Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told
Gameistobesold.jpg
Studio album by Snoop Dogg
Released August 4, 1998
Recorded 1997–98
Genre
Length 76:03
Label
Producer
Snoop Dogg chronology
Tha Doggfather
(1996)Tha Doggfather1996
Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told
(1998)
No Limit Top Dogg
(1999)No Limit Top Dogg1999
Singles from Da Game Is to Be Sold Not to Be Told
  1. "Still a G Thang"
    Released: July 3, 1998
  2. "Woof"
    Released: October 26, 1998

Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told is the third studio album by American rapper Snoop Dogg; it was released, by No Limit Records on August 4, 1998 in the United States. It is his first album following his departure from Death Row Records. It was also his first album to be released under a slight change to his stage name "Snoop Dogg" for contractual reasons.

Reception

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Album charts selling over 520,000 copies in its first week,[1] and remained on top for the second week also by selling additional 246,000 units according to Soundscan. It remained in the top ten for five weeks; thus it was quickly certified double platinum later that year. In terms of chart success it is one of his most successful containing the top 20 singles Still a G Thang and Woof which the former peaked at number 14 on the Hot 100 while the latter peaked at number 18 on the Hot 100 as well.[2]

As of March 2008, the album sales 3,985,360 copies in the United States.[3]

Critical Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 1.5/5 stars[4]
E! Online B+[5]
Entertainment Weekly C[12]
FFWD 2/5 stars[6]
Iowa State Daily 3.5/5 stars[7]
Los Angeles Times 3/4 stars[13]
Robert Christgau C+[8]
Rolling Stone 2/5 stars[9]
The Source 3.5/5 stars[10]
Spin 5/10[11]

The album featured mostly No Limit artists and was a departure from Snoop Dogg's first two albums which were strictly West Coast. It is generally considered by critics and fans[specify] as one of his worst albums. Unlike his two previous two studio albums, Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told received generally negative to moderate reviews. Q gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, saying "Dogg's vocals can actually verge on the sublime....in glorious slow motion, and the undercurrent vibe is distinctly soulful."[14]

The Source gave it 3.5 Mics out of 5, saying "[f]ew MCs from the West have ever gotten as much acceptance and acclaim from outside regions… No Limit's latest soldier isn't trying to rock the boat with his third album… the vibrant vocalist is very happy to be with rap's top squad."[10]

Anthony DeCurtis of Rolling Stone gave the album 2 out of 5 stars, saying that Snoop's work lacked the confidence and originality displayed on his earlier albums.[9]

Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Snoop World" (featuring Master P) C. Broadus, P. Miller, C.S. Lawson KLC 5:20
2. "Slow Down" (featuring Mia X, O'Dell and Anita Thomas) C. Broadus, M. Young, O. Vickers, A. Thomas, J. Eugene, C. McIntosh, S. Nichol O'Dell 4:10
3. "Woof!" (featuring Fiend and Mystikal) C. Broadus, R. Jones, M. Tyler, C. Bazile, P. Miller, G. Clinton Jr. Craig B, Master P 4:22
4. "Gin & Juice II"   C. Broadus, C. Stephens Carlos Stephens 3:36
5. "Show Me Love" (featuring Charlie Wilson) C. Broadus, C. Wilson, M. Jordan DJ Pooh 3:53
6. "Hustle & Ball"   C. Broadus, O. Vickers O'Dell 3:26
7. "Don't Let Go"   C. Broadus, D. Anderson DJ Darryl 3:47
8. "Tru Tank Doggs" (featuring Mystikal) C. Broadus, M. Tyler, C.S. Lawson KLC 3:55
9. "Whatcha Gon Do?" (featuring Master P) C. Broadus, P. Miller Master P 2:37
10. "Still a G Thang"   C. Broadus, M. Wells Meech Wells, Master P 4:20
11. "20 Dollars to My Name" (featuring Fiend, Master P, Silkk the Shocker and Soulja Slim) C. Broadus, R. Jones, P. Miller, V. Miller, J. Tapp Master P 4:09
12. "D.O.G.'s Get Lonely 2" (featuring Jon B) C. Broadus, T. Kelley, B. Robinson, J.D. Buck, M. Wells Meech Wells, Snoop Dogg 3:15
13. "Ain't Nut'in Personal" (featuring C-Murder, Silkk the Shocker and Crooked Eye) C. Broadus, C. Miller, A. Sausa, V. Miller, C. Bazile Craig B 3:37
14. "Dogg Pound Gangsta" (featuring C-Murder and Eddie Griffin) C. Broadus, C. Miller, E. Griffin, C. Bazile, S. Arrington, L. Bonner, C.C. Carter, B. Hank, O. Jackson, R. Middlebrooks, W. Morrison, B. Napier, A. Noland, R. Parker, L. Patterson, M. Pierce, G. Webster, E. Wright, A. Young Craig B 4:53
15. "Game of Life" (featuring Steady Mobb'n) C. Broadus, A. Sausa, C. Stephens Carlos Stephens 3:52
16. "See Ya When I Get There" (featuring C-Murder and Mystikal) C. Broadus, C. Miller, M. Tyler, K. Clizark, M. Wells Keith Clizark, Meech Wells 3:20
17. "Pay for Pussy" (featuring Big Pimpin') C. Broadus, D. Williams Snoop Dogg 1:43
18. "Picture This" (featuring Mia X) C. Broadus, M. Young, C. Bazile Craig B 2:31
19. "Doggz Gonna Get Ya" (featuring Mac) C. Broadus, M. Phipps, C.S. Lawson, A. Colandreo, L. Parker KLC 4:59
20. "Hoes, Money & Clout"   C. Broadus, P. Brooks Soopafly 3:21
21. "Get Bout It & Rowdy" (featuring Master P) C. Broadus, P. Miller, C.S. Lawson KLC 4:22
Total length:
76:03

Chart performance

Singles

Title Chart positions Video Director
US Hot 100 USA Singles Top 40 US R&B/Hip-Hop US Rap Radio & Records Airplay - Urban Radio & Records Airplay - Rhythmic
"Slow Down" (I Can't Take The Heat)[1] 21 - 32 4 - - Gerald K. Barclay
"Still a G Thang" 14 35 16 3 15 29 Michael Martin
"Woof!"[2] 19 36 31 3 - - No Limit Films
  • ^ ="Slow Down" was also released as a Mia X single "I Can't Take The Heat" on the B-side of her 12" EP Whatcha Wanna Do. Chart positions represent the EP's entries.
  • ^ ="Woof" was also a part of the Who U Wit compilation by No Limit All Stars in 1999.

Album

Chart (1998) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[15] 14
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[16] 34
Canadian Albums 4
French Albums (SNEP)[17] 44
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] 24
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[19] 11
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[20] 39
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 34
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 50
UK Albums (OCC)[23] 28
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[24] 4
US Billboard 200[25] 1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[26] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1998) Peak
position
Billboard 200 42

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[27] Platinum 100,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Silver 60,000
United States (RIAA)[29] 2× Platinum 3,985,000[3]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

See also

Notes

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Snoop Dogg: The Game Is to Be Sold Not to Be Told > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  5. E! Online review[dead link]
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. "Australiancharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
  16. "Austriancharts.at – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told" (in German). Hung Medien.
  17. "Lescharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
  18. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
  19. "Charts.org.nz – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
  20. "Dutchcharts.nl – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  21. "Swedishcharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
  22. "Swisscharts.com – Snoop Dogg – Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told". Hung Medien.
  23. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  24. http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/r-and-b-albums-chart/19980809/115
  25. "Snoop Dogg – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Snoop Dogg.
  26. "Snoop Dogg – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Snoop Dogg.
  27. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Da Game Is to Be Sold Not to Be Told in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  29. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH

References

Preceded by Billboard 200 number-one album
August 22 - September 4, 1998
Succeeded by
Follow the Leader by KoЯn