Amid all the raps about how hard, fly and irresistible he is, Snoop tosses in unconvincing lyrical reflections of his family-man role seen on Father Hood. "Been Around Tha World," an ode to his wife, is still more about Snoop as he front-loads the cut with boasts about his international fame. But his commitment to his marriage - something he apparently wasn't feeling three years ago when he filed for divorce - is more tenderly displayed on the show.
Snoop's reconciliation with his wife was the inspiration behind "One Chance (Make It Good)." On the ho-hum track, he doles out simplistic relationship tidbits such as "if you like her/wife her." However, this is preceded by "Those Gurlz," a shimmering, laid-back cut where Snoop sounds much more convincing as the swaggering, potty-mouthed seducer.
With production by Snoop, Teddy Riley, DJ Quik and Everlast, Ego Trippin is the rapper's most musically chameleonic CD. "My Medicine," for instance, is the album's most outlandish departure. Dedicating the cut to a "real American gangsta," Johnny Cash, Snoop puts a country spin on his pimp game backed by a twangy combo of bass, drums and guitar. The result, though slightly corny, is still amusing.
