Doggystyle

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Good article Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox album Doggystyle is the debut studio album by American rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg. It was released on November 23, 1993, by Death Row and Interscope Records. The album was recorded and produced following Snoop Doggy Dogg's appearances on Dr. Dre's debut solo album The Chronic (1992), to which Snoop contributed significantly. The West Coast style in hip-hop that he developed from Dre's first album continued on Doggystyle.<ref name="AMG">Template:Cite web</ref> Critics have praised Snoop Dogg for the lyrical "realism" that he delivers on the album and for his distinctive vocal flow.<ref name=AMG/><ref name=AMG-Bio/>

Despite some mixed criticism of the album initially upon its release, Doggystyle earned recognition from many music critics as one of the most significant albums of the 1990s, as well as one of the most important hip-hop albums ever released.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Much like The Chronic, the distinctive sounds of Doggystyle helped introduce the hip-hop subgenre of g-funk to a mainstream audience, bringing forward West Coast hip-hop as a dominant force in the early-mid 1990s.<ref name="AMG" /><ref name="AMG-TheChronic" />

Doggystyle debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 806,858 copies in its first week alone in the United States, which was the record for a debuting artist and the fastest-selling hip-hop album ever at the time. Doggystyle was included on The Source magazine's list of the 100 Best Rap Albums, as well as Rolling Stone magazine's list of Essential Recordings of the '90s.Template:Citation needed About.com placed the album in No. 17 of the greatest hip hop/rap albums of all time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album was certified 4× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). By November 2015, the album had sold 7 million copies in the United States, and over 11 million copies worldwide.<ref name="Sales">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Sales2018">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Conception

Background

In 1992, Snoop Dogg came to attention of the music industry through his vocal contributions on Dr. Dre's The Chronic. That album is considered to have "transformed the entire sound of West Coast rap" by its development of what later became known as the "G-funk" sound.<ref name=AMG-TheChronic>Steve Huey. [[[:Template:AllMusic]] The Chronic > Overview]. Allmusic. Accessed May 17, 2008.</ref> The Chronic expanded gangsta rap with profanity, anti-authoritarian lyrics and multi-layered samples taken from 1970's P-Funk records.<ref name=AMG-TheChronic/> Snoop Doggy Dogg contributed vocals to Dre's solo single, "Deep Cover", which led to a high degree of anticipation among hip hop for the release of his own solo album.<ref name=AMG-Bio/>

Doggystyle and The Chronic are associated with each other mainly because each prominently featured Snoop Dogg and because both contain G-funk style production from Dr. Dre. The two releases are linked by the high number of vocal contributions from Death Row Records artists, including Tha Dogg Pound, RBX, The Lady of Rage,<ref name=TheSource/> while both contain a high density of misogyny and profanity in their lyrics.<ref name=Stylus-TheChronicVsDoggystyle/> In addition, the two albums are each viewed by critics as early "G-funk classics", and have been described as "joined at the hip". 'Doggystyle' also marked the debut of Death Row vocalist, Nanci Fletcher—the daughter of jazz legend Sam Fletcher.<ref name=AMG/><ref name=Stylus-TheChronicVsDoggystyle/>

Gangsta rap has been criticized for its extreme lyrics, which are often accused of glamorizing gang violence and black-on-black crime. The Gangsta rappers responded that they were simply describing the realities of life in places such as Compton, California, and Long Beach, California.<ref name=AMG-SOC>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=Davemusic>Reference to Alex Henderson's Allmusic review on Dave's music database: Straight Outta Compton Reviews</ref> Describing Doggystyle in 1993, Snoop Doggy Dogg likewise points to the album's realism, and the extent to which it is based on his personal experience. He said, "I can't rap about something I don't know. You'll never hear me rapping about no bachelor's degree. It's only what I know and that's that street life. It's all everyday life, reality."<ref name=NYTimes-PopMusic/> Explaining his intentions, Snoop Doggy Dogg claims he feels he is a role model to many young black men, and that his songs are designed to relate to their concerns. "For little kids growing up in the ghettos," he said, "it's easy to get into the wrong types of things, especially gangbanging and selling drugs. I've seen what that was like, and I don't glorify it, but I don't preach. I bring it to them rather than have them go find out about it for themselves."<ref name=NYTimes-PopMusic/> He further explained the "dream" that he would pursue after making the album: "I'm going to try to eliminate the gang violence. I'll be on a mission for peace. I know I have a lot of power. I know if I say, 'Don't kill', niggas won't kill".<ref name=NYTimes-PopMusic>Touré (November 21, 1993). Pop Music; Snoop Dogg's Gentle Hip-Hop Growl. The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2008. Template:Cite news</ref>

