Best tracks (to me) include:
Ballin' (retro funk at it's very best)
Stoplight (George Clinton couldn't have said it better)
Beautiful (Pharrell & Charlie Wilson killed the vocals)
You Got What I Want (Ludacris did his thing on this track)
Pimp Slapp'd (a hilarious message to Suge)

Basically, this album is the best thing to come from Snoop since Doggystyle.


Da Boss Would Like To C You!   December 10, 2002
Enlightened (In Da A)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Snoop Dogg has definitely paid tha cost to be the boss. From his debut album Doggystyle ( best album ever created ) you just knew Snoop would be a major factor in Hip Hop for years to come. Did he have the credibility? You bet he did ESPECIALLY after his highly publicized Murder trial at the same time he released the album "Murder Was The Case" soundtrack and title track that eerily seemed to follow his case. After being found not guilty to the case Snoop Dogg cooled off. It was obvious the trial had affected his life and his music. Snoop became less reckless and more refined as witnessed on his second studio album `Tha Doggfather".

Feeling the need to separate himself from the trouble that Death Row presented, he left them and signed with the No Limit Tank. He released Da Game Is To Be Sold Not Told in 98 and I must say it was a HUGE disappointment. How can the same man release one of the greatest ( if not the greatest ) albums in Hip Hop and release one of the worst ( if not the worst ) albums in history? After that album Snoop needed a BIG comeback and he definitely got that in 99 with the release of `No Limit Top Dogg" which featured the infamous song B.... Please featuring Xzibit. Then he hit us with that Eastsidaz album in 2000 with the single G'D Up and Snoop was definitely back but this time for good. The Last Meal was the first classic Snoop album since his debut and tha Eastsidaz album that followed was more of that fie fie delish.

Paid Tha Cost To Be Da Boss is on the same level as The Last Meal. Snoop swiftens up his flow and uses different types of beats rather than just west coast beats. He experiments with different flows and his lyrics are some of his best ever. It is really refreshing to hear Big Snoop Dogg comin different for the year 2002. This old dogg has refined his game to near perfection. Songs like Ballin feat. The ever soulful Dramatics, and Suited & Booted are more of that pimp Snoop style. I Believe IN You is a stunning ode to his wife; a concept we have never heard Snoop tackle. The Neptunes produced tracks `From The Chuuch To The Palace" and Beautiful are both magnificent tracks as the Neptunes continue their hit list. Wasn't Your Fault, The One & Only ( produced by DJ Premier ) and Batman & Robin feat. Lady Of Rage are all tight songs. Boss Playa has a straight ridah beat with silky smooth rapping by Uncle Snoop. Hourglass is a swift tongued swift beat swift flow song which is pimp tight.

Snoop's most experimental track has to be "You Got What I Want". This song is so CRUNK. Produced by Jelly Roll, Goldie Loc and Ludacris guest on the song. Their flows are just that straight heat. Snoop has definitely regained that sense of urgency and the swiftness and acuteness in his flow. Ludacris also puts down a great verse. Pimp Slapp'd is the diss song to Suge and his affiliates and recognizing the fakes in the industry. Excellent track.

Snoop's new album is definitely worth the cheddar that you spend on it. Recommended!!


Bow wow WOW   December 6, 2002
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

A couple of years ago, I couldn't accept the fact that Snoop Dogg had left his gangster rap style and image behind with Tha Row. I searched for "187" on his No Limit albums. Couldn't find it anywhere. I realized he flipped his style and picked up the Pimp Cup.

See, once you've accepted the new image of Snoop Dogg, you can appreciate his music. He even goes as far as Pimp slapping Suge Knight on a track that is worth the price of admission. The beats are funkadelic, recalling George Clinton and even his first album, but without the gangsta style. Sadly, there is no Dr. Dre on here, but there's probably a good reason for it. He's got his own label now. He's the Bo$$, and wants to be independent in everything he does. It would have been nice to have at least one track, but if you want Dre, look to his previous album. "Lollipop" is a stand-out track that has a great '70's vibe and could have easily fit on The Chronic or Doggystyle.


The Boss would like to see you.   December 10, 2002
Evander (Cincinnati)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Ive been a huge snoop fan since my dad baught me Doggystyle back in 94, when I was only 10! The few things Ive had to except about Snoop is that he'll never top DoggyStyle without Dre and that no matter what he does Ill give him another chance. Thankfully I went out and picked up "Paid Tha Cost to Be Da Boss". It is Snoops best showing to date since he left Death Row. Snoop is back doing what he does best, RAPPING, his rapping on this album shows me hes still got it, and is better than any newcomer Nelly crapshack rapper out there now. What makes some of the songs classics are brillant beats with Snoops lyrics rapped around them, like Batman and Robin and Spotlight. What boggles my mind is that not one song on the album is produced/collaborated on with Dr. Dre, whats going on here have I missed something are they on the outs with each other??

Now not everything on this album can be called perfect, which takes away its chances of equaling his masterpiece Doggystyle. First is that alot of the songs seemed to be influenced from the style of Hip Hop that has coroaded the airwaves for the past few years. LolliPop is a good example, its to POP for Snoops style, with a collaboration with Jay Z that stinks up the song.......

Over all this is snoops second best album, worthy of any rap fan's purchase. Fun and funky the Dogg Father is back to business.