When 2001 rolled around, the West Coast was in a weird spot. Dr. Dre had just redefined the sound of the galaxy with 2001 (ironically released in '99), and every rapper from Long Beach to the Bay was trying to figure out what came next. Enter Kurupt. Fresh off the massive success of Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha, he didn't just stay in his lane. He swerved. He released Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey, an album that felt like a neon-lit G-funk spaceship crashing into a millennium-era pop party.
Honestly, people still argue about this record. Was it a masterpiece of experimental West Coast rap, or was Kurupt just trying too hard to cross over?
It’s complicated.
Why Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey Still Matters
The album dropped on July 17, 2001. If you were around back then, you remember the vibe. Rap was getting shiny. Kurupt, known as one of the most vicious lyricists to ever come out of the Dogg Pound, decided to lean into the "Space" part of the title. He teamed up with Fredwreck, who executive produced the project, to create a sound that was less "concrete jungle" and more "intergalactic pimping."
What makes Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey stand out today is its sheer audacity.
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Kurupt wasn't just rapping over standard G-funk loops. He was bringing in Fred Durst and DJ Lethal from Limp Bizkit. He was harmonizing with Jon B on "Sunshine." He even got Natina Reed (from the R&B group Blaque and his then-fiancée) for the lead single "It's Over." For the hardcore fans who wanted the guy who wrote "Callin' Out Names," it was a lot to process. But looking back, it shows a rapper who was bored with the status quo.
The Sound of the Smoke Oddessey
The production is where this album really lives. Fredwreck brought this polished, almost orchestral G-funk to the table. Take the title track, "Space Boogie," featuring the late, great Nate Dogg. It has these soaring strings and a bassline that feels like it’s vibrating through a vacuum.
It’s peak 2001.
Then you have "The Hardest Mutha Fuckas." This track is a West Coast fan's fever dream. Xzibit, MC Ren, and Nate Dogg all on one song? It’s arguably the hardest track on the record and proves Kurupt hadn't lost his edge, even if he was wearing futuristic shades on the cover.
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- Producers involved: Fredwreck, DJ Quik, Daz Dillinger, Mike Dean, and even DJ Lethal.
- Key Guest Features: Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Butch Cassidy, Everlast, and Lil' ½ Dead.
- The Vibe: High-gloss, experimental, and unashamedly "extra."
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of critics at the time panned the album for being "inconsistent." They saw the pop-leaning tracks like "It's Over" as a sell-out move. But if you listen to the lyrics, Kurupt is still Kurupt. His technical ability—his "pocket"—is as tight as it ever was. He was just applying those skills to a different canvas.
The "Smoke Oddessey" wasn't just about weed. It was about the "smoke" between sub-genres. He was bridging the gap between the underground lyricism he was known for and the massive commercial explosion rap was experiencing at the turn of the century.
Finding the Hidden Gems
If you’re revisiting the album or checking it out for the first time, don't just stick to the singles. "On Da Grind" with Daz Dillinger is classic Dogg Pound chemistry. "Kuruption" with Everlast is a strange, moody piece that shouldn't work on a West Coast rap album, but somehow it does.
There's also "Can't Go Wrong," produced by DJ Quik. Anything Quik touches is gold, and he gives Kurupt a slinky, low-slung groove that reminds you why the 213 area code dominated the 90s.
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How to Experience it Today
If you're looking to dive into Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey, you've got a few options. It’s available on most streaming platforms, though the 2012 remastered version is usually what you'll find. For the collectors, the original 2001 double vinyl is the "holy grail." The artwork looks incredible at that scale, and the analog warmth really suits Fredwreck's production style.
Next Steps for the Listener:
- Listen to the transition from "Blast Off" into the title track to understand the "Space" theme.
- Compare "It's Over" with "The Hardest Mutha Fuckas" to see the dual nature of Kurupt’s artistry during this era.
- Check out the "Best Buy" or "Wherehouse" exclusive versions if you can find them; they often include bonus tracks like "The Life I Live" or "Have Fun" featuring Tha Alkaholiks.
This album represents a specific moment in time when the West Coast was trying to reinvent itself. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s brilliantly creative. It might not be Doggystyle, but it’s a vital piece of the Kurupt legacy that deserves a second (or third) listen.