Recording

Doggystyle was recorded in early 1993 at Death Row Studios. It was produced in a style similar to The Chronic; some critics called it a "carbon copy".<ref name=AMG-Bio/> Snoop Doggy Dogg collaborated with two music groups, 213 and Tha Dogg Pound. Daz Dillinger, of the latter group, accused Dr. Dre of taking sole recognition for producing the album and alleged that Warren G and himself contributed substantially to the production of the project.<ref name="DPG-Eulogy">Tha Dogg Pound. (2005). DPG Eulogy [DVD]. Innovative Distribution Network. Retrieved April 27, 2008.</ref> Death Row Records co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight stated in 2013 that, "Daz pretty much did the whole album", and that credit was signed over to Dr. Dre for a fee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Snoop Doggy Dogg said Dr. Dre was capable of making beats without the help of collaborators and addressed the issues with Warren G and Daz, stating "They made beats, Dre produced that record". He discussed the track "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)", mentioning that Daz and Warren G brought Dr. Dre the beat but "Dre took that muthafucka to the next level!"<ref name=DubCNN-Interview>Snoop Dogg Interview Part 4 (July 2006). DubCNN. Retrieved April 27, 2008.</ref> Bruce Williams, closely affiliated with Dr. Dre, discussed the recording process during Dre's time at Death Row Records, stating:

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Williams said the album was never finished and because of the demand for the record, the distributors insisted the album be completed, otherwise they would cancel the album's orders. This resulted in Dr. Dre mixing the album and inserting the skits within 48 hours, which enabled the album to be released.<ref name=HipHopDX>Andreas Hale (May 21, 2008). Bruce Williams: The REAL Doctor's Advocate Pt 1 Template:Webarchive. HipHopDX. Accessed May 26, 2008.</ref> Rolling Stone writer Jonathan Gold described how Dr. Dre produced a beat from scratch to complete instrumental: "Dre may find something he likes from an old drum break, loop it and gradually replace each part with a better tom-tom sound, a kick-drum sound he adores, until the beat bears the same relationship to the original that the Incredible Hulk does to Bill Bixby".<ref name=RS-DayOfTheDre>Jonathan Gold (September 30, 1993). Day of the Dre. Rolling Stone. Accessed May 27, 2008.</ref> Gold also described how the track progressed with other musicians adding to the song, stating "A bass player wanders in, unpacks his instrument and pops a funky two-note bass line over the beat, then leaves to watch CNN, though his two notes keep looping into infinity. A smiling guy in a striped jersey plays a nasty one-fingered melody on an old Minimoog synthesizer that's been obsolete since 1982, and Dre scratches in a sort of surfadelic munching noise, and then from his well-stocked Akai MPC60 samples comes a shriek, a spare piano chord, an ejaculation from the first Beastie's record—'Let me clear my throat'—and the many-layered groove is happening, bumping, breathing, almost loud enough to see."<ref name=RS-DayOfTheDre/>

While recording Doggystyle with Dr. Dre in August 1993, Snoop Dogg was arrested in connection with the death of Phillip Woldermarian, a member of a rival gang who was shot and killed in a gang fight. According to the charges, the rapper's bodyguard shot Woldermarian as Snoop Dogg drove the vehicle; the rapper claimed it was self-defense, alleging the victim was stalking him. He spent most of 1995 preparing the case which went to trial in late 1995. He was cleared of all charges in February 1996 when he began working on his second album, Tha Doggfather.<ref name=AMG-Bio>Stephen Thomas Erlewine. [[[:Template:AllMusic]] Snoop Dogg > Biography]. Allmusic. Retrieved April 21, 2008.</ref>

Title significance and artwork

The album's title alludes to the doggy style sex position and is a reference to the musician's name. The artwork was done by the late artist Darryl "Joe Cool" Daniel, Snoop Dogg's cousin, who died in July 2024.<ref name=artistcover>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The artwork represents the themes covered in the album and the style of implementation of those ideas. Some critics believe the artwork portrays a woman merely as a hole to be filled by the man, which they believe adheres to the narcissistic and sexist lyrical themes Snoop Dogg covers.<ref name=Rap-BlackRage>Steven Best & Douglas Kellner. Rap, Black Rage, and Racial Difference Template:Webarchive. Enculturation, Vol. 2, No. 2, Spring 1999. Accessed May 27, 2008.</ref> In this interpretation, the cover art and lyrics convey what they refer to as the self-indulgent "gangsta" lifestyle: drugs, cars, sex, and money.<ref name=Rap-BlackRage/> The artwork uses several quotes from the 1982 George Clinton single "Atomic Dog". The quotes come from the dogs at the top of the brick wall on the album cover, which say, "Why must I feel like dat?", "Why must I chase da cat?" and "Nuttin' but da dogg in me".<ref name=MTV-Lyrics>George Clinton's Atomic Dog Lyrics. MTV Networks. Retrieved June 4, 2008.</ref>

