“He was a beast in the studio and a real friend.”
Snoop Dogg has been openly celebrating his Death Row come-up on a more frequent basis late. Despite everything that ultimately came to transpire in the later years, The Row remains one hip-hop’s most legendary dynasties. And while Suge’s label boasted no shortage talent, from Dr. Dre, to Kurupt and Daz Dillinger, to 2Pac Shakur, Snoop Dogg may very well have been the marquee player. At least, that’s what West Coast rapper Glasses Malone seems to believe, a fair take tailor-made for barbershop discourse. During a recent interview at The Breakfast Club, Malone revisited a previous stance, in which he claimed that Pac would not be perceived as is he today, were it not for Snoop.
Charlamagne wasn’t quite having it, and pressed Malone accordingly. Yet Glasses stood by his take, making sure to give Snoop his due respect. “From 1993 to 1995, there was no bigger rapper than Snoop Dogg,” says Malone. “Snoop is rap music. Snoop is the greatest rapper all time. Not if he the best, he the greatest. Snoop can go to any mall in America and they gon’ know him. A white lady, 80, or a lil’ kid, 8, gon’ know Snoop Dogg.” Though Charlamagne claims that Pac’s post-jail run elevated him to the top, but Malone counters that it coincided with a Snoop Dogg partnership. That’s not to say he doesn’t acknowledge Pac’s prolific nature, but he simply maintains that nobody could touch the popularity peak Snoop Dogg.
The viral nature the debate prompted Charlamagne to share a clip it on his IG, which in turn brought Snoop Dogg into the mix. “I’m the reason why pac was on death row,” begins The Doggfather, adding his own two cents. “First real free agent signing in rap I wasn’t afraid or jealouS I wanted cuzz on our team and suge made it happen and on my instructions.”
“Daz and the whole. D. P. G. Death row clique provided Tupac to the sound his greatest album ever so get ya facts right,” continues Snoop. “If pac was alive he would be all what I am and then some he was a beast in the studio and a real friend who taught us a better work ethic and how to stay on it like we want it so. I am and always will be apart . Tupac and Tupac is apart me. A brotherhood none y’all can break. @Glasseslockeep pushing ya line. Ain’t no I in team.”
Leave it to Snoop Dogg to keep it real, and regardless where you stand in the debate, why not hold it down for two the best rappers to ever do it?