R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece

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R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece
File:R and G (Rhythm and Gangsta) The Masterpiece (Snoop Dog album) coverart.jpg
Studio album by Snoop Dogg
Released November 16, 2004 (2004-11-16)
Recorded 2003–04
Genre Hip hop
Length 77:41
Label
Producer
Snoop Dogg chronology
Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss
(2002)Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss2002		 R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece
(2004)		 Tha Blue Carpet Treatment
(2006)Tha Blue Carpet Treatment2006
Singles from R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece
  1. "Drop It Like It's Hot"
    Released: September 12, 2004
  2. "Let's Get Blown"
    Released: December 14, 2004
  3. "Signs"
    Released: April 25, 2005
  4. "Ups & Downs"
    Released: August 15, 2005

R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece is the seventh studio album by American rapper Snoop Dogg; it was released on November 16, 2004, by Doggystyle Records, Star Trak Entertainment and Geffen Records. Production for the album took place during 2003 to 2004 at several recording studios and was handled by The Neptunes, The Alchemist, Lil Jon, Hi-Tek, Warryn Campbell and L.T. Hutton.

The album debuted at number 6 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 225,000 copies in its first week. Upon its release, R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece received generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics.

Background

In November 2002, Snoop Dogg released his sixth studio album Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss, which spawned two worldwide singles "From tha Chuuuch to da Palace" and two-time grammy nominated "Beautiful," both which were produced by The Neptunes. In June 2004, it was announced that Snoop Dogg had signed to Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo's "The Neptunes" record label Star Trak Entertainment to produce and executive produce his upcoming seventh studio album.[1]

Singles

"Drop It Like It's Hot" featuring Pharrell, was released as the album's lead single on September 14, 2004. With the production by The Neptunes, the song gained some critical attention for its very sparse production. The song essentially is just tongue clicks, keyboards and a drum machine beat, which compared to much early 2000s rap, was very minimalist. It was nominated at the Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, though it lost both awards to the songs "Jesus Walks" by Kanye West and "Let's Get It Started" by The Black Eyed Peas, respectively. The song reached at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Snoop's first US number one single. The song internationally reached the top-ten in a huge 12 countries.

The album's second single, "Let's Get Blown" featuring Pharrell, was released on December 14, 2004. The song was produced by The Neptunes. It did not repeat the success of "Drop It Like It's Hot", but it filled the gap between the aforementioned song and the club hit "Signs". Keyshia Cole, who had not garnered a reputation at that time and was therefore left uncredited (her contribution to the R&G song "Pass It Pass It" also went uncredited). The song samples and contains interpolations from Slave's "Watching You", which was also interpolated in "Gin and Juice." The single is one of Snoop Dogg's biggest hits in the UK for peaking at number 13 and number 54on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The album's third single, "Signs" featuring Justin Timberlake and Charlie Wilson, was released on April 25, 2005. The song was produced by The Neptunes. In May 2005, the single reached at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and number 46 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, it was more popular in Australia staying at number one on the Australian Singles Chart for two weeks. Internationally, the song reached the top-ten in 11 countries.

The album's fourth and final single, "Ups & Downs" featuring Bee Gees, was released on August 15, 2005. The song was produced by Warryn Campbell. The song interpolates The Bee Gees' 1979 hit "Love You Inside Out". The song charted in several countries, but didn't match the success from his previous singles on the album.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic (63/100)[2]
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4/5 stars[3]
Blender 3/5 stars[5]
Entertainment Weekly B−[4]
HipHopDX 3/5 stars[6]
Los Angeles Times 3/4 stars[11]
Pitchfork Media 2.1/10 stars[7]
RapReviews 8/10 stars[8]
Robert Christgau (dud)[10]
Rolling Stone 3/5 stars[9]
USA Today 3.5/4 stars[12]

R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic they based on an average score of 63 on the review website which indicates "generally favorable reviews."[2] Uncut rated the album 3 stars out of 5 and wrote that "Snoop still manages some earthy funk, assisted by a gargantuan guest list."[13]

Tom Moon of Rolling Stone wrote that "Truth-in-advertising alert: Even at its most deliriously debauched, R&G isn't quite the worlds-coming-together rap-soul masterpiece the title promises. That said, the top-shelf producers here provide the Dogg with some of the most radio-ready backing of his career: The serpentine down-tempo single "Drop It Like It's Hot," produced by the Neptunes, links Snoop's slyly exuberant delivery to a relentless dance-floor bounce. The same basic formula prevails on "Ups and Downs," which reshnizzles the Bee Gees' "Love You Inside and Out." Trouble comes when the Dogg hits the streets: What should have been a sparky duet with 50 Cent, "Oh No," sours quickly, and a coarse anthem featuring Lil Jon and Trina, "Step Yo Game Up," starts out unimaginatively lewd and descends from there. R&G begs for a little more R and some cleverer G -- or, if Snoop really wanted to be bold, no G at all".[9]

