Snoop Dogg Tha Blue Carpet Treatment CD

There's no question that Snoop Dogg is one of hip-hop's most beloved artists; Snoop has not only ridden with hip-hop from the margins to the mainstream, he helped get the big rig there. All reverence aside, though, the quality of Snoop's output has frequently come into question since the release of his undisputed classic, 1993's DOGGYSTYLE. While all his albums have had their share of hits, they've often lacked cohesion as Snoop aimed for broader appeal, catered to big-name pop guests, and alienated hardcore fans in the process.

But on his eighth effort, it seems Snoop finally has the formula locked down, seamlessly blending smoothed-out 1970s funk ("Think About It," "Boss Life") and catchy R&B ("That's That," "Round Here") with new millennium G-Funk ("Crazy," "Don't Stop") and more than a few hardcore street anthems ("Vato," "Gangbangin' 101"). Every track is a triumph as Timbaland, Nottz, the Neptunes, DJ Pooh, Rick Rock, and Dr. Dre, among others, bless Calvin Broadus with some of the most fitting soundscapes his laidback gangsta drawl has ever touched. THE BLUE CARPET TREATMENT is another crowning achievement for the D-O-double-G, perhaps even eclipsing the pure gangsta charisma of his classic 1993 debut.Entertainment Weekly (p.109) - "BLUE CARPET finds him refocused and reunited with Dr. Dre on three tracks. The two get nostalgic on standout 'Imagine'..." -- Grade: B+
Vibe (p.170) - "THA BLUE CARPET TREATMENT stands as a strong statement from a veteran still pushing his artistic boundaries."
XXL (Magazine) (p.164) - "Snoop's lyrical fire seems resurrected, as he delivers arguably his most consistently scorching work post-DOGGYSTYLE."