''Ego Trippin' '' is the ninth studio album by American
rapper
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
Doggystyle Records
Doggy Style Records (formerly known as Dogghouse Records) is an American record label founded by rapper Snoop Dogg in 1995. It is named after Snoop Dogg's debut album, ''Doggystyle'' (1993).
History
On July 6, 1995, Doggy Style Records, Inc. ...
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label established by David Geffen and owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M Records imprint.
Founded in 1980, Geffen Records has been a part of Interscope Geffen A&M since 1999 and h ...
.Amazon.com: Ego Trippin': Snoop Dogg: Music Amazon. Accessed March 2, 2008. The album debuted at number 3 on the US ''Billboard'' 200, selling 137,000 copies in its first week. Upon its release, the album received generally positive reviews from music critics.
Background
The album was originally set to feature no guests and showcase Snoop Dogg only, hence the title "Ego Trippin'".Jokesta (August 29, 2007) Snoop Goes Solo on Ego Trippin', Inspired by Amy Winehouse . DefSounds. Accessed December 31, 2007. However, Snoop Dogg proved this concept untrue as he scheduled tracks with the likes of Charlie Wilson, among others.Shaheem Reid, with reporting by Brennan Williams (January 10, 2008) Snoop Dogg Aims for the Stars: Madonna, Bono, Mick Jagger on His Collabo Wish List VH1. Accessed March 2, 2008. All of the photography was taken at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, Snoop's high school. Snoop Dogg also went on to admit he used
ghostwriter
A ghostwriter is hired to write literary or journalistic works, speeches, or other texts that are officially credited to another person as the author. Celebrities, executives, participants in timely news stories, and political leaders often ...
s for this album, such as American rapper Problem, among others.
Snoop Dogg originally confirmed that
Pharrell
Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom h ...
, Nelly and Charlie Wilson would appear on a track entitled "Feet Don't Fail Me Now", and that he also would like to work with Bono, Madonna and
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English singer and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band the Rolling Stones. His ongoing songwriting partnershi ...
as well. However, "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" and none of the collaborations would make the final album cut except for Charlie Wilson's features. Collaborations with
DJ Quik
David Marvin Blake (born January 18, 1970), better known by his stage names DJ Quik or Da Quiksta, is an American rapper and producer, known for his production in the G-funk style of West Coast hip-hop. Blake has collaborated with Snoop Dogg, ...
,
Raphael Saadiq
Raphael Saadiq (; born Charles Ray Wiggins; May 14, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He rose to fame as a member of the multiplatinum group Tony! Toni! Toné! In addition to his solo and group ...
,
Teddy Riley
Edward Theodore Riley (born October 8, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer credited with the creation of the New Jack Swing genre. Riley credits Barry Michael Cooper with giving the genre its name.Hogan, Paul. "Tedd ...
and
Too Short
Todd Anthony Shaw (born April 28, 1966), better known by the stage name Too Short (stylized as Too $hort), is an American rapper and record producer. He became famous in the West Coast hip hop scene in the late 1980s, with lyrics often based on ...
were also scheduled for the album.Shaheem Reid (February 9, 2008) Snoop Dogg Previews Ego Trippin' MTV. Accessed February 14, 2008. Snoop Dogg formed a production supergroup for the album called "
QDT
QDT is a production supergroup, featuring DJ Quik, Snoop Dogg and Teddy Riley.Everlast for a country song called "Johnny Cash".JustinL (February 27, 2008) Snoop Dogg - Ego Trippin' (March 11th Release) dubcnn.com. Accessed February 27, 2008. However, the track's title was changed to "My Medicine" with Everlast playing the guitar. Another track with Charlie Wilson and
The Gap Band
The Gap Band was an American R&B and funk band that rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. The band consisted of three brothers: Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson, along with other members; it was named after streets (Greenwood, Archer, and ...
called "Can't Say Goodbye" was also confirmed for the album. Snoop Dogg reminisced on the track stating, "This song makes me want to cry every time I hear it. It is a reflection of my life and how I have grown as not only an artist but also a man - it is about me staying true to where I came from while having to accept where I am in my life today, it's deep".Snoop Dogg and Charlie Wilson both performed 'Can't Say Goodbye' on ''
American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...
s 'Idol Gives Back' Charity Performance. On July 29, 2008
BET
Black Entertainment Television (acronym BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting African-American audiences. It is owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global via BET Networks and has offices in New York City, Los ...
's ''
106 & Park
''106 & Park'' is an American hip hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that was broadcast on weekdays at 6:00 pm ET/5:00 pm CT on BET; it aired on a one-day delay on BET International. It was the network's highest- rate ...
'' premiered Snoop Dogg's video for "Those Gurlz".
Track 2, "Press Play" was featured in the video game '' Midnight Club: Los Angeles''.
Critical reception
''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' said, " s languorous rapping has a way of inspiring inventively freaky sounds from producers... Result: the best Snoop disc in years."
''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...
'' said, "All of Snoop's personalities make appearances on his ninth CD, Ego Trippin'....It's sentimental, it's fun... Maybe this old Dogg doesn't need any new tricks." ''
Vibe
''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down producti ...
'' said, "Lead single 'Sensual Seduction' is an undeniable masterpiece of throwback funk."