Music

Production

Dre's handling of the production was praised by critics. AllMusic writer Stephen Erlewine stated: "Dre realized that it wasn't time to push the limits of G-funk, and instead decided to deepen it musically, creating easy-rolling productions that have more layers than they appear". He added that the beats were "laid-back funky, continuing to resonate after many listens".<ref name=AMG/> Rolling Stone writer Touré noted "The ChronicTemplate:'s slow, heavy beats were a sonic representation of angry depression as accurate as Cobain's feedback blasts; Doggystyle is leaner, with its high-tempo Isaac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield-derived tracks". He went on to say that "Most of Dre's hooks and nearly all his beats refuse to linger, as if the songs themselves are nervous, fearful of exposure, restless to get offscreen."<ref name=RollingStone/> Entertainment Weekly magazine's David Browne mentioned that "The mix of samples and live music on Dre's latest, The Chronic, gave it texture and depth, and he continues his knob-turning growth on Doggystyle, fluidly weaving together a gaggle of background singers and rappers, quirky samples, his trademark horror-flick keyboard lines".<ref name=EW/> The Source magazine columnist wrote: "Dre's brand of G-funk may be common now, but it is still painstakingly well-produced".<ref name=TheSource/>

In 2023, former Death Row CEO, Suge Knight, stated that Daz Dillinger had actually produced the album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Lyrics

Snoop Doggy Dogg's lyrics were generally praised by critics, although they caused some controversy. He was acclaimed for the realism in his rhymes and his harmonious flow.<ref name=AMG/><ref name=AMG-Bio/> AllMusic's Stephen Erlewine commended Snoop Doggy Dogg, saying: "he's one of hip-hop's greatest vocal stylists with this record" and he "takes his time, playing with the flow of his words, giving his rhymes a nearly melodic eloquence. Snoop is something special, with unpredictable turns of phrase, evocative imagery, and a distinctive, addictive flow".<ref name=AMG/> Time magazine's Christopher John Farley noted "Snoop's rapping isn't flashy, but it is catchy" and stated "His relaxed vocal style is a perfect match for Dre's bass-heavy producing. Snoop's voice is lithe enough to snake its way around the big beats," said Farley on November 29, 1993.<ref>Gangsta Rap, Doggystyle. Time. Retrieved April 19, 2008.</ref>

The ideas put forward through the lyrics include Snoop Doggy Dogg's adolescent urges, as he freely talks of casual sex, smoking marijuana and gunning down rival gang members. Time magazine remarked that the notions "are often unnecessarily graphic; at some points they're downright obscene" and that "the album would have been stronger if such misgivings about the criminal life, as well as Snoop's touches of introspection, had been applied to some of the cruder songs".<ref name="Time">Christopher John Farley (November 29, 1993). Gangsta Rap, Doggystyle. Time. Retrieved April 19, 2008.</ref> The album also covered gun play, drug dealing and pimping. The New York Times said that the lyrical concepts were delivered in "crudest, rudest terms".<ref name="NewYorkTimes">Jon Pareles (October 31, 1995). Critic's Notebook; Rappers Making Notoriety Pay Off. The New York Times. Retrieved April 19, 2008.</ref>

Some critics said Snoop Doggy Dogg was "obsessed with being a 'G', a gangster, a lawbreaker who smokes dope and kills with impunity" and that his lyrics depict the black-on-black crime in the inner-cities.<ref name=Rap-BlackRage/> The lyrics involve many derogatory terms against women, with expressions such as "bitches" and "hoes" being used throughout, which illustrates the feeling of sexism and oppression within American society.<ref name=Rap-BlackRage/> In certain tracks Snoop Doggy Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound casually speak of group sex, illustrating the demeaning of women.<ref name=Journal>Edward G. Armstrong. Gangsta Misogyny: A Content Analysis Of The Portrayals Of Violence Against Women In Rap Music Template:Webarchive. Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture, Vol. 8, Issue 2 (2001) pp. 96–126. Accessed May 27, 2008.</ref> Snoop Doggy Dogg's lyrics depict drugs, alcohol, sex, and money as methods of escape from oppression, but they also show an underside of the "gangsta" lifestyle and the results of following this lifestyle.<ref name=Rap-BlackRage/> The lyrics' violent representations, including murder and aggressive behaviour, have also generated controversy. C. DeLores Tucker of the National Political Congress of Black Women named gangsta rap "a profane and obscene glorification of murder and rape", which can be attributed to Doggystyle.<ref name=Journal/>

