Snoop Dogg, The Last Meal (LP)

Snoop Dogg had transcended rap and was slowly becoming a cultural figure by the time his fifth studio album was released. He was also a hit machine and industry brass took notice. 'The Last Meal,' Snoop’s final release on No Limit Records, had a who’s who of personnel that added to the album’s success. Despite Master P helming the lion’s share of the album, other notable artists like Dr. Dre and Timbaland contributed signature beats, as well. Dre’s “Hennesey and Buddah (featuring Kokane)” is a bouncy, party banger while Timbaland’s “Snoop Dogg (what’s my name pt. 2)” is a huge sequel to the anthemic fan favorite that propelled Snoop’s career years prior.

The album had strong LA ties, namely G-Funk crooner Nate Dogg as well as production maestro Battlecat. Other guests that rounded out the album are West Coast legend Suga Free, Eve, MC Ren, and Ice Cube. The release quickly ran up accolades, debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album chart. It gripped fans internationally, charting quite well in Germany, Sweden, France, and Australia. Despite critics giving it a tepid welcome, to this day, the project has sold over two million records worldwide and is a energized standout in Snoop’s long, still-thriving career.