This share is really dedicated to those of you who remember this show, ‘You know what the deal is, you know what the real is’, and also for anyone that didn’t listen to Doggystyle when it was being delivered sealed to record stores in boxes of 50 [mosty in longboxes** that were immediately box-cuttered].
When ageing b-boys and elder Rap fans talk about how it was in the old days, eg. when they’d listen to mixtapes for a whole Summer, or how they’d play a cassette of a radio show in their car for months on end, THIS is the kinda tape they are talking about.
This is Snoop Doggy Dogg in February 1994, a day after his first UK performance at Club Equinox in Central London, a few hours after his first UK TV appearance, a few months after his solo LP had dropped and blown up AND of course, the night before the UK press featured his mug on the cover of their papers [describing him as an ‘evil gangster Rapper’, idiots]. This is him alongside his cousin Daz, Kurupt and Doggystyle sleeve designer Joe Cool, on the ‘world famous Capital Rap Show’, presented by Tim Westwood. This is when the Big Dawg met Snoop Dogg.
In November 1993, Snoop Doggy Doggs’ Doggystyle was released and went straight to number one on the Billboard charts in the first week of release. It was the biggest selling Rap LP for months, and Snoop D.O. double G was the planets’ biggest Rap celebrity [Some argue that he still is]. The visit came only 5 months after a 22 year old Snoop had eluded officers at an MTV Awards ceremony because he was up on a murder charge, and less than 3 months before Dr Dre, Snoop and Tha Dogg Pound were due to perform at the Pink Lady Music Festival show at the Brixton Academy in London [A now classic live performance].
Within the worldwide Rap community, the streets were buzzing as we all waited to see and hear him. It had been almost 2 years since he’d burst on the scene with guest spots alongside Dr Dre on One Eight Seven, or talkin smack about Tim Dog and Luke Skyywalker on Dre Day.
Snoops’ typical insouciant delivery is there, but there is blatant buzz in the studio as he rhymes along with fam Young Gotti and Dat Nigga Daz. Priceless punchlines in the now iconic freestyle are captivating and memorable to plenty of us almost 30 years later, but the socio-economic statements he makes highlight how having a past in the sets and a future in little league football were all leading him to his current status as a global household name.
Enjoy, cos ‘Now you in the midst of the Dogg Pound crew’.
Wu-Tang Clan – CREAM
Wu-Tang Clan – Method Man [Crazy C Remix]
UMCs – Hit The Track
MOP – How About Some Hardcore
Heavy D ft Troo-Kula & Biggie – Jam Session
Slick Rick – Behind Bars
Casual Feat A-Plus – That’s How It Is – Part II
Cash Crew Feat Ses 1 – Bring It On
Dogg Pound – Niggaz Don’t Give A Fuck [Unreleased Remix]
Snoop Dogg – Lodi Dodi
Dogg Pound Interview Feat Snoop Daz Joe Cool & Kurupt
Dr Dre Feat Snoop Dogg – Deep Cover
Dogg Pound Interview Feat Snoop Daz Joe Cool & Kurupt
Snoop Dogg – Murder Was The Case
Gang Starr – Speak Ya Clout
Live Calls Feat Snoop Daz Joe Cool & Kurupt
Snoop Dogg – Serial Killa
Live Calls Feat Snoop Daz Joe Cool & Kurupt
Snoop Doggy Dogg Feat Lil Hershey Loc & Lil Malik – Pump Pump
Snoop Daz & Kurupt – Freestyle
DJ Biznizz Mix
Shouts to my old school fool Rick from Surrey who called in that night…and a massive thanks to Paul H for the Daily Star.
*I missed the last few minutes of the DJ Biznizz mix.
** Ask an Uncle.
RANDOM RAP RADIO 