This is the eighth EP for Doggystyleeee, the emcee from San Bernardino, California, who returns for his sixth EP. After his feature-length debut, Into Somethin’, ended seven years ago, he went on to release a final seven EPs as well as five mixtapes and several additional albums, generating interest to the point that WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg nearly signed him to Death Row shortly after reviving the label by purchasing it from MNRK Music Group. Although I personally love them, the AC3Beats-produced “Blame It on My Crippin'” and “Split Personality” and “Music with Substance” have all received varying degrees of reception, reaching “Calm Before Riches” territory.
“Gangsta” may very well draw from Tha Dogg Pound’s greatest song, “Let’s Play House,” in which he realizes his girl has never been with an aggressor before, while “Play Yo Part” delivers some subtle advice over a somber Mobb beat. “Over You” is a G-Funk take on his refusal to waste time on a desperate asshole, while “Let’s Play House” is a soulful take on ’90s West Coast music so he can talk about driving hoes crazy.
“Majestics” gorgeously kicks off Calm Before Riches’ celebration of Southern California, while “Don’t Make Me Trip” warns against pushing him over the edge because, besides making money and staying away from being his only two concerns, he’s also been focused on gangster shit. Different Flavors ends the EP with one final Mobb instrumental, ensuring he can be considered a frontman with his catchphrases and way of getting out of trouble.
“Caught in tha Moment” from a few months ago catered more to the ladies as Doggystyleeee had to grow his female audience, which I totally respect despite not liking it as much as a few other EPs he released last year, but he brings it back to the basics of “Calm Before Riches” in the intro to “Rewakening”. I love that he chose just a few producers instead of a single beatsmith to recapture the aura of 90s west coast hip-hop and tell the story of gangster life.
Score: 8/10