Content

"Who Am I? (What's My Name?)" was the first single released from the album, on November 11, 1993.<ref name="riaa">Template:Cite certification</ref> It peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart and reached No. 1 on the Hot Rap Singles, receiving a Gold certification from the RIAA on February 8, 1994.<ref name="riaa"/> It reached No. 20 on the UK Singles Chart in 1994 and re-entered the chart in 2004, reaching No. 100.<ref name=EveryHit>UK Top 40 Hit Database. everyHit.com. Accessed April 20, 2008. Note: User must define search parameters, i.e. "Snoop Dogg".</ref><ref name=ChartsPlus>UK Single Charts Template:Webarchive. ChartsPlus. Retrieved April 19, 2008.</ref>

"Gin and Juice" was the second single released on January 18, 1994.<ref name="riaa2">Template:Cite certification</ref> Like the previous single, it was a hit on multiple charts. It reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 13 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, No. 1 on Hot Rap Singles, and No. 39 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name=EveryHit/><ref name=AMG-Singles/> The RIAA certified it Gold on April 6, 1994.<ref name="riaa2"/> The song was nominated at the 1995 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Solo Performance, but lost to Queen Latifah's "U.N.I.T.Y.". "Doggy Dogg World" was released as a Europe-only single on August 8, 1994.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Even though the single was not officially released in the U.S., it received some radio airplay which resulted in position 19 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart.<ref name=AMG-Singles/> A music video was produced for the single, which gained American video TV-play and won the 1994 MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video. It reached No. 32 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name=EveryHit/>

"Lodi Dodi" and "Murder Was the Case" were not official singles, but they received radio airplay and charted in Rhythmic Top 40.<ref name=AMG-Singles>[[[:Template:AllMusic]] Doggystyle - Billboard Singles]. Allmusic. Retrieved April 19, 2008.</ref> An 18-minute music video was shot for the two songs, with an accompanying Murder Was the Case soundtrack.<ref name="autogenerated1">David Browne (February 3, 1995). Murder Was the Case: The Movie . Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 4, 2008.</ref> The video won the 1995 Video of the Year award at The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards. "Gin and Juice" was nominated at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Rap Solo Performance. A bonus track, "Gz Up, Hoes Down", was included in the album's first pressing, but not in later versions because of sample clearance issues. Snoop Doggy Dogg could not gain the rights to use the beats because the record company was not willing to pay license fees for using the samples.<ref name=SnoopDogg>Snoop Dogg Lyrics, Pictures, Albums and more. Snoop-Dogg.com. Retrieved April 20, 2008.</ref> "Gz Up, Hoes Down" was later released on the Death Row compilation "15 Years on Death Row".

A track titled "Tha Next Episode" was listed as the last track on the back cover of the first pressings, but not included in any pressing. It is considered the original material used for the 2000 Dr. Dre single "The Next Episode" but bears no resemblance to the later song. It was 4 minutes and 36 seconds (4:36) long.<ref name=DubCNN>Album Analysis. DubCNN.com. Retrieved April 20, 2008.</ref> "Tha Next Episode" was later released on the Dr. Dre mixtape Pretox under the name "Chronic Unreleased Studio Session", but only 1:10 long. "Doggystyle" featuring George Clinton was a 5:26 long outtake from the album sessions. It is a singing melody with vocals dominating the song and it extensively samples "Oh I" by Funkadelic from their album The Electric Spanking of War Babies. Jewell & The Brides of Funkenstein are featured on the chorus.<ref name=DubCNN/> The song was released on Death Row: The Lost Sessions Vol. 1 amongst other songs recorded by Snoop Doggy Dogg during his tenure at Death Row.

