Snoop Dogg has always been one to adapt to changing styles and sounds, despite the fact that he was once an innovator of an entire sub-genre of hip-hop music. Still holding the entire West Coast on his back, Snoop has transcended the tag of “rapper”, earning the status of “icon”, as even your parents recognize him (even if only from the AOL commercials.) While hip-hop continues to evolve (or mutate) as the years go on, Snoop has never had a problem doing Snoop, despite the style of track he’s rhyming on that year.

Malice N Wonderland is his tenth album, where we find Snoop pushing 40, lending cameo appearances to his wife and kids throughout the album’s skits. This newfound sense of responsibility has made him a little more mellow in his older age, giving the album’s latter half a syrupy R&B feel. We find Snoop writing songs directly to his wife on each “Special” (feat. Brandy & Pharrell), “Different Languages” (feat. Jazmine Sullivan) and “Luv Drunk” (feat. The-Dream), each of which slow the album down to a snail’s pace. A far cry from the “Bitches Ain’t Shit” aesthetic of his early career, while thoughtful, does feel watered-down for Bigg Snoop Dogg.

Regardless, Snoop has no problem adapting to the sounds of today on other parts of the album. With the popular Jerk dance craze sweeping/plaguing his region, he thoughtfully lends some sugar to this new style on “I Wanna Rock”, a creative flip on the intro to Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock’s “It Takes Two”. He also reaches out to fellow Cali up-and-comers Problem (of “I’m Fucked Up” fame) and Nipsy Hustle on the banging “Upside Down”, sure to knock in any club setting. The Lil Jon helmed “1800″ is another perfectly executed dancefloor scorcher, while the ridiculous Danja produced “That’s The Homie” is sure to call upon the one-dollar bill rain gods.

Unfortunately, the album has it’s low points as well. The generic “Gangsta Love” (feat. The-Dream) may be a radio killer, but ultimately is sure to be one of Snoop’s lesser memorable moments in the grand scheme of things. The Soulja Boy collaboration, “Pronto”, really tries to squeeze out an anthem, but instead falls right into the depths of the commode. And by far, the album’s worst, most embarrassing moment is “Secrets”, a sticky-icky Battlecat produced, Kokane hooked cover of The Romantics 80′s new wave hit, “Talking In Your Sleep”. This track is dated on so many levels, and is perhaps one of the worst tracks in Snoop’s catalogue.

We can’t knock Snoop for growing up and maturing towards the end of the album with the songs to his wife, yet it does become a little redundant after a while. However Snoop has no problem creating a handful of songs that will stay rotating in any deejay’s playlist, as he demonstrates in a few different places on this album. In these fleeting moments, he proves that he still has it, and can remain relevant forever, taking on whatever sound or style rap throws at him. – D.T. Swinga