiographical track, but it's worth a listen.
6. Sexual Eruption - 3 Stars - First Single. I think He only has 1 or 2 actual rap verses on the song. He also busts out a vocoder to his own little T-Pain thing. I would call this a R&B song not a hip-hop song, it's still ok.
7. Life of Da Pary - 4 Stars - Not much to the Lyrics, but a great party song. Mistah F.A.B. and Too $hort help this track a little.
8. Waste of Time - 2 Star - Another track with too much of a R&B feel.
9. Cool - 1 Star - Filler. This would've been hot in the early/mid 80s
10. Sets Up - 3 Stars - Another gangsta track. Produced by Pharell. The hook/chorus sucks.
11. Deez Hollywood nights - 2.5 stars - Beat doesn't really seem like snoop's style and it doesn't really go with the album.
12. Whateva U do - 1.5 stars - Filler....
13. Staxxx In My jeans - 2 stars - Goes for a little southern flair here. I wish he would just go back to his funk style at least occasionally.
14. Been around the World - 2.5 stars - He actually puts together a couple decent rhymes, but the beat is weak.
15. Let it out - 1 star - I just don't feel this track. Filler.
16. My medicine - 2.5 stars - Ode to Johnny Cash. It is very different approach but its still sounds ok. Yes Snoop put out a country song...
17. Ridin' in my Chevy - 2 stars - bumps in the car, sucks in the headphones.
18. Those Gurlz - 2.5 stars - R&B sounding track. Not too bad.
19. Once Chance - 2 stars - ...not to different then the track before it.
20. Why Did You Leave Me - 4.5 stars - THE BEST SONG ON THE ALBUM. If he went in this general direction with an entire album. It would be a very good album. It's not vintage Snoop Track, but it actually has more of a hip-hop feel to it. It also has the most substance in the lyrics.
21. Can't say goodbye - 4 Stars - Another track with some substance.
A lot of promise to this album, way too much filler. Would've been better if he stuck to only 13 or 14 tracks instead of 20 (not including the intro).
Does Snoop have another classic hip-hop album in him? We will hopefully find out in another 2 years or so. If nothing else this album makes me a little excited for his next one.
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by Snoop Dogg 