Legacy and influence

Hip-hop music

Doggystyle is seen by many hip hop pundits as a "classic".<ref name=About>10 Essential Hip-Hop Albums Template:Webarchive. About. Retrieved April 16, 2008.</ref> It is credited with defining West Coast hip hop; shifting the emphasis to more melodious, synth-driven, and funk-induced beats. About.com stated during the period the album was released, "Gangsta rap never sounded so sweet." The album is credited for further establishment of the slurred "lazy drawl" that sacrificed lyrical complexity for clarity and rhythmic cadence on Doggystyle and The Chronic.<ref name=AMG/><ref name=AMG-Bio/> The album is considered one of the first G-funk albums, the style of which many rappers duplicated in later years.<ref name=AMG/>

Hip-hop culture

It has been suggested by some writers and publications that Doggystyle has considerably affected African-American culture. Some publications have held the rap genre responsible for social problems such as sexual violence and sexism, which has been blamed on Snoop Doggy Dogg and other rappers for calling their controversial lyrics "keeping it real."<ref name=PimpsUpHosDown>T. Denean. (2007). Pimps Up, Ho's Down: Hip Hop's Hold on Young Black Women. pp. 12–15. New York: NYU Press. Template:ISBN.</ref> The problems of sexual violence and sexism are attributed to lyrics degrading women such as "bitches" and "ho's," which some believe have influenced black males.<ref name=Rap-BlackRage/><ref name=AACulture>Kevern Verney. (2003). African Americans and US Popular Culture . pp. 96–97. Routledge. Template:ISBN</ref> Snoop Doggy Dogg and other hip hop artists, including N.W.A, especially Eazy-E, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube (due to their success) and 2Pac, have been held accountable for developing the gangsta rap form; a genre which articulated the rage of the urban underclass and its sense of intense oppression and defiant rebellion, which has been attained through the ability to communicate free of censorship, and has allowed hip hop culture to become a dominant style and ethos throughout the world.<ref name=Rap-BlackRage/> Mariah Carey sampled the song "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)" in her 1999 album Rainbow for the remix of Heartbreaker which featured Missy Elliott and Da Brat.

The writers of Enculturation, Steven Best and Douglas Kellner, have noted that Snoop Doggy Dogg and other rappers only condemn violence when it is directed against them, otherwise "they celebrate it, internalize it, and embrace it as an ethos and means of self expression," which some believe has an effect on the black-on-black crime.<ref name=Rap-BlackRage/> The release of music videos from Doggystyle and The Chronic has enabled the artists to add visual illustrations to their lyrics, which generally involve Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg driving around South Central Los Angeles in a lowrider (a vehicle with lowered suspension). This imagery of the "gangsta lifestyle" is thought to have influenced young black males into trying to live the same lifestyle and it is also noted by T. Denean, writer of Pimps Up, Ho's Down: Hip Hop's Hold on Young Black Women, that the videos highlight the representation of class, race and Black masculinity within contemporary urban America.<ref name=AmIBlackEnoughp80>Todd Boyd. (1997). Am I Black Enough for You?: Popular Culture from the 'hood and Beyond. pp. 80–81. Indiana University Press. Template:ISBN.</ref>

Subsequent work

Doggystyle is generally considered Snoop Dogg's best album, in addition to being his highest charting and best-selling album as his later albums were certified double Platinum, Platinum or Gold although Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told was certified double Platinum making it his second best selling album and also his only other one to be certified multi Platinum.<ref name=AMG-Bio/><ref name="US200"/><ref name="USR&BAl"/><ref name=NYT-Snoop>Jon Pareles (November 26, 1996). Machismo In Rap Atop The Charts Template:Dead link The New York Times. Retrieved April 16, 2008.</ref>

It differs from following albums as his later work featured production from multiple individuals, such as The Neptunes, Timbaland and Daz Dillinger, with reduced input from Dr. Dre, which shows a shift from G-funk production.<ref name="AMG-Bio" /> Snoop Doggy Dogg's follow-up album, Tha Doggfather (1996), did not involve Dr. Dre, as he left Death Row Records. As a result, DJ Pooh was the main beat-maker for the album. Tha Doggfather followed the methods of a G-funk record and initially sold well, but received mixed reviews and failed to produce a major hit single.<ref name="AMG-Bio" /> In 1998, Snoop Dogg left Death Row and joined No Limit Records, changing his stage name from Snoop Doggy Dogg to Snoop Dogg. During his tenure at the label, he continued several of the themes from Doggystyle with follow-ups to earlier songs, such as "Gin & Juice II" (1998) and "Snoop Dogg (What's My Name II)" (2000).<ref name="AMG-R&G" />

Subsequent studio albums such as Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss (2002) and R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece (2004) exhibited a more mainstream, pop-oriented theme with new sounds, but remained "hardcore throughout" and featured "plenty of street and commercial appeal".<ref name=AMG-R&G>David Jeffries. [[[:Template:AllMusic]] R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece > Overview]. Allmusic. Accessed May 11, 2008.</ref> These releases included three hit singles, "Beautiful", "Drop It Like It's Hot" and "Signs". Snoop Dogg was credited for returning to his G-funk roots in 2006, which was established with his eighth studio album, Tha Blue Carpet Treatment (2006).<ref name=AMG-Bio/> The album was noted for being a "hard and very G-Funk record".<ref name=AMG-Bio/>

