R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece

Amid all the exceedingly played-out “fo’ shizzle, my nizzle” claptrap, it’s easy to forget Snoop Dogg is a skilled MC. Still, his albums usually fly or die on the strength of their beats, and the bumps and grinds laid down on his latest are pretty great. The Neptunes’ elastic two-step on “Drop It Like It’s Hot” would be a minefield for a lesser talent, but Snoop glides over it smoothly. Stuttering horn lines punctuate Snoop’s barbs on “The Bidness,” while “Ups & Downs” leans a Bee Gees sample against a steady beat, conjuring a '70s R&B vibe that suits Snoop's wizened rhymes. There are missteps: Lil Jon’s shrill synths and barking are a rough fit for “Step Yo Game Up,” reminiscent of Snoop’s ill-advised turn with Master P’s crew in the late '90s. But the rest here hews to the rhythm & gangsta vision. It’s not quite the “masterpiece” the title promises, but it’s a helluva lot better than one of his AOL commercials.