Snoop Dogg Reminisces on His Illustrious Career With 15th Album ‘Neva Left’

Jordan Bailey

Snoop Dogg never quits, and based on the title of his latest album, he’s “Neva Left” either.

America’s doggfather has just released his 15th studio album, a milestone in any musician’s career. This one is particularly special, however, because Snoop has decided to take a look back. The album cover says it all as a younger version of the Long Beach native stands beneath a California Highway 187 sign, with the album title written in graffiti on the post. The young MC seen here is hungry, and it appears these many years later, he’s still got his appetite.

“Neva Left” begins with an ode to Wu-Tang, a group which Snoop has worked with in the past. East Coast meets West Coast here as this title track samples the famed “C.R.E.A.M.” track from Wu’s legendary debut album back in ’93. The opening lines read: “Word on the streets is you ain’t what you used to be.” A challenge as it were, for the aging MC to prove how much he has left in the tank. To prove that he can still start a party.

In similar fashion, “Bacc in da Dayz” once again bridges the gap between East and West with a sample of A Tribe Called Quest’s “Check the Rhime.” Both of these tracks have a very pleasant old-school vibe to them—the samples being the main reason of course—but Snoop’s flow still fits perfectly over this style with which he’s so synonymous. The album gets progressively modern as it goes on. By the fourth track, “Trash Bags,” you’re in trap country. “Go On” harkens back to Snoop’s foray into the pop/rap territory, á la “Beautiful” from 2002’s full-length featuring Pharrell.

Nearly twenty artists are featured on “Neva Left,” all of whom are unable to steal thunder from the OG with his name on the cover. However, from young to old, there are plenty of features worth mentioning. Nef the Pharaoh, a twenty-two-year-old rapper from Sacramento makes an appearance on “Toss It” where his relaxed, confident tone makes the hook all the more enjoyable. The sonically cosmic “420 (Blaze Up)” is, of course, an ode the plant Snoop so lovingly admires: “A lot of people smoke weed just to get by, but I see things differently/Medically, physically, theoretically.” Devin the Dude, Wiz Khalifa and DJ Battlecat show up here as well.

Meanwhile, “Lavender” features the jazz group BADBADNOTGOOD. Both have shown up on a lot of hip-hop albums lately, including Ghostface Killah and Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN.” Fellow OG KRS-One raps on the epically funky nostalgia trip “Let Us Begin,” but the most notable of them all is the aptly-named “Mount Kushmore.” Just picture Mouth Rushmore but with the Presidential heads replaced with Redman, Method Man, B-Real and Snoop…then picture it on weed. This marijuana anthem is hype in all the right ways. Each verse gives a unique take on the herb, and in spectacularly old-school-house-party fashion. Second to last on the record is “I’m Still Here” which features a surprise appearance by Kendrick Lamar. Here, the fellow Cali rapper gives spoken-word praise where it belongs: to Snoop and his unbridled persistence in a genre that’s flooded with artists.

Snoop wanted this record to showcase every phase of himself as a musician, and throughout the exhaustive sixteen-track effort, he succeeds. It’s a true retrospective that somehow remains fresh. Snoop has that ability. His voice throughout the album sounds just as striking and cooly subdued as it did twenty plus years ago. The man is a legend and will unequivocally go down as one of the greatest MCs of all time.

“Neva Left” is available on Apple Music May 19.