In March 2022, Doggystyle and other Death Row albums were removed from all streaming platforms.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In October 2022, Snoop announced a spiritual sequel of the album, Missionary, also produced by Dr. Dre. The album was released by Death Row Records and Dr. Dre's label, Aftermath, on December 13, 2024.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

On March 10, 2023, Doggystyle and many other Death Row releases were brought back to streaming services.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings Template:Music ratings

Doggystyle was released to widespread critical acclaim. Rolling Stone writer Touré mentioned "Doggystyle is filled with verbal and vocal feats that meet its high expectations. It speeds through 55 minutes of constant talk as if on a suicide hot line".<ref name=RollingStone/> David Browne of Entertainment Weekly noted "It is the most limber, low-rider gangsta album to date" and went on to say "Doggystyle is a grim, bleak-faced record. It's set in a dead-end, no-tomorrow world of cheap thrills".<ref name=EW/> Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic stated "Doggystyle and The Chronic stand proudly together as the twin pinnacles of West Coast G-funk hip-hop of the early '90s"<ref name=AMG/> Stylus magazine presented "The Chronic vs. Doggystyle" article, and stated a strong point of Doggystyle compared to Dre's album was its follow-up singles and that "some of the album tracks are more famous than the singles".<ref name=Stylus-TheChronicVsDoggystyle>Template:Cite web</ref>

Vibe magazine expressed that "Snoop is no ordinary gangsta; that's impossible for an artist this playful. On his debut, with Dre riding shotgun anthems abound as often as gin-soaked debauchery".<ref name="Vibe">Vibe 150: West Coast Template:Webarchive. Vibe. Accessed May 20, 2008.</ref> The Source magazine gave the album a 4/5 mic rating. It said Snoop Doggy Dogg emerged as a rapper who lived up to all the advance hype which came from his work on The Chronic, and discussed songs on the record, stating "If 'Murder Was The Case' is a stroke of near genius, then 'Lodi Dodi' is an example of total genius."<ref name="TheSource" /> NME magazine called the lead single "a pinnacle he conquered effortlessly" and went on to name the record a "benchmark album".<ref name="NME-DGITBS">Template:Cite journal</ref>

The album also received some negative criticism. Erlewine mentioned the album did not "surprise or offer anything that wasn't already on The Chronic".<ref name=AMG/> Christopher John Farley noted Snoop Doggy Dogg had little examination over his emotions and feelings.<ref name=Time/> David Browne spoke of "Ain't No Fun", stating it was an example of how "musically artful, yet lyrically repellent, this album can be" and went on to say, "It's easy to be impressed one moment and appalled the next".<ref name=EW/> Renowned rock critic Robert Christgau gave the album a "dud" rating,<ref name="Christgau">Template:Cite news</ref> which signifies "a bad record whose details rarely merit further thought. At the upper level it may merely be overrated, disappointing, or dull. Down below it may be contemptible."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> QTemplate:'s Danny Kelly observed: "Snoop Doggy Dogg's record is more or less a 19-track homage to/gleeful rip off of George Clinton's 'Atomic Dog' ... It's inclined to become a touch unimaginative; a tad, let's be honest, dull ... And the sleeve competes with The Waterboys' Dream Harder and Billy Joel's River of Dreams as the worst attached to a recent release."<ref name="ReferenceA">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Despite the initial mixed criticism, critical perception of the album later improved, as Doggystyle has earned several accolades and rankings on critics' "best album" lists.Template:Citation needed A review of the album's reissue upped QTemplate:'s rating from three to four stars out of five. "A modern classic," observed reviewer Tom Doyle.<ref name="Doyle">Template:Cite journal</ref> In 2020, "Doggystyle" placed 340 in Rolling Stone's Top 500 Albums of All Time. The album was also placed at number 84 on Apple Music's 100 Best Albums list in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Accolades

