Maps of Music

Tha Doggfather (1996)

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

Snoop's second album came out on Death Row weeks after he was cleared of murder charges, and Dr. Dre was not behind the board.

Key places

Can-Am Studios, Tarzana (1996)

Recording site Can-Am Studios — The album was recorded at Can-Am Studios in Tarzana, Los Angeles. The point is placed at city-center level, not at the exact studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Digital Shack, Sherman Oaks (1996)

Recording site Record One — Digital Shack in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles is listed among the album's recording locations. The point is placed at city-center level, not at the exact studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Tha Doggfather: second studio album by Snoop Doggy Dogg
• Released November 12, 1996 by Death Row and Interscope Records
• Follows the debut album Doggystyle (1993)
• Snoop's final Death Row album until 2022
• Last album released under the name Snoop Doggy Dogg

Background

• During Doggystyle work, Snoop was arrested and charged with murder
• Acquitted February 20, 1996, then began the second album without Dr. Dre as producer
• Dr. Dre left Death Row earlier in 1996 to start his own label
• Tupac Shakur's death in September 1996 weighed heavily on Snoop
• Lyrics far less violent than Doggystyle; Snoop wanted a more positive image as an artist and new father

Recording

• Sessions ran February to October 1996, with Suge Knight as executive producer
• Majority produced and mixed by DJ Pooh; Daz Dillinger and other producers contributed
• Samples include 'It's Like That', 'Vapors', 'More Bounce to the Ounce', and 'Oops Up Side Your Head'
• Marked Snoop's debut as a record producer on '(O.J.) Wake Up'

Cover

• Album name and cover inspired by the 1972 film The Godfather
• Artwork by Darryl 'Joe Cool' Daniel, Snoop's cousin, who also designed the Doggystyle cover

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

• The album received generally moderate reviews from critics and fans at release
• Dr. Dre said he did not like the album
• Entertainment Weekly praised the album's old-school funk and gangsta cool blend even without Dr. Dre
• Melody Maker ranked it number 49 on its 1996 'Albums of the Year' list
• The New York Times predicted a top-ten chart debut
• AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine found the album too long at over 70 minutes

Reappraisal

• Snoop Dogg still thinks of the album as a success

Records

• Debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts
• 479,000 copies sold in its first week
• Fell short of Doggystyle's first-week sales of 803,000
• Certified 2× platinum on February 4, 1997
• Sold over two million copies in the United States

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Dr. Dre left Death Row earlier in 1996 to start his own label, which led Daz Dillinger to become the label's head producer.
• The Doggfather marked Snoop Dogg's debut as a record producer on the track '(O.J.) Wake Up'.
• Tupac Shakur appears on the closing track 'Outro' under the name 'Makaveli'.
• The album sampled tracks including 'It's Like That' by Run-D.M.C. and 'Vapors' by Biz Markie.
• Artist Darryl 'Joe Cool' Daniel also designed the cover art for Doggystyle.
• Snoop has said he signs more Doggfather records than any other album he released.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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