Doggumentary received mixed reviews from most critics. The album debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200.[2] The album serves as the follow-up to Snoop's tenth studio album Malice n Wonderland (2009).
Background
Snoop Dogg first announced that he was working on a sequel to his 1993 debut album Doggystyle during a studio session with Hip hop producer and rapperSwizz Beatz. The two stated they knocked out eighteen tracks and Snoop ended the video out saying he gave him some gangsta tracks, some R&B tracks and some Hip Hop tracks.[3][4] Snoop Dogg called off plans to release the sequel to his classic debut Doggystyle, instead opting for the title Doggumentary Music for his 11th studio album, set for release in March 2011 on Priority/EMI Records. "I have been in the game for so long and still have the same passion I did when I first started. I want my fans to ride with me on this one and know that I am so focused on bringing good music to them," explained the veteran MC. "It's called Doggumentary Music because this is my life and I want to share my music, and my process of making it, with the fans."[5]
Recording and artwork
Rap-Up reported that Snoop Dogg has recorded with Wiz Khalifa on a track, titled “This Weed Iz Mine.” The smokers’ anthem is scheduled to appear on Snoop's 11th studio album Doggumentary Music, along with the Scoop DeVille-produced lead single “New Year's Eve and with other songs including “Rollin’ in My Malibu,” “Oh Boy,” and collaborations with Lil Jon and Swizz Beatz.[6] The rapper announced plans to work with Katy Perry again after the pair's number one single "California Gurls" stating, "We're trying to get together and do something on my new album...so [I'm] definitely in contact with her." Snoop told OK! magazine about Perry, "She's a sweet girl, and I had fun making the record with her. Like I said, I'm looking forward to her being on my record as well."[7] Snoop Dogg also recorded with Damon Albarn's animated alternative hip hop group Gorillaz. The song is reportedly left over from the Plastic Beach sessions, in which Snoop collaborated on the track "Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach" Snoop said about the collaboration: "We did that record in London, England at their studio. The track made me wanna' sing & have fun & what not I don't give a fuck, it's like maybe I can smoke witchu' maybe I can't, you know what I'm saying?"[8]
Snoop Dogg revealed to MTV that he was looking to get a Britney Spears duet for the album.[9] On November 27, 2010 Snoop Dogg was in the studio with producer David Banner who produced two beats for him.[10]
The artwork shows a chair with Snoop Dogg’s name above and the album title below.
Snoop Dogg announced via Twitter that he would be joining the ranks of emcees Kanye West, Timbaland, Crooked I, and the many prior who released weekly songs in preparation for upcoming projects. Dubbed "Puff Puff Pass Tuesdays," Snoop plans to release a new song each week starting January 11, 2011 (with song "El Lay"), until the release of his album.[14][15]
Doggumentary received mixed reviews from most music critics.[26] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 58, based on 15 reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews".[26] Rave Magazine gave it two-and-a-half stars.[27]
Commercial performance
Doggumentary debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 50,000 copies in its first week, marking the fourth highest debut of the week.[28] It serves as Snoop Dogg's eleventh top-ten album in the United States.[29] The album dropped to the number 35 in its second week, selling an additional 14,000 units.[30] In its third week, the album selling 7,800 copies, for a third-week total of 72,000 units.[31]
Singles
"New Year's Eve" was the first official promotional single released from Doggumentary, it was released on November 5, 2010, on the iTunes Store.[32] The track peaked on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at number 66.[33] The song features American singer and songwriter Marty James and is produced by Scoop DeVille, producer of Snoop's 2009 single "I Wanna Rock". It did not however make the final cut of the album.[34]
"Wet" the first official lead single from the album. The song was recorded specifically for Prince William's bachelor's party. Snoop's spokespeople bill the song as a sequel to 2007's "Sexual Eruption." Produced by the Cataracs of Far East Movement fame, Snoop spoke of the gift “When I heard the royal family wanted to have me perform in celebration of Prince William's marriage, I knew I had to give them a little something." He continued, “’Wet’ is the perfect anthem for Prince William or any playa to get the club smokin’."[35] The song was released on iTunes on December 17, 2010.[36] The edited version, entitled "Sweat" will be released to US urban radio stations on January 11, 2011.[37] The single entered the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at number 57, it charted at number 25 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart. The official remix, featuring Jim Jones and Shawty Lo, was released on February 8, 2011 as a part of Snoop Dogg's Puff Puff Pass Tuesdays giveaway.[38]
"Gangbang Rookie" was the second official promotional single from the album. The track features rapper Pilot and was released to the iTunes Store on January 14, 2011.[39] The single was produced by Jake One.
"Platinum" was the third official promotional single from the album. The track features singer R. Kelly and was released to the iTunes Store on February 22, 2011.[40] The single was produced by Lex Luger. Snoop Dogg revealed to MTV about the collaboration "I think me and Kells understand who we are and what we do to make each other better," Snoop said. "He has a deep love for music, and sometimes he goes over the head of the people that's listening just like myself, because we're too in-depth with music. We don't just listen to our genre. We find ourselves enjoying all walks of music." The song, however, almost didn't make the final cut, as Snoop had finished up recording the album. Snoop's friend previewed the Lex Luger track for the rapper, which impressed him enough to jot down a few bars. After sending his sketch to Kelly, the crooner replied with his own rough demo, leading the pair to finally complete the record.[41]
Snoop Dogg has filmed seven more music videos for the album. The seven include one with guest rappers E-40 and Young Jeezy for "My Fuckin' House", a video with singer/producer Mr. Porter, the producer and featured artist for the song "My Own Way", one with rapper Pilot for "Gangbang Rookie", another with rapper Wiz Khalifa for "This Weed Iz Mine", one for "El Lay" featuring Marty James, an animated video for "Take U Home", featuring Too Short, Kokane, and Daz Dillinger, and a video for Snoop's song "The Way Life Used to Be".[48][49][50][51][52]
"Wonder What It Do" contains interpolations of "Oh Honey" written by Ken Gold and Michael Lawrence Denne; "Lowdown" written by David Paich and William Scaggs and performed by Boz Scaggs; and "Heart Beat" written by Kenton Nix.
"Peer Pressure" contains interpolations of "Street Life" written by Will Jennings and Leslie Sample.
