Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told

About

Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told is the third studio album by American rapper Snoop Dogg; it was released by No Limit Records on August 4, 1998 in the United State. It is his first album following his departure from Death Row Records in early 1998. It is the first Snoop Dogg album to have notable affiliates such as Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg, Warren G, and others absent. It was also his first album to be released under a slight change to his stage name "Snoop Dogg" for contractual reason. In September 1996, shortly before the release of Snoop's second album Tha Doggfather, his friend and label-mate at Death Row Record, Tupac Shakur, was murdered in a drive-by shooting that many fans and other rappers believed to be a part of rising tensions between the East and West Coast hip hop scene. In March 1997, noted East Coast rapper The Notorious B.I.G., who was popularly known as "Biggie", was also murdered in a drive-by shooting which was also attributed by fans to the tensions between the coastal hip hop scene. Snoop Dogg began to fear for his own safety due to the murders of Tupac and Biggie and also because Death Row Records was acknowledged by its artists in retrospect to be an unprofessional place during this time, with label founder Suge Knight incarcerated and many people with criminal pasts associated with the label. In 1997, No Limit rapper Mystikal invited Snoop to be on his record Unpredictable on a song called "Gangstas" with label head Master P. Snoop developed a good relationship with the No Limit rappers and after another guest appearance on No Limit artist Silkk the Shocker's LP, Snoop was reported to have been signed to No Limit by Master P in March 1998. Snoop said at the time that: "Snoop Dogg is universal so he can fit into any camp-especially a camp that knows how to handmake shit nd, No Limit hand makes material. They make material fittin' to the artist and they know what type of shit Snoop Dogg is supposed to be on. That's why it's so tight." The lead single "Still a G Thang" was released on July 3, 1998, it was produced by Meech Well. It is the sequel to the 1992 hit single "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang", which appears on Dr. Dre's debut solo album, The Chronic (1992). The song debuted at number 26 on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking first Hot 100 entry as lead artist by Snoop since "Gin and Juice, in 1994. The song peaked at number 19 on the chart. The second single "Woof" featuring Mystikal and Fiend peaked at number 62 on Billboard Hot 100. The album featured mostly No Limit artists and was a departure from Snoop Dogg's first two albums which were strictly West Coast. Unlike his two previous two studio album, Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told received generally negative to moderate review. Q gave the album 3 out of 5 star, saying "Dogg's vocals can actually verge on the sublime....in glorious slow motion, and the undercurrent vibe is distinctly soulful." The Source gave it 3.5 Mics out of 5, saying "ew MCs from the West have ever gotten as much acceptance and acclaim from outside regions… No Limit's latest soldier isn't trying to rock the boat with his third album… the vibrant vocalist is very happy to be with rap's top squad." Anthony DeCurtis of Rolling Stone gave the album 2 out of 5 star, saying that Snoop's work lacked the confidence and originality displayed on his earlier album. .

via Last.fm

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