My Seven Favorite Rap Voices of All Time (Pt. 3)
(If you missed Pt. 1 or Pt 2, they’re available here and here, respectively)
Snoop Dogg
“Well if it’s good enough to get broke off a proper chunk,
I’ll take a small piece of some of that funky stuff.”
“Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang,” from Dr. Dre’s 1992 album, The Chronic
I first heard Snoop Dogg’s voice when I was about eleven years old, and I distinctly remember assuming that he grew up somewhere in the Deep South, spending his free time sitting on a rocking chair and drinking sweet tea. It didn’t make sense that anyone born elsewhere would have such an effortlessly relaxed voice, let alone someone from the streets of Los Angeles, where I’d never been but (based on the trailer for Boyz in the Hood) assumed was far too scary to inspire such a mellow tone.
Snoop came along at a pivotal time in my musical consumption — rap had certainly been around for quite a while at this point, but with the possible exception of Another Bad Creation (I spent much of my free time at a playground as well), I can’t remember a rapper who felt quite so relatable. In case you don’t know me…