Tom Breihan of Pitchfork Media wrote that R&G; is Snoop's first album for Star Trak, the label run by fallen-off hip-hop hit makers The Neptunes, a duo who all but ruled international radio with dazzling sci-fi stomp-clap new wave beats, but who've been starving for hits ever since they switched up their style to overcooked Vegas schmaltz—all bloopy bass and shuffling drums and swooshing keyboards and unbelievably obnoxious falsetto crooning. The production duo laced five of this album's songs, but their fingerprints are everywhere else here. R&G; has a unified sound, rare in hip-hop albums, but it's a sound based on tinkly pianos and noodly guitars and windchimes. It sounds something like The Black Eyed Peas if they tried to make a Barry White album, but with more falsetto warbling.[7]

Commercial performance

R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece debuted at number 6 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 225,000 copies in its first week.[14] In its second week, the album fell to number 9 on the Billboard 200, selling 203,000 copies, for a two-week total of 428,000 units.[15] As of March 2008, the album sales 1,724,000 copies in the United States.[16] As of September 2007, the album has sold 2,485,000 copies worldwide.[17]

Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "(Intro) I Love to Give You Light"  
The Alchemist 2:38
2. "Bang Out"  
J.R. Rotem 3:05
3. "Drop It Like It's Hot" (featuring Pharrell)
The Neptunes 4:26
4. "Can I Get a Flicc Witchu" (featuring Bootsy Collins)
Leimberg 5:24
5. "Ups & Downs" (featuring Bee Gees)
Campbell 4:04
6. "The Bidness"  
Soopafly 3:28
7. "Snoop D.O. Double G"  
4:01
8. "Let's Get Blown" (featuring Pharrell)
The Neptunes 4:41
9. "Step Yo Game Up" (featuring Lil Jon & Trina)
Lil Jon 4:24
10. "Perfect" (featuring Charlie Wilson)
The Neptunes 5:51
11. "WBALLZ (Interlude)"   Broadus, Jr. Snoop Dogg 0:21
12. "Fresh Pair of Panties On"  
Ole Folks 2:31
13. "Promise I"  
Mr. Porter 3:17
14. "Oh No" (featuring 50 Cent)
4:03
15. "Can U Control Yo Hoe" (featuring Soopafly)
L.T. Hutton 3:08
16. "Signs" (featuring Justin Timberlake & Charlie Wilson)
The Neptunes 3:56
17. "I'm Threw Witchu" (featuring Soopafly)
  • Broadus, Jr.
  • Brooks
  • Campell
 Campbell 4:21
18. "Pass It Pass It"  
  • Broadus, Jr.
  • Hugo
  • Williams
 The Neptunes 4:23
19. "Girl Like U" (featuring Nelly)
L.T. Hutton 4:36
20. "No Thang on Me" (featuring Bootsy Collins)
Hi-Tek 4:41
Total length:
 77:41
Sample credits

Personnel

Credits adapted from Allmusic.[18]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[40] Gold 35,000
Canada (Music Canada)[41] Platinum 100,000
France (SNEP)[42] Gold 50,000
Germany (BVMI)[43] Gold 100,000
Italy (FIMI)[44] Gold 50,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[45] Platinum 15,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[46] Gold 20,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[47] Platinum 300,000
United States (RIAA)[48] Platinum 1,724,000[16]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Jeffries, David. "Snoop Dogg: R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Snoop Dogg – R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) - The Masterpiece". Hung Medien.
  20. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Snoop Dogg – R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) - The Masterpiece" (in German). Hung Medien.
  21. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Snoop Dogg – R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) - The Masterpiece" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  22. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Snoop Dogg – R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) - The Masterpiece" (in French). Hung Medien.
  23. ↑ "Snoop Dogg – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Snoop Dogg.
  24. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Snoop Dogg – R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) - The Masterpiece". Hung Medien.
  25. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Snoop Dogg – R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) - The Masterpiece" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  26. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Snoop Dogg – R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) - The Masterpiece". Hung Medien.
  27. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
  28. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Snoop Dogg – R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) - The Masterpiece". Hung Medien.
  29. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Snoop Dogg – R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) - The Masterpiece". Hung Medien.
  30. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Snoop Dogg – R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) - The Masterpiece". Hung Medien.
  31. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Snoop Dogg – R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) - The Masterpiece". Hung Medien.
  32. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Snoop Dogg – R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) - The Masterpiece". Hung Medien.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ "Snoop Dogg – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Snoop Dogg.
  37. ↑ "Snoop Dogg – Chart history" Billboard Top Rap Albums for Snoop Dogg.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Select Album e Compilation in the field Sezione. Enter Snoop Dogg in the field Filtra. The certification will load automatically
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
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