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FIRST TIME: SNOOP DOGG
RAP/HIP-HOP
Written By: Phil Roberts
(3 Minute Read)
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I remember stealing the cassette tape from my uncle's box. My uncle had a bunch of tapes by Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Dr. Dre and Snoop. “Phillllllll,” yelled my grandmother as I listened to track 12 titled, “Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None), from Snoop Dogg’s first album, Doggystyle. I’m in the corner wearing shorts with no shirt singing, “Guess who's back who back in the muthafucking house”. Thinking I never heard an album of this caliber. It was almost like a fantasy listening to his album. I was young, maybe 8 years old. I didn’t understand the content. “I told you not to be listening to that nasty vulgar bullshit. You’re too young for this. This is inappropriate.” I hid behind the door listening. My mom ripped the tape from the cassette tape player and unraveled the tape. Man, I cried like a baby. I waited until she left, got the tape out the trash and rewound that tape back together. That was my introduction to Snoop Dogg's first album. I actually have a few memories of Snoop Doggy Dogg. As I listen to the album in depth more, this was not for my age bracket. I remember being mesmerized by the cover art. When I was a kid, it reminded me of a comic book. I hid that tape from my mom for months and she never knew I took it out the trash.
Another introduction is when Dr. Dre’s, “Nuthin' But A "G" Thang” video would come on. I would see this tall lanky guy with short braids rapping. At that moment, you couldn’t tell me anyone else rapped better than him. That tall lanky guy was Snoop Doggy Dogg. It’s funny because MTV had a rotation. It would be “F Wit Dre Day”, “Gin and Juice”, and “Nuthin' But A "G" Thang” every single day. This was the peak West Coast Funk era. I remember watching the G thang video and the little boy was dancing to the music and in sync. I thought that was definitely dope. I feel that was a moment for the video. Come to find out 3 decades later, Snoop Doggy Dogg would still be relevant. He may be the most famous rapper ever. With several movies and TV show appearances, 19 albums, over 8 collaboration albums, owning his own record label , and being a CEO at Def Jam records… It safe to say Snoop Dogg cemented a legacy, fo shizzle.
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What is your first time with Snoop?
August 21, 2024
