Snoop Dogg Presents: Tha Eastsidaz

As Snoop Dogg began the transformation from rapper to household celebrity in 2000, he established Tha Eastsidaz as an outlet for his pure gangsta personality. He enlisted two of the best rappers from his old neighborhood, one veteran (Tray Deee) and one rookie (Goldie Loc) and filled out rest of the crew with friends and associates from Long Beach (Butch Cassidy, Bad Azz, Kurupt), as well as assorted heroes from the Los Angeles rap scene (Warren G, Suga Free, Kokane, Kam, Xzibit). Much of the album’s strength comes from the production roster, which includes several tracks from essential but underrated West Coast producers L.T. Hutton, Def Jef and Soopafly, but especially Battlecat, who oversaw the bulk of the album. His extra-fat, electro-inflected bass tunes are displayed on “G’d Up,” “LBC Thang,” and the dazzling “Be Thankful,” an unheralded West Coast anthem. Tray and Goldie don’t have Snoop’s inimitable charisma, but they are commanding MCs. Besides, guests like Kokane and Suga Free compensate with a much-needed touch of unbridled personality.