Snoop Dogg is one of hip hop’s most beloved MCs. Rising to prominence by the side of 2pac and Dr Dre on Death Row Records, the rapper (real name Calvin Broadus) is loved for his unique tone, funky West Coast raps and laidback delivery that leaves his listeners feeling relaxed. Known as hip hop’s marijuana maestro, Snoop is definitely one of the greats.
With the Long Beach rapper’s rise to fame commencing during the early 1990s G-Funk era, his mainstream commercial success was almost instant when he was introduced to the world as Dr Dre’s protégé on the legendary track ‘Deep Cover’ in 1992.
His first and second albums would lay the foundation for a career that would accelerate at lightning speed, leading the rapper to work with the likes of The Neptunes, Ice Cube and Jay-Z. Furthermore, he would become a businessman with a vast array of endeavours.
Since 1993, Broadus has released a crazy 19 studio albums, many of which have since been platinum-certified, including the likes of Paid Tha Cost To Be Boss, R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta), and The Blue Carpet Treatment. Concerning business ventures, Broadus has his own strain of weed, a cereal brand and has appeared in a number of films.
That said, Snoop has had a lot of time to reflect on his 30-year career, and there is one track in particular that the emcee once admitted “makes him cry” every time he hears it. In 2008, for his album Ego Trippin, Broadus released a track featuring Charlie Wilson entitled, ‘Can’t Say Go.’
On the website for Doggystyle Records, Snoop gave a synopsis about the song and how it makes him feel, writing, “This song makes me want to cry every time I hear it. It is a reflection of my life and how I have grown as not only an artist but also a man. It is about me staying true to where I came from while having to accept where I am in my life today, it’s deep.”
The track, which features Charlie Wilson, was produced by New Jack City icon Teddy Riley, and Broadus loved what Riley brought to the project. In a 2008 interview with Artist Direct, Snoop disclosed, “Teddy Riley did his thang on this album. We reconnected when we were both honoured at the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors, so I wanted him to work on Ego Trippin’. The s–t he’s created is on a whole new level.”
You can listen to ‘Can’t Say Go’ in the video below.
