Despite platinum-selling albums Cordozar Calvin Broadus, aka Snoop Dogg, is immersed in the world of the gangsta in The Blue Carpet Treatment - a reference to the warring colours of American west coast gangs. Some of the lyrics may be tongue in cheek, but isn't rapping about gunning niggers down, bitches and who you wanna f*** passe let alone offensive? Liberal use of explicit content ensures this isn't top 10 material but Snoop Dogg, currently awaiting trial on drugs and weapons charges, is as much an icon for seeming to be outside the law as he is for his music.

The producer and sometime actor turns in 21 tracks, a bonus for devoted fans, but as is often the case with quantity, not enough attention was paid to the quality.

Jamie Foxx turns in a cringeable Prince-impersonation on Psst and the conflicting styles of Dogg and Stevie Wonder on Conversations makes for an uneasy marriage.

Happily for fans Dogg's old mentor Dr Dre reappears, most notably on Imagine, on which they and D'Angelo reflect on what life might have been like had rap not lifted them from the streets. Recent single and pop-friendly That's That, featuring R. Kelly and Vato, sees Dogg name-checking Hispanic fans, but he's best when the often close to nonsensical lyrics are ignored and the music takes over.

The heavy, sinister danceable rhythms of Lil' Crips and Get a Light and late-night smooch of Crazy show that this Dogg can be smooth as well as rough.