2002
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Description
Daz and Kurupt were two of the fiercest up-and-comers in the left-coast rap game when they were still signed to Death Row records. So it's too bad that Tha Dogg Pound 2002 joins a slew of other questionable releases (Snoop Dogg's Dead Man Walkin', the Chronic 2000 compilation) put out by label CEO Suge Knight to snuff out his former artists own legitimate new releases. But then again, if you own your former artists' master tapes, names, and publishing rights, like Knight does, you can do whatever you please with their old studio outtakes. Sadly, 2002 is littered with sloppy subpar mix-downs ("Livin the Gangsta Life"), dated and uncomfortable subject matter ("Don't Stop" features Tupac dissing the Notorious B.I.G.), and lame lyrics that shouldn't see the light of day ("Crip wit Us" awkwardly obsesses about cash, guns, and overpriced cars). On the other hand, 2002 flaunts guest appearances by a who's who of the hip-hoperati from Jay-Z to Xzibit, while "Smoke" and "Every Single Day" do a decent job of encapsulating the groovy G-funk mantra of the classic Death Row era. True Death Row fans can cop this release, but it might also be in their best interest to check out the independently released Dillinger and Young Gotti reunion album that demonstrates just how much the duo have progressed since they recorded material found on this album. --Dalton Higgins
Album Description
Tha Dogg Pound are Daz and Kurrupt. 2002 features tracks produced by Dr. Dre. Also included on the album are Nate Dogg, Soopafly, Crooked I and Big Hutch. 16 tracks. A Death Row Records release.
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