Publication	Country	Accolade	Year	Rank
About.com	United States	10 Essential Hip-Hop Albums<ref name="About"/>	2006	10
Blender	U.S.	500 CDs You Must Own Before You DieTemplate:Citation needed	2003	*
Ego Trip	U.S.	Hip Hop's 25 Greatest Albums by Year 1980–98Template:Citation needed	1999	3
Pause & Play	U.S.	Albums Inducted into a Time Capsule, One Album per WeekTemplate:Citation needed	-	*
Pause & Play	U.S.	The 90s Top 100 Essential AlbumsTemplate:Citation needed	1999	11
Pitchfork	U.S.	The 100 Best Rap Albums of All Time<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2025	100
Rolling Stone	U.S.	The Essential Recordings of the 90s<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1999	*
Rolling Stone	U.S.	The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	2020	340
Rolling Stone (Chris Rock)	U.S.	The Chris Rock 25<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	2005	2
Stylus	U.S.	Top 200 Albums of All timeTemplate:Citation needed	2004	115
The Source	U.S.	The 100 Best Rap AlbumsTemplate:Citation needed	1998	*
The New Nation	United Kingdom	Top 100 Albums by Black ArtistsTemplate:Citation needed	-	30
Robert Dimery	-	1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	2005	*
* denotes an unranked list

Commercial performance

Doggystyle debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, powered by spectacular first week sales of 806,000 copies.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the second week Doggystyle remained at the top of the Billboard 200, selling 378,000 copies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the third week the album dropped to number 2 on the chart, selling 259,000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the fourth week the album dropped to number 3 on the Billboard 200, selling 297,000 copies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the fifth week the album remained number 3 on the Billboard 200, selling 407,000 copies.<ref name=lastweekatnumberone>Template:Cite web</ref> In the sixth week the album returned to the top of the Billboard 200, selling 270,000 copies, marking Doggystyle's last week at the top of the chart to date.<ref name=lastweekatnumberone/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Doggystyle topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for five weeks.<ref name="USR&BAl"/> As of November 2015, the album had sold seven million copies in the United States, and over eleven million copies worldwide.<ref name=Sales/>

It was certified four times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on May 31, 1994.<ref name="RIAA" /> It is Snoop Doggy Dogg's most successful album; his following albums were certified single or double platinum.<ref name="RIAA-SnoopDogg">RIAA Searchable database - Snoop Dogg Template:Webarchive. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 16, 2008.</ref> Doggystyle first appeared on music charts in 1993, peaking on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums at No. 1.<ref name="US200" /><ref name="USR&BAl" /> It re-peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 in January 1994, when it was already certified three times platinum by the RIAA.<ref name="Variety">Bruce Haring (February 2, 1994). Albums chart course to blockbuster sales. Variety. Retrieved June 5, 2008.</ref> The record was mildly successful in Europe, reaching No. 18 in Sweden, No. 21 in Germany and No. 35 in Austria. It also peaked at No. 25 on the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand album chart.<ref name="AUT" /><ref name="GER" /><ref name="NZ" /><ref name="SWE" /> At the end of 1994, the album was No. 3 on the Billboard Year-End Top Albums Chart and No. 1 on the Billboard Year-End Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart.<ref>The Billboard 200 1994. Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2008.</ref><ref>Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 1994 Template:Webarchive. Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2008.</ref> It re-entered the charts in 2003, peaking on the Ireland Albums Top 75 at No. 70.<ref name="IRL" /> Template:As of, it had spent a total of 74 nonconsecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 album chart.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Track listing

All songs produced by Dr. Dre.

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Notes

"Gz Up, Hoes Down" was included on initial album pressings, but was subsequently omitted due to sample clearance issues. It was later included on the 2006 compilation, 15 Years on Death Row, as well as 30th anniversary vinyl and CD pressings.
2001 pressings and onwards condense the album's interludes with the proceeding tracks; totaling 13 tracks.
On the U.S. original release's back cover "Gz Up, Hoes Down" is erroneously listed after "Pump Pump" instead of immediately before.
Original pressings in Europe features track names for all interludes - the interlude track names listed above are taken from the said European release. "W Balls" was the only interlude listed on the original American release. All interludes, including "W Balls" were later omitted from all track listings.
The original pressings of the album, which contains "Gz Up, Hoes Down", list an outro track titled, "Tha Next Episode", but does not feature on any pressings of the album. A low-quality recording of the song later leaked online sometime in the late 2000s.

