The Doggfather. Uncle Snoop. "Todd." The legendary Snoop Dogg goes by many names. Yet regardless of what you call him, Snoop has proven himself to be, without discussion, one of the most enduring and iconic figures in the entire music industry. Everyone loves him, from suburban parents to Long Beach crips. Yet such admiration did not flourish overnight. Sometimes, it feels like some young fans take Snoop's musical legacy for granted; it's hard to blame them, as he's become such a recognizable cultural presence, far beyond the scope of his discography.
Lest we forget, on November 23rd, 1993, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre united to change the game with Doggystyle.
Though singles like "Gin & Juice," "Who Am I?" and "Tha Shiznit" stormed the charts, the album was, and is, insanely listenable from start to finish. Snoop took a moment to reflect on Instagram, throwing up a screenshot of The Source's original four mic review; hindsight certainly is amusing, is it not? In any case, Snoop has clearly proven his longevity, and Doggystyle serves as a constant reminder of the young emcee's electrifying presence.
In a classic case of real recognize real, Nas took a moment to praise his former collaborator. "Happy 25 years to this masterpiece," writes Jones, with whom Snoop previously collaborated with on Hip Hop Is Dead's "Play On Playa." A fellow alumnus of the "early nineties classic" club, Nas likely understands the significance of Snoop's debut, which likely played a pivotal role in cutting through tension between East and West. Respec to Snoop Dogg for his accomplishment, and a career for the ages.