Album- Reincarnated
Artist- Snoop Lion
Snoop Dogg has been in the game for a long time and can be
seen as one of the leading rappers of the music scene. He has also really been
the king of reinvention, and with this album that is attached to a documentary
film by Snoop with the same name, Snoop has gone from Dogg to Lion and replaced
his rap persona with a reggae, laid back groove. Featuring a plethora of
collaborations, this album and its title suggest that this is a new musical
journey for Snoop. But is this change in sound really a good thing, or should
Snoop just have really stuck to what he knows?
Track 1- Rebel Way
The only song on the record not to feature another artist,
Rebel Way is a breezy number that acts as both a serious and light opener to
the record and nicely introduces us to the new reggae Snoop. The track begins
with Snoop seriously speaking of wanting to be appreciated for his music while
he is alive, as today we seem to only appreciate artists when they sadly die.
The message is before a little dark but is very relevant and has a foundation
of truth about it and so makes this more of a potent song that brings intrigue
to the record from the beginning. Sadly the rest of the track is a little bland
lyrically as Snoop raps and sings about making the moment last and having to do
things the rebel way. The message is too repetitive, but the breeziness of the
vocal performance and the slight airy tone of Snoop’s voice makes this a nicely
chilled listen. Production wise the song also nice feature snappy but laidback
reggae rhythms mixed with these slightly funkier guitar moments that add this
essence of drama to the track, making this song a seemingly ideal album opener.
3.5/5
Track 2- Here Comes
the King (featuring Angela Hunte)
The reggae vibe is very much increased with this chilled
summer numb that seemingly acts as a platform for Snoop Lion to showcase how he
has earned this high place in the musical world when he can call himself the
king. The song is very simple lyrically, as Snoop and guest artist Hunte sing
of the king coming and how you can join in the revolution if you want to. The
slight brush off of the people who dislike Snoop Lion is cool, but ultimately
this song feels very bland and a bit egotistical, with the presence of Snoop
coming across as very thin. Best known for co-writing the 2009 hit Jay Z song
‘Empire State of Mind’, guest feature Angela Hunte brings breezy but boring
vocals to the song that don’t set her apart from a number of other female
vocalists, with her performance suggesting she should just stick to songwriting.
With the slightly heavy bass and light reagge beats, producer Major Lazer gives
the song a typical island sound that tries to imitate rather than impress, and
so this is just a boring number.
1.5/5
Track 3- Lighters Up
(featuring Mavado and Popcaan)
Spirituality and the rebirth of Snoop is perhaps most
prominently expressed with Lighters Up, a track that is all about putting your
lighters up as a sign of being unified, with Snoop, Mavado and Popcaan
expressing how there is only love and no defying. The message maybe be positive
but ultimately comes across as passably believable, as each artist just repeats
what the other says and the chorus just has enough power to make you want to
put your lighters up. Snoop Lion again sounds like he is only there on
supposedly his own song, whilst Popcaan and Mavado just come across as your
typical reggae artists. The only good thing about the song is the interesting
tone of the production with the use of horns and this heavy bass sound that
gives the tracker a deeper dancehall feel and therefore brings some variation
to the record.
2.5/5
Track 4- So Long
(featuring Angela Hunte)
The breezy reggae tones of the record are elevated with this
track which is a breezy number that acts as an uplifting affair. The song is
lyrically about coming out of this journey where you have remained strong
throughout and can really make it to the other side where you will be
victorious. The message is catchy and positive, and with the vocal layering of
Snoop’s voice, the track is given this extra level of breeziness that is
chilled and cool to listen to. The dancehall based rhythms with the funky horns
and clattering beats gives the song a swaying rhythm that makes for a good
summer affair. The only issue with this track is that once again Hunte comes
across as just this bland feature, and this would have just worked with Snoop
doing things alone.
3.5/5
Track 5- Get Away
(featuring Angela Hunte)
Get Away has a slightly deeper musical tone than the
previous track and is more of a dance based tune with dancehall and reggae
placed within it. The songs message follows the breeziness of the previous
track as Snoop sings of having to get away to a place he loves. The message is
something that will resonate with holiday hungry people and so this a good
summer tune in that respect, but the lyrics are quite sparse. Snoops presence
on the track feels a bit minimal and boring in the way that he repeats himself,
whilst Hunte is once again just a bland guest feature. The good thing about this
track is that the punchy dance beats and cool vocal distortions, combined with
the small moments of dancehall drums, gives the song this punchy musical rhythm
that will work well in summer nightclubs and also sounds like a sound that
would work well if remixed, so whilst not perhaps the most reggae tune, it is
still a good, pop orientated number in its own right.
3.5/5
Track 6- No Guns
Allowed (featuring Drake and Cori B)
Featuring rapper Drake and the singers own daughter Cori B,
No Guns Allowed is a potent and softer track from the singer that acts as a
powerful, unifying number that fights against the violence that currently seems
to be plaguing elements of society. The song’s lyrics are simply all about
uniting and removing such violent elements as guns, a statement that is
powerful in its simplicity and which will resonate with some listeners. The
track finds the singers message being elevated by the smooth vocals of his
daughter who sounds like an assured singer and who blends well with her father,
whilst Drake provides a small but powerful rap section which highlights the
pain that some people feel because of the consequences of gun violence. The
piano and soft dancehall sound of the production acts as a simple musical base
for the lyrics, and so whilst this may not act as a superb reggae number, it is
still an emotional track that showcases a view of society that needs to be
represented.