Cut tracks

"Tha Next Episode", produced by and featuring Dr. Dre, was listed on the track listing provided to retailers before the album's release, but does not feature on any pressings of the album. A similar instrumental (i.e., it used the same sample as its main melody) was later used for Warren G's track "Runnin' Wit No Breaks" from his 1994 debut album, Regulate...G Funk Era<ref name="djluicidal.com">Template:Cite web</ref> Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre later recorded a track titled "The Next Episode" for Dre's second studio album, 2001, which is completely different from the original.
"Doggystyle", featuring Jewell and George Clinton, was recorded during the album sessions but remained unreleased until its inclusion on the compilation album Death Row: The Lost Sessions Vol. 1<ref name="djluicidal.com"/>
"The Root of All Evil (Outro)", featuring Teena Marie, was recorded during the album sessions but remained unreleased until its inclusion on the compilation album Death Row: The Lost Sessions Vol. 1. There's also a demo version whith extra background vocals. The instrumental was later significantly reworked and used for the remix of "California Love", by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre.
"Every Single Day", featuring Kurupt, Jewell and Nate Dogg, was recorded during the album sessions, remaining unreleased until an alternate version was released on Tha Dogg Pound compilation album 2002. There's also a version which features Daz Dillinger replacing Snoop Dogg's verses.
"Niggas Don't Give A Fuck" appears on the Music from the Motion Picture Poetic Justice. There's also two different demo versions.
"Smoke On", featuring Hug.
"Big Bitches"
"Dogg Pound 4 Life (Original version)" An alternate version was released on the Above the Rim: The Soundtrack where Snoop Dogg has a different verse.
"Fallin' Asleep On Death Row" was recorded during the album sessions but remained unreleased until its inclusion on the compilation album Death Row: The Lost Sessions Vol. 1<ref name="djluicidal.com"/>
"Poor Young Dave" was recorded during the album sessions but remained unreleased until its inclusion on The Chronic Re-Lit & From The Vault DVD.
"Eat A Dick" was recorded during the album sessions but remained unreleased until its inclusion on the compilation album Death Row: The Lost Sessions Vol. 1<ref name="djluicidal.com"/>

Credits and personnel

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Dr. Dre – producer, vocals, drum programming, mixing engineer, mastering engineer
Snoop Doggy Dogg – lead vocals, performer
Daz Dillinger – vocals, performer, additional vocals
Tha Dogg Pound – performer, vocals
The Dramatics – performer
The Lady of Rage – performer, additional vocals
RBX – performer
Kurupt – performer
Nate Dogg – performer, additional vocals
Warren G – performer, vocals
Bow Wow – performer (featured)
George Clinton – performer, additional vocals
Jewell – performer, additional vocals
Mr. Malik – performer, additional vocals
Ricky Harris – performer, additional vocals
The Queen of Funk – performer (featured)
The D.O.C. – performer
Daz Dillinger – additional vocals
Tha Dogg Pound – additional vocals
Dr. Dre – additional vocals
George Clinton – additional vocals
Jewell – additional vocals
The Lady of Rage – additional vocals
Lashann Dendy – additional vocals
LeShaun – additional vocals
Mr. Malik – additional vocals
Nanci Fletcher – additional vocals
Ricky Harris – additional vocals
Shana Dee – additional vocals
Snoop Dogg – additional vocals
Tony Green – additional vocals
Warren G – additional vocals

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Suge Knight – executive producer
Bernie Grundman – mastering engineer
Chris "The Glove" Taylor – songwriter, mixing engineer
Ulrich Wild – engineer, recording engineer
Joe Cool – cover artwork
Kimberly Holt – art direction, project coordinator
Kimberly Brown – project coordinator
Anita Sisaath – video director
Calvin Caday – video director
Fab 5 Freddy – video director
Ricky Harris – video director
Pamella D’Pella – video location manager
Dan Winters – photography
Chi Modu – photography
Daz Dillinger – producer
Warren G – producer
Dr. Dre – producer
Daz Dillinger – writer
Dr. Dre – writer
Warren G – writer
Belinda Wilson – writer
Bootsy Collins – writer
Daniel Webster – writer
Don Blackman – writer
Garry Shider – writer
George Clinton – writer
Hachidai Nakamura – writer
Harry Wayne Casey – writer
Jerome 'Bigfoot' Brailey – writer
Kurupt – writer
The Lady of Rage – writer
Mark Adams – writer
Mr. Malik – writer
Mose Davis – writer
Nanci Fletcher – writer
Nate Dogg – writer
Philippe Wynne – writer
Ray Turner – writer
Richard "Dimples" Fields – writer
Richard Finch – writer
Rokusuke Ei – writer
Sam Sneed – writer
Slick Rick – writer
Snoop Dogg – writer
Steve Arrington – writer
Steve Washington – writer
The D.O.C. – writer
Warren G – writer
Publisher : Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ on but Funkin’, Beane Tribe Publishing, Bridgeport Music, Cotillion Records, EMI Longitude Music, EMI Music Publishing, eOne Music, Kobalt Music, Sony Music Entertainment, Southfield Music, Suge Publishing, Universal Music Group, Warner/Chappell, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Distributor : Atlantic Records, Death Row Records, Priority Records

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Charts