Wait, let's just get this out of the way immediately. People kept asking when the Uncle Snoop and Dr. Dre reunion was actually going to hit their headphones. For a while there, it felt like another Detox situation—endless promises, zero audio. But then December 13, 2024, actually happened. We got the album. It’s called Missionary. And honestly? It’s not exactly what the "nostalgia bait" crowd expected.
If you were looking for Doggystyle 2.0, you probably felt a little weirded out when you first pressed play. This isn't 1993. Snoop isn't 22 anymore, and Dre isn't trying to prove he’s the king of Death Row. They’re elder statesmen now. Basically, they’re doing a victory lap, but they brought a massive, bizarre guest list that includes everyone from Eminem to... Sting? Yeah. Sting.
The Snoop Dogg New Album 2024 Context: Why It Took 31 Years
You’ve gotta realize how insane the gap is here. The last time Dr. Dre produced a full Snoop Dogg album, Bill Clinton was in his first term and "The Chronic" was still the blueprint for every car stereo in America. Since then, they've done singles. They did "Still D.R.E." and "The Next Episode," obviously. They even did the Super Bowl. But a full project? That was the white whale of West Coast hip-hop.
Dre is a notorious perfectionist. Snoop actually joked about this during the rollout, saying he went to the studio thinking they’d knock it out in a week, only for Dre to tell him he needed "two more days" about 85 times. That’s just how the Doctor operates. He doesn't release anything until the snares sound like they were recorded in a vacuum-sealed chamber.
On Missionary, you can hear that obsession. It’s dense. It’s layered. It’s got that "expensive" sound that only Aftermath money can buy.
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What the Tracklist Actually Looks Like
The album landed with 15 tracks. Some people were surprised by how short the songs were—a few clocking in under two minutes—but it keeps the energy moving. Here is the meat of what’s on there:
- Fore Play (feat. BJ The Chicago Kid): The intro that sets the soulful, smoky mood.
- Gorgeous (feat. Jhené Aiko): The lead single. It’s smooth, feminine, and very much a "ride around in the sunshine" vibe.
- Gunz N Smoke (feat. 50 Cent and Eminem): This is the one everyone circled. Having 50, Em, and Snoop on a Dre beat in 2024 felt like a fever dream.
- Another Part Of Me (feat. Sting): A weirdly effective flip of "Message in a Bottle." It shouldn't work. It kinda does.
- Last Dance With Mary Jane (feat. Tom Petty and Jelly Roll): This is where it gets experimental. They used a posthumous Tom Petty sample and brought in Jelly Roll for that country-rap crossover that’s dominating the charts right now.
The sheer variety of the features tells you everything you need to know about Snoop’s current status. He’s the guy who can hang with Martha Stewart, carry the Olympic torch in Paris, and then get Eminem to drop a verse on his record.
The Sound: Is It Still G-Funk?
Not really. Or at least, not the G-Funk you remember.
Dre didn't just lean on the high-pitched synths and P-Funk samples this time. Missionary feels more like a soulful, cinematic evolution. There’s a lot of live instrumentation. You’ve got the ICU, Dem Jointz, and Fredwreck all chipping in to create this "grown-up" sound. Snoop’s delivery is lower, more relaxed. He isn't trying to out-rap the young kids with triple-time flows; he’s leaning into his role as the smoothest talker in the room.
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The song "Pressure" (which features a rare Dr. Dre verse and K.A.A.N.) is probably the hardest-hitting moment on the project. It reminds you that underneath the "fun uncle" persona, Snoop can still bark when he wants to. But tracks like "Skyscrapers" with Method Man show a different side—cool, atmospheric, and very New York-meets-LA.
Critics vs. The Streets
The reaction has been split, which is typical for any legacy act. Some critics, like those at The Scribe, argued that Snoop’s raps felt a bit "familiar" or even repetitive. They felt Dre did most of the heavy lifting. On the flip side, long-time fans are just happy to hear Snoop over production that actually suits him. For years, Snoop has jumped on any beat for any artist—he’s the king of the "paid feature." Hearing him back in Dre’s laboratory forced him to focus.
The consensus seems to be that it's a 3.5 or 4-star album. It’s not going to replace Doggystyle in the history books, but it’s a hell of a lot better than the "streaming fodder" albums Snoop has put out over the last decade.
The Cultural Weight of Missionary
We’re in 2026 now, and looking back at the 2024 release, it’s clear Missionary was about more than just music. It was a branding masterstroke. Snoop and Dre used the 31st anniversary of their debut to remind everyone who the architects are. The album was released through Death Row, Aftermath, and Interscope—a trifecta that represents the entire history of West Coast rap.
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It also proved that 50-year-old rappers can still move the needle without trying to act 19. They embraced their age. They talked about their legacy. They even included a short film directed by Dave Meyers to give it that "event" feel.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
If you haven't lived with this record yet, here is how to actually digest it:
- Skip the singles first: Start with "Pressure" and "Skyscrapers." They give you a better sense of the technical skill involved than the radio-friendly "Gorgeous."
- Check the Short Film: Watch the Missionary short film. Method Man narrates it, and the cameos alone make it worth the 15 minutes of your life.
- Listen for the Samples: Dre went deep into the crates for this one. If you're a music nerd, try to spot the Sly & The Family Stone or Pink Floyd nods hidden in the production.
- Vinyl is the way: This album was designed for high-end speakers. If you can find the "Picture Disc" version, grab it. The mix is incredibly clean and deserves better than cheap earbuds.
Missionary isn't a comeback—Snoop never left. It’s a reminder of what happens when the most famous voice in rap actually listens to the most famous producer in rap.