Maps of Music

Doggystyle (1993)

Where the lyrics of Doggystyle take you, and where it was really made.

Snoop's debut sold 806,858 copies in its first week, a record for a debuting artist at the time, and it was the fastest-selling hip-hop album up to then.

Key places

The Village (West Los Angeles) (1993)

Recording site Village Recorders — Listed among the studios where Doggystyle was recorded. The album was recorded across several studios rather than one. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

The Complex (Los Angeles) (1993)

Recording site The Complex — Listed among the studios where Doggystyle was recorded. The album was recorded across several studios rather than one. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Larrabee North (North Hollywood) (1993)

Recording site Schnee Studio — Listed among the studios where Doggystyle was recorded. The point marks the city centre, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Larrabee West (West Hollywood) (1993)

Recording site NightBird (West Hollywood) — Listed among the studios where Doggystyle was recorded. The point marks the city centre, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Doggystyle: debut studio album by American rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg
• Released 23 November 1993 by Death Row and Interscope Records
• All songs produced by Dr. Dre
• Recorded after Snoop's significant contributions to Dr. Dre's debut solo album The Chronic (1992)
• Continues the West Coast hip-hop style that Dre's first album developed
• Title alludes to the doggy style sex position and refers to the musician's name
• Artwork by the late artist 'Joe Cool' Darryl Daniel, Snoop Dogg's cousin, who died in July 2024

Background

• Snoop came to the music industry's attention in 1992 through his vocals on The Chronic
• The Chronic expanded gangsta rap with profanity and G-funk production
• Snoop's vocals on Dre's solo single 'Deep Cover' raised hip-hop anticipation for his own album
• Snoop has said the album's realism comes from his own experience

Recording

• Recorded in early 1993 at Death Row Studios
• Produced in a style similar to The Chronic, which some critics called a 'carbon copy'
• Snoop collaborated with the groups 213 and Tha Dogg Pound
• While recording with Dr. Dre in August 1993, Snoop was arrested in connection with a gang-fight death
• He was cleared of all charges in February 1996, as he began work on his second album, Tha Doggfather

Cover

• The artwork uses quotes from George Clinton's 1982 single 'Atomic Dog'
• Some critics believe the artwork objectifies women, in line with the lyrical themes

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., born October 20, 1971 in Long Beach, California, known professionally as Snoop Dogg.
• American rapper, singer, record producer, record executive, songwriter and actor; a key figure in West Coast hip-hop who helped define G-funk and gangsta rap.
• Known for a signature drawled delivery and melodic flow; lyrics often address recreational drug use and gun violence.
• Rose to prominence in 1992 through collaborations with Dr. Dre on "Deep Cover" and The Chronic.
• Debut album Doggystyle (1993), produced by Dr. Dre, debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 806,000 copies sold in its first week; certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA.
• Signed with Master P's No Limit Records in 1998; albums Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told, No Limit Top Dogg and Tha Last Meal followed.
• R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece (2004) produced "Drop It Like It's Hot" (featuring Pharrell), his first Billboard Hot 100 number one.
• Adopted the alias Snoop Lion for reggae album Reincarnated (2013); later albums include Bush (2015) and gospel album Bible of Love (2018).
• Acquired Death Row Records from MNRK Music Group in 2022.
• Has sold over 35 million records worldwide; co-headlined the Super Bowl LVI halftime show in 2022.
• Also active as an actor, business figure and coach on The Voice.

Reception

At release

• Rolling Stone writer Touré said the album was leaner than The Chronic, with high-tempo tracks
• Entertainment Weekly's David Browne praised Dre's production and called it a limber, low-rider gangsta album
• The Source gave the album a 4 out of 5 mic rating
• Robert Christgau gave the album a 'dud' rating, the lowest grade in his system
• Q's Danny Kelly described the record as a homage to George Clinton's 'Atomic Dog' and found parts of it dull

Reappraisal

• Critical opinion of the album improved after its release
• A review of the reissue raised Q's rating from three to four stars out of five
• Rolling Stone placed it 340th on its 2020 Top 500 Albums of All Time
• Entertainment Weekly's Kyle Anderson ranked it first among 14 Snoop Dogg albums in 2022
• Apple Music placed it 84th on its 100 Best Albums list in 2024

Records

• Debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 806,858 copies in its first US week
• Certified four times platinum by the RIAA on 31 May 1994
• As of November 2015, sold 7 million copies in the United States and over 11 million worldwide
• Spent 74 nonconsecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 as of September 2015
• Ranked number 3 on the Billboard Year-End Top Albums chart for 1994
• Peaked at number 18 in Sweden, 21 in Germany, 35 in Austria and 25 in New Zealand

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album's title alludes to the doggy style sex position and is a reference to the musician's name.
• An 18-minute music video was made for the two songs 'Lodi Dodi' and 'Murder Was the Case', and it won the 1995 Video of the Year award at The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards.
• 'Gz Up, Hoes Down' appeared only on the first pressings because of sample clearance issues.
• 'Tha Next Episode' was listed on the back cover of the first pressings but never included on any pressing.
• The outtake 'Doggystyle' featuring George Clinton was released later on Death Row: The Lost Sessions Vol. 1.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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