What would the west coast be without Snoop Dogg? Better yet what would the entire rap game be like if there was no infamous ’94 murder trial, or no heated Eazy E beef, and most importantly what would it be like without Doggystyle? Crippin probably wouldn’t be so commercially accepted, and it wouldn’t be ok to get blunted every single day so free spirited. Through his 15 years in the game Snoop has nearly single handedly pushed gangsta rap into suburban living rooms time album after album. Fresh off the heels of his latest effort The Blue Carpet Treatment Snoop is reaching out his hand to some of his lesser known homeboys from the left side. Everybody from Kurupt to Kam to MC Eiht show up for Snoop’s latest gansta compilation The Big Squeeze.

Newly formed Warzone displays the best chemistry on “Shackled Up” as Goldie Loc, Kam, and MC Eiht all recount what went down to land them each in county for the night. Niggaracci makes use of simple sounds to orchestrate commanding beats on “Hat 2 Tha Back” and “Pop Pop Bang” but both the tracks hooks are poor and repetitious. The minimal approach pays off again as Niggaracci uses a simple bell pattern and an iron clad bass drop on the commanding Kurupt and Snoop collabo “31 Flavors”. Things do begin to fall apart when Snoop and company veer off course with the rock n roll influenced “Like Rock Stars” and the ill arranged R&B tryout “Spend Some Time”.

Snoop, who’s been known for his sexual exploits details his first occasion on the raunchy “Fuckin Is Good For U”, Damani, JT Tha Bigga Figga, Kurupt, and Soopafly follow suit. Basically the tail end of the album is oversaturated with R&B efforts like the Azzure assisted “Get Close” and the Ray J, Goldie Loc, and Snoop worked “Can U Get Away”. Half of the Niggaracci duo Terrance Martin helms the albums closing track alone as he, Jay Black, and Uncle Chuck get together on the collection’s most introspectively intriguing offering  “Be Thankful”.

Snoop manages to put together his best compilation effort to date with The Big Squeeze. He and Terrance Martin show great chemistry behind the boards as they are able to infuse some of Snoop’s favorite sounds from years passed to come up with very effective yet still simple grooves. Hopefully in the future he enlists the help of some better songwriters to come up with hooks and a few better concepts.  With this latest compilation effort Snoop’s west coast leadership credibility may finally begin to start flourishing.!

VERDICT – 12 / 20
LYRICS: 3
PRODUCTION: 3
DELIVERY: 3
CONSISTENCY: 3