Rating: NN
It feels like forever since Snoop announced he was reinventing himself as a reggae artist. Now, finally, an album.
But this lion may have bitten off more than he can chew. Executive-produced by Diplo and featuring myriad credible reggae artist guest spots, the album ultimately lacks cohesion.
Lighters Up is the standout, featuring two of Jamaica’s biggest stars, Mavado and Popcaan, and No Guns Allowed includes a moving tribute by Drake to Danzig shooting victims Shyanne Charles and Joshua Yasay.
The groovy, mellow melodies of brassy So Long hit the mark, and that retro restraint would have been welcome elsewhere: the more Major Lazeresque tunes (like Get Away) miss the mark.
Throughout, Snoop is upstaged vocally. On Smoke The Weed, for example, his singing voice is a young Simba scratch compared to Collie Buddz’ Mufasa roar.
Like Snoop’s documentary of the same name, Reincarnated has its moments but needs an editor.
Top track: Lighters Up
