Gangsta Rap, Doggystyle

By CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY

Gangsta rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg's debut album Doggystyle (Death Row/ Interscope) is by all odds the most anticipated release in the brief history of rap. Snoop, 22, was first praised by the critics for his performance on several tracks of rapper Dr. Dre's triple-platinum 1992 album The Chronic. He landed on the covers of Rolling Stone, Vibe and The Source even before turning out his first solo album. Snoop drew more attention, not to say notoriety, when police accused him of being at the wheel on Aug. 25 when his bodyguard shot another man from a car. Charged with being an accomplice to murder, Snoop has pleaded not guilty and is free on bail. He is due in court next week.

The big musical question: Does Snoop's album live up to expectations?

The big answer: Yes.

Snoop's rapping isn't flashy, but it is catchy. His relaxed vocal style is a perfect match for Dr. Dre's bass-heavy producing. The songs on this album are built around '70s-style funk grooves; Snoop's voice is lithe enough to snake its way around the big beats. Tracks like Aint No Fun (If the Homies Cant Have None) are perfectly crafted to come booming out of Jeeps and college dorms.

Snoop makes great party music, and that's the key to the album's appeal. Gin and Juice bounces along at a casual speed that's ideal for both dancing and just hanging out. "Two in the morning and the party's still jumping cause my mama ain't home," Snoop raps. "So what do you want to do? I got a pocketful of rubbers and my homeboys do too." The lyrics are often unnecessarily graphic; at some points they're downright obscene. Snoop unabashedly expresses his adolescent urges, talking freely of having casual sex, smoking pot and even gunning down enemies.

He's at his best, however, when he tries to go beyond the gangsta posturings. The most impressive track on the album is a classic story of a near-death experience leading to spiritual insight. In the song Murder Was the Case (Death After Visualizing Eternity), Snoop is gravely wounded by a gunshot but hears an otherworldly voice offering to change his life. "Will I be the G that I was?" Snoop asks. "I'll make your life better than you could imagine or even dream of," the supernatural voice answers. Snoop recovers, showers gifts on his family and tries to turn peaceful.

The album would have been stronger if such misgivings about the criminal life, as well as Snoop's touches of introspection, had been applied to some of the cruder songs. Perhaps Snoop feels he's reflecting his environment. But when you're a star, your environment begins to reflect you. So far in his brief career, Snoop has been mostly content with showing his young fans gangsta culture. Here's hoping that in the future he creates songs that show them a way out of that culture. He has the talent to do it.