The West Coast Blueprint does a good job of reminding us of how influential the label has been over the past few decades, but sometimes less is more. Mack 10 appears three times (that's two too many) and I could have been happy for the rest of my life without hearing Low Profile's "Pay Ya Dues" ever again, despite sharing their opinion of tight jeans.
Blueprint is only one of the releases presented as part of Priority's year-long 25th anniversary celebration. Snoop and the label that brought you the California Raisins and AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, Ice Cube's solo debut, have also unleashed a re-issue series called "U.S.D.A. (Uncut Snoop Dogg Approved). Eazy-E's Eazy-Duz-It and EPMD's Strictly Business stand on their own, but you may have to remind yourself that Snoop has also included Master P's Ghetto D, and 1997 never sounded so bad. Not even my love of Mystikal could make me listen to it again. Sorry, Snoop. I know it came out at a pivotal point in your career, but it makes me say ewww! No no no!
Snoop Dogg, The West Coast Blueprint
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Eazy-E, Eazy-Duz-It
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EPMD, Strictly Business
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Master P, Ghetto D
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The first time I saw Snoop Dogg perform was at a show that was part of the "Up In Smoke Tour" in the summer of 2000. He seemed to float around stage and sounded as good as his CDs despite being in such a big venue. That night, he shared the stage with the likes of Eminem and a slew of left coast heavyweights like N.W.A. and the West Side Connection. In his role as creative chairman for Priority Records, Snoop has brought the gang(stas) back together for a new series of Priority releases that kick off with The West Coast Blueprint. The 21-track compilation album spans from Eazy-E's 1988 hilariously alpha male icebreaker "Eazy-Duz-It," to 2010, where Snoop and The Hustle Boyz's reprise Ice Cube's "Check Yo Self" in the only "new" song on the disc. Other highlights include "No One Can Do It Better" by The D.O.C., Kid Frost's "La Raza," the Luniz' weed anthem, "I Got 5 On It" and "4 Tha Hustlas" by Ant Banks, Too Short, 2Pac and MC Breed.