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number three on the US ''Billboard'' 200 chart, selling 137,000 copies in its first week. In its second week the album fell to number seven on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, selling 57,000 copies, for a two-week total of 194,000 copies. ''Ego Trippin was the tenth best selling hip hop album of the year. As of 2011, the album has sold 401,000 copies in the United States.
Track listing
Information is based on the album's Liner NotesSnoop Dogg. "Ego Trippin'" (CD Liner Notes). Doggystyle / Geffen. 2008.
Notes
*"A Word Witchya!" samples " Distant Lover" performed by Marvin Gaye
*"Press Play" samples "Voyage to Atlantis" performed by
The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers ( ) are an American musical group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, that began as a vocal trio consisting of brothers O'Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley in the 1950s. With a career spanning over seven decade ...
*"Cool" is a cover of The Time's song "Cool"
*"Sets Up" samples "Hola' Hovito" performed by Jay-Z
*"Deez Hollywood Nights" samples "Hollywood Knights" performed by Brooklyn Dreams
*"My Medicine" samples the traditional nursery rhyme "
Jack Be Nimble
"Jack Be Nimble" is an English language nursery rhyme. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 13902.1882
Lyrics
The most common version of the rhyme is:
:Jack be nimble,
:Jack be quick,
:Jack jump over
:The candlestickI. Opie and P. Opie, ...
"
*"Those Girls" samples "
Too Much Heaven
"Too Much Heaven" is a song by the Bee Gees, which was the band's contribution to the "Music for UNICEF" fund. They performed it at the Music for UNICEF Concert on 9 January 1979. The song later found its way to the group's thirteenth origina ...
" performed by
The Bee Gees
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
*"One Chance (Make it Good)" samples "Make It Good" performed by Prince Philip Mitchell
*"Why Did You Leave Me" samples "Celtic Rain" performed by
Mike Oldfield
Mike may refer to:
Animals
* Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum
* Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off
* Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and document ...
*"Can't Say Goodbye" samples "
The Way It Is The Way It Is may refer to:
Music
* ''The Way It Is'' (Bruce Hornsby album), by Bruce Hornsby and the Range
** "The Way It Is" (Bruce Hornsby song), the title song
* ''The Way It Is'' (Glenn Hughes album), or the title song
* ''The Way It Is' ...
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine (often abbreviated as RATM or shortened to simply Rage) is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commer ...
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's Liner Notes and
Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
Ron Fair
Ronald Fair is an American A&R executive, record producer, record executive, musical arranger, recording engineer and conductor. In a career that has spanned over 30 years at major record labels he has produced and arranged hits for several ar ...
– arranger (6)
* Whitey Ford – producer
*
Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop (born December 13, 1967), known professionally as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, comedian, and singer. He became widely known for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the 2004 biographical film ''Ray'', for which he won the A ...
Kurupt
Ricardo Emmanuel Brown (born November 23, 1972), better known by his stage name Kurupt, is an American rapper and record producer who aided gangsta rap's rise via 1990s verses helping set lasting trends. He is one half of the rap duo Tha Dogg Po ...
– additional lead vocals (2)
* Lady G - background vocals (3)
* Trevor Lawrence Jr. – drums (16)
*
Terrace Martin
Terrace Jamahl Martin (born December 28, 1978) is an American musician, rapper, singer, and record producer. He is perhaps best known for producing records for several prominent artists in the music industry, including Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dog ...
- vocals (5, background on 15), additional music arranger (1-2, 7, 11-12, 17, 19), grand piano (19), keyboards (1, 8, 11-12, 14, 17), synthesizer (5), alto sax (2, 5), percussion (1, 12)
* Andrew Mezzi – mixing assistant
* Mistah F.A.B. – vocals (7)
* Peter Mokran – mixing
* Richard Niles – engineer
* Bobby Ozuna - drums, percussion (8)
* Neil Pogue – mixing
* Omar Reyna – engineer
*
Teddy Riley
Edward Theodore Riley (born October 8, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer credited with the creation of the New Jack Swing genre. Riley credits Barry Michael Cooper with giving the genre its name.Hogan, Paul. "Tedd ...
Raphael Saadiq
Raphael Saadiq (; born Charles Ray Wiggins; May 14, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He rose to fame as a member of the multiplatinum group Tony! Toni! Toné! In addition to his solo and group ...
Too Short
Todd Anthony Shaw (born April 28, 1966), better known by the stage name Too Short (stylized as Too $hort), is an American rapper and record producer. He became famous in the West Coast hip hop scene in the late 1980s, with lyrics often based on ...
Kamasi Washington
Kamasi Washington (born February 18, 1981) is an American jazz saxophonist, usually playing tenor saxophone. Archived July 9, 2015.
Career
Washington was born in 1981 and raised in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of the Academy of ...
Whitey Ford
Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford (October 21, 1928 – October 8, 2020), nicknamed "the Chairman of the Board", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played his entire 16-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees ...
– guitar (16)
* Marlon Williams – guitar (1, 5, 11, 19)
* Meelah Williams – background vocals (9)
* Pharrell Williams - additional vocals (10)
* Charlie Wilson – additional lead vocals (3, 21)
* Brandon Winbush - additional vocals (18)
* Dante Winslow - trumpet (2)
* Dave Young – background vocals (8)