You might look at Tory and say, “He ain’t Drake.” But no one is! It’s a testament to Tory’s power that he’s done as much as he has in spite of that. Entering that realm is not an easy feat these days, especially if you’re from Toronto. You could never truly claim that Snoop sang on his records, but his flow has always been far more melodic than any of his contemporaries – there’s a direct line between him and the prevalence of rappers who sing on today’s chart. While you weren’t looking, Tory infiltrated every region of hip-hop.

He’s got similar chemistry with YG – something that’s less likely for the type of rapper who’s also able to put out ‘Talk To Me’ and make it the success it is. Only a handful of guys could do hooks for Meek Mill and Freddie Gibbs in 2015 and release ‘Luv’ and ‘Say It’ the next year to smash success. Tory can achieve that same organic energy. What Snoop mastered far better than others wasn’t just the ability to hop from song to song, but to recognise where his voice fit, how he could adjust it to fit and – presumably, at times – whether or not he should. That doesn’t mean they’re truly versatile. Plenty of them make entire careers doing it. It’s no secret that many rappers line their pockets with song-hopping. Maybe he never will, and maybe he never has to. He’s got a diehard fanbase but has yet to drop the project that brings him true crossover success. His influence had reached the most popular, prolific and respected musicians in the industry.ĭespite the industry’s inclination toward trend chasing, Tory Lanez has staying power. During the same time, Snoop was recording with Gorillaz and Willie Nelson. And this was during Kanye’s Dark Twisted Fantasy era, when he was also floating on songs with Kid Cudi (‘That Tree’) and Kanye (‘Eyes Closed’). Snoops’ 2010 guest spot on Katy Perry’s ‘California Gurls’ was bigger than some rapper’s entire careers – nearly two decades into his own. While all this was happening, he also launched his own show on MTV. He would keep it going through the 00s on collaborations with Akon, Pussycat Dolls, Chingy and about a thousand others. For a second generation of fans, he was as well known for being a stoner as he was for rapping, even as ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ became one of the biggest hits of the decade. Despite continued pop success – not to mention critical acclaim for Paid Tha Cost To Be Da Boss (2002) and R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece (2004), Snoop was quietly at war with his own stardom. As he got further from Doggystyle, Snoop’s personality got so big that he became less and less famous for the music – even if he was still making it and it was still great.Īs he rounded the corner into the new millennium, Snoop had sold over 10 million albums.

This probably doesn’t have as much to do with the music as it should.

Snoop Dogg is among the biggest rappers on planet Earth – at least those living today a random street poll would have people dropping his name when asked to think of the first rappers that come into their heads. This is not to say that Tory Lanez should immediately be recognised among the greats today, but rather that he could be in that discussion.

But Tory exists in the same tradition that Snoop mastered – greatness exists in versatility and longevity nearly as much as it does in releasing a classic album… and potentially fizzling out down the line. Tory was two years old when Snoop dropped Doggystyle Toronto’s current soundscape is a far cry from the California funk that birthed Snoop. For starters, they hail from opposite ends of the continent. At first glance, Canadian MC Tory Lanez and Snoop Dogg don’t seem so similar.

2022.09