3.5/5
Track 7- Fruit Juice
(featuring Mr Vegas)
The theme of the record in terms of the island based reincarnation
comes back a bit stronger with Furit Juice in terms of the presence of
dancehall star Mr Vegas, who provides a cool, island flecked vocal to the track
and brings the good vibe quality back to the record. The song is vocally smooth
as the artists talk of getting the fruit juice that allows your issues to fade
away, highlighting the drug influenced culture of reggae music in a cool,
metaphorical way. The only problem with this track is that the frenzied bass
beats of the production gives the track too heavy of a sound, and doesn’t put
you in the same easy frame of mind that the other tracks do and the frame of
mind that you want to be in.
2.5/5
Track 8- Smoke the
Weed (featuring Collie Buddz)
Smoke the Weed is another track that focuses on the theme of
drugs (although that is pretty obvious from the title) and so the song nicely
works in terms of the placement after the last track. However this song has
more of a typical dancehall sound and feels like more of your typical reggae
tune. The song is all about how smoking the weed gets your troubles away and
how smoking the drug is like a way of life. The song feels more like a
self-indulgent track for the artist to express his love for the drug, and is
more a song catered to fans of the drug. Collie Buddz provides a snappy guest
feature that features a nice island flecked tone and which adds to the songs
catchiness in terms of the songs laidback appeal, with the punchy drumbeat
rhythms and electro clashes giving the song and fun and fancy free sound that elevates
the songs status as a drug loving number. It is very much a song that you can
only sort of enjoy to the fullest if you are a fan of the drug, and although it
is executed in a good way, the songs message does feel weird on a record where
Snoop was just having a bit of a laid-back go at gun violence.
3/5
Track 9- Tired of
Running (featuring Akon)
Featuring Akon’s signature ‘convict’ tagline, Tired of
Running is a simple mid tempo reggae pop tune that has a little bit more of a
commercially orientated feel. The songs message is very simple as the two
artist are tired of running from the law and just want to live their life, with
the lyrics also have a bit of a romantic tint. The lyrics aren’t catchy in
anyway and just make you feel sleepy, whilst the two artist’s vocals are really
bland thanks to the use of Auto Tune. Akon also doesn’t feel like he really
contributes anything to the song, and the only cool thing is the songs funky
groove with the small guitar solo and laidback rhythm that fits with the albums
sound as a whole and gets you chilled but not bored, unlike the lyrics and
vocals.
2.5/5
Track 10- The Good
Good (featuring Iza)
The Good Good is a track that’s message is perfectly
encapsulated within the songs title, as the message is all about Snoop Lion
telling his girl how life is great because their relationship is so great. The
song has more of a pop driven sound than the previous number and although the
summer breeziness of reggae is present, the track feels much more like mellow
pop. Written by famous songwriter Diane Warren, the song has a catchy and sweet
lyrical quality that is nicely brought out by Snoop’s smooth vocals, as well as
the smooth vocals of guest artist Iza, who blends well with Snoop and gives the
song this female and male in unison perspective. The snappy drum beats and the
funky horns give the song a light, sway along rhythm that is quite fun to
listen to, and so this is a simple pop driven number that should be taken for
what it is, but doesn’t necessarily fit with the former tracks of the record.
3.5/5
Track 11- Torn Apart
(featuring Rita Ora)
More commercially driven blended reggae pop comes here in
the form of Torn Apart, which finds Snoop teaming up with British singer
songwriter and rising superstar Rita Ora. The song focuses on Ora and Snoop as
this sort of couple who were once in love, but are now really torn apart. The
song is purely commercial; I am so in love lyrical stuff that it feels like the
rapper has just sold out a bit. The snappy tambourine of the production and the
funky reggae dance rhythms gives the song a light and fun sound, and Ora gives
a smooth and delicious vocal performance that brings a cool sensuality to the
track. But ultimately this is throwaway pop that also feels much more like
Snoop is the featured artist.
3/5
Track 12- Ashtrays
and Heartbreaks (featuring Miley Cyrus)
Final track Ashtrays and Heartbreaks is potentially the most
polarising song on the record, as we find Snoop teaming up with American singer
Miley Cyrus, a girl most noted for a being a Disney channel star. But whilst
this is quite a commercial affair that fuses reggae with pop once again, it is
actually quite a good listen in its own right. The song is about the idea of
remembering the good times and
celebrating love that has been lost, with the ashtrays being another drug fuelled
reference. The snappy but laidback groove of the production creates a nicely
chilled sound that also creates a lighters in the air moment for the record,
and surprisingly Cyrus’ give us an impressive vocal performance layered with
emotion and which is pleasurable to listen to. It is another track that seems
like an awkward fit on the record but is a good song, even if Snoop once again
is overshadowed by his guest artist.
3.5/5
Final Review
Reincarnated isn’t a stellar reggae album from the
refurbished Snoop Lion, but is more a passable reggae pop record that features
some good songs and some bad. At times Snoop does come across as this true
Rastafarian that he wants and now claims to be, where as other times he just
feels like a sell out who wants some money. The production is also good at times
yet bland at others, creating this sound that melds together well but is
sometimes lost in its own attempt to be a good sound. The guest roster is
pretty good bar a few exceptions, in particular the lifeless Angela Hunte, but
sometimes the guest artists just completely seem to take over. It is not as
terrible a record as some people might think, but it still makes you kind of
throw your hands up and ask where the great rapper that was Snoop Dogg is.
4.5/10
Best Track- No Guns
Allowed (featuring Drake and Cori B)
Worst Track- Here
Comes the King (featuring Angela Hunte)
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