DOGG FOOD

Tha Dogg Pound: Dat Nigga Daz, Kurupt (vocals). Additional personnel: Snoop Doggy Dogg, Nate Dogg, Michel'le, Rage, Mr. Malik, Big Pimpin Delemond, Val Young, Kevin "Slo Jammin" James, Ricky Harris, Mz. So 'Sentral, Tray Deee, Stacey Smallie, Rochelle Wright, Prince Ital Joe, Nancy Fletcher (vocals); Ricardo Rouse (guitar); Priest "Superfly" Brooks (keyboards); Carl "Butch" Small (percussion); Overdose (drum programming); Kevin "K.V." Varnado (background vocals). Producers: Dat Nigga Daz, DJ Pooh, Kurupt. Engineers include: Keston Wright, Rick Clifford, Tommy Daugherty. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Of all the hip-hop albums to make one's debut on, Tha Dogg Pound were lucky enough to make a name for themselves on Snoop Doggy Dogg's multi-platinum DOGGYSTYLE. Their raw, uncut lyrics and pimp-gangsta attitude created a high demand for the group, and backed by Death Row Records, it was only a matter of time before Kurupt and Dat Nigga Daz came forward with their own CHRONIC-type bomb. Thus, DOGG FOOD. The album's obvious distinction from the rest of the Death Row family of releases is that the Dr. is not in the studio. Still, DOGG FOOD is full of top-notch West Coast funk, with Daz behind the board establishing himself as the next Dre. And contributing the hardest of hardcore lyrics on "Do What I Feel," the two rappers show that they don't need to let the beats carry them; they even invite the Lady Of Rage to rip the mic right along with them. "Cyco-Lic-No" is among the strongest of the fast-paced tunes, and the inventive rhymes courtesy of Mr. Malik make you wish he was a permanent member of the group. With songs like "Smooth" and "A Doggz Day Afternoon" that exercise their laid-back groove and are enhanced by an appearance from Snoop himself, Tha Dogg Pound further secure their first class status in the overcrowded G-funk ranks.