Snoop Dogg is back with a bang, reminding everyone he’s not just a pop-culture mainstay but a hip-hop legend. On Friday, the rap icon dropped Missionary, his first album with Dr. Dre in over three decades. The duo made history with Doggystyle in 1993, cementing their status in West Coast rap royalty.
But times have changed. Snoop, 53, openly acknowledges that Kendrick Lamar now holds the crown as the face of West Coast hip-hop. Still, Snoop and Dre—aged 59—have nothing to prove. Their legacies are untouchable, and Missionary is a flex of their enduring power in the rap game.
The album, shrouded in secrecy, was finally released on Friday. Fans had already gotten a taste with tracks like Gorgeous, featuring sultry vocals from Jhené Aiko, and Skyscrapers, where Method Man and Florida rapper Smitty bring the heat. True to form, Snoop and Dre channel their 90s gangster rap vibes, revisiting themes of lust and street life that defined the golden era of the genre.
Even the album’s name, Missionary, is pure Snoop and Dre—a cheeky nod to the duo’s pioneering role in taking California rap global. The cover? A condom wrapper. Subtle as always.
Musically, the project shows off the duo’s unmatched industry clout. Take Last Dance With Mary Jane, which samples Tom Petty’s classic hit—a licensing feat only rap gods can pull off. The track leans into Snoop and Dre’s unapologetic love for weed, a signature theme since Dre’s 1992 album The Chronic.
Dre calls the album “a work of maturity,” while Snoop admits his audience has grown beyond the gangster rap faithful of the 90s. That explains some unexpected collabs, like Another Part of Me, where Sting lends his legendary Message in a Bottle riff. While Sting opted out of rapping, he did lay down some guitar work, giving the track a unique crossover appeal.
Today, Snoop and Dre are far from their early days as hungry talents chronicling LA’s gang culture. They’re industry titans, with Dre worth a staggering $500 million and Snoop charging $250,000 for a 16-bar verse. The duo even launched a gin brand this year—Still GIN—named after their iconic track Still D.R.E.. The ad? A high-tech mashup featuring AI-generated versions of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., who toast to Snoop and Dre at a luxurious party.
Gray hair and business ventures aside, Missionary proves one thing: Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre still run the West Coast. And they’re doing it on their own terms.
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