Doggy's Angels - Pleezbalevit (CD)

All Music Guide

Following up the success of his Tha Eastsidaz side project, the suddenly entrepreneurial Snoop Dogg returns with yet another impressive side project, the female-rap-with-a-hint-of-contemporary-RB trio known as Doggy's Angels. And similar to Tha Eastsidaz album, Pleezbaleevit is carried largely by Snoop's ever-present efforts and also that of a strong supporting cast, including rappers Nate Dogg, Kokane, Goldie Loc, and Layzie Bone and producers Battlecat, Meech Wells, and "Fredwreck" Nassar. This, of course, isn't to say that the trio -- Coniyac, Chan, and Kola -- aren't impressive vocalists; in fact, the three prove talented both as harmonious singers and sharp MCs. It's just hard to imagine this album being as striking as it is without Snoop's aura, though. Only on a few tracks such as "Hoodtraps" does Snoop dominate, but he is ever-present, often contributing either chorus hooks or small moments of ad lib; even the small moments of ad lib prove to be fairly powerful, though. Further...more, Battlecat's production on standout tracks such as the chart-topping "Baby If You're Ready" proves arguably the key to this album's success, if Snoop's presence isn't; the beats rarely get dull, and by keeping the tracks brief at usually only two or maybe three verses, the album moves along quickly, never getting dull. The synergy of Snoop's hovering presence, the bouncy G-funk production, and the impressive showing by the Angels make this album one of the best female-orientated rap albums in years. On par with Eve and Foxy Brown's finer moments, Pleezbaleevit proves successful by integrating a healthy dose of proven rap ingredients -- Snoop, a strong roster of guest rappers, G-funk production, the Angels' ability to rap with force -- with only a touch of contemporary RB, resulting in an impressive album that will appeal to both rap and RB fans. Thankfully, the album ends up being a perfect summation of what the quintessential turn of the century, easygoing West Coast G-funk style sounds like with a healthy dose of estrogen, rather than being an exploitative attempt to feebly attach Snoop's name to a generic RB album. - Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide Read more Less