Album number 20 ‘Missionary’ from rapper Snoop Dog, produced by best pal Dr. Dre, is finally being released on December 13th 2024 – following years of media speculation.
The album was first hinted by Snoop on social media at the end of 2022. He finally let slip that ‘Missionary’ was in the works during an appearance on Stephen Smith’s podcast, ‘Know Mercy’ in the early part of 2023:
“I’m a tell you this, you’re the first one to hear this: me and Dr. Dre have been working on an album for the past two months and it’ll be done in November. It’s produced by Dr. Dre, it’s our 30th anniversary to ‘Doggystyle’. And the name of the album is ‘Missionary’”
When asked to share why they chose the name, Snoop bluntly told Smith, “The first album was called ‘Doggystyle’”
Need he say more! Snoop didn’t. He just laughed in his inimitable way!
‘Missionary’ – released by the infamous Death Row Records label – will feature the “cream of the rap world crop” including Eminem, Dre, 50 Cent, Method Man, Jelly Roll, Jhené Aiko, Alus, K.A.A.N., Smitty, BJ the Chicago Kid, Dem Jointz, Cocoa Sarai, Stalone and Fat Money.
Surprisingly, it also features the voice of the late Tom Petty on track 6 ‘Last Dance with Mary Jane’ and the more conservative, soulful singing legend Sting on track 8 ‘Another Part of Me’.
Dre said: “This one is going to show a different level of maturity with my music. I feel like this is some of the best music I’ve done in my career”.
Snoop & Dre released their first ever album ‘Doggystyle’ in 1993 to huge fanfare. It was number 1 on the Billboard 200, selling over 800,000 copies in its first week alone – the fastest-selling hip-hop album of all time. In addition, The Source added it to its “100 Best Hip-Hop Albums of All Time.”
This new outing, ‘Missionary’ with a 15-strong tracklist, more than 30 years later, is set to do more of the same. A must purchase!
ROCKS RATING